My return to competition didn’t go to plan. I had trained hard, prepared a positive mindset and entered the BJJ comp mats, two losses and a bronze medal later, I was left with the bitter taste of defeat and disappointment. Nevertheless, I stepped up and put myself into the cauldron.
As a therapist, I encourage my clients to
Trust The Process.
We can all use cliche statements and quotes when it’s not ourselves dealing with the issues. “Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail”, “It’s the journey, not the destination” etc…
Over the weekend and since I’ve had to,
Embrace The Struggle
So what were some of my lessons? After 4 years without competing, I was a little ‘ring rusty’. You can train as much as you like, and grind in the competition classes. Still, nothing quite replicates the competition mats: the adrenaline dump, the unfamiliar environment, the pressure you place on yourself.
On reflection, a major plus for me on the day was trying to focus on the controllables. I was excited to compete, dropped several kgs, and worked on my breathing. I was competitive, but I was perhaps too tentative, measured and controlled. Speaking with my professor, teammates and family, I need to move away from thinking and be more intentional. ‘Let Go’ & ‘Go All Out’. My next comp is booked. We go again!
Forged By Fire
Vulcan is the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and Juno (Hera), husband of Venus (Aphrodite) and is considered to be one of the twelve Olympians. With the help of Cyclops, the one-eyed giant, he made the thunderbolts of Zeus, Hercules's weapons, and Achilles's armour.
Vulcan is the patron god of the English steel-making city of Sheffield (Coincidentally the city where I was born). His statue stands on top of Sheffield Town Hall.
Whether it’s a competition, delivering a presentation, asking someone out on a date, or starting a new career. Don’t let the fear hold you back.
“Repetition, repetition, repetition.”
Of course, preparation, revision and reflection are all important aspects. Still, the hammer has to hit the anvil, the anxieties are met, and only then is the character formed and proverbial steel crafted.
Vulcans are also a fictional species in the sci-fi Star Trek. They are known for their strict adherence to logic and reason. Vulcans were often seen as emotionless and stoic, however, when you go a little deeper into the Trekkie world, it’s revealed that Vulcans were once extremely violent and emotional people. Interestingly, Spock was ‘half Human, half Vulcan’, bridged the two humanoid species and perhaps enabled a better balance. I guess it’s not about rejecting logic or emotions, but rather embracing the whole self.
“Live Long and Prosper.”
The challenges and battles we face, develop the integrity of our armour. Mandalorian armour was designated a signet that symbolised their noble kill.
"The armour I wear is five hundred years old. I reforged it to my liking, but the battles, the history, the blood all lives within it. And the same goes for every Mandalorian."
"This armour is part of our identity. It makes us Mandalorians who we are."
- Sabine and Alrich WrenDouble-click
“This is the Way.”
We can learn a lot from other people’s stories and experiences. It can provide a different perspective and show us a different viewpoint.
From The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Francis Ngannou Breaks Down Sharing Heartbreaking Story: "I Don't Know The Purpose Of Fighting Anymore", "I Feel Powerless", "I Don't Know How To Deal With This!", 8 Aug 2024
It’s an incredible episode, which is both tragic and inspirational. Near the end of the episode Francis’s provided some words of wisdom,
“It might work, might not, but at least you will be in peace with yourself knowing that you have given it all. I think it's the most important. People are so afraid to fail that they don't even try.
And I think that's really, that's the failure from not taking action. The failure is not actually the fact that you don't succeed in whatever you do. The failure is not taking action, it's not even trying.” - Francis Ngannou.
Take action, put things in perspective and try to enjoy the ride.