Pre-Fight Jitters

Tonight is the big night.  Tomorrow morning, I will wake up, pack some breakfast (can't eat until after weigh in), and take a taxi down to the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Center to take part in my first ever Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.  My gi is neatly folded and resting in my gear bag, I have clif bars and powerbars (thanks Michelle), a freshly mixed bottle of powerade is cooling in the fridge, my spare clothes are laid out.  Everything is ready.  Except for ME.  

I am feeling the nerves.  I have that pit in my stomach that I always get right before I fight.  I know I have nothing to prove to anyone, but the standards I have for myself are high.  I want to make Carmen proud, I want to make everyone back in Berkeley proud, and I want to be proud of myself.  But then again, I also want it to be fun and light-hearted and not overly serious competition.  Funny how my brain works, huh?

I think I'm going to go for the armbar.  It's risky and tricky and the timing has to be spot on, and I know I've had this debate a million times, and will probably have it a million more times before tomorrow, but I think I'm just gonna force myself to go for it.  Why not, right? (rhetorical question, don't answer that).

I'm really excited to watch everyone fight.  I'm a little nervous though, b/c my competitive spirit tends to mirror that of my opponent, so I don't want to walk into it thinking it'll be some nice friendly fun and get ROCKED.  That would suck.  Hrm...constant vigilance.  I'm going to mentally go through my game one more time before bed, and then tomorrow I will face the moment I have been directing my training towards for two months.  

Of course, that is assuming that I get sleep.  Which could be hindered by the fact that Shuyen has decided that tonight would be an excellent night to badly play loud, out of tune guitar.  If this keeps up much longer, I will go break that guitar on her FACE.  And THEN flying armbar her for good measure.... 

Wish me luck! (not that I will receive said luck by tomorrow, but who knows, a time change might save me :D)

To any martial artists reading this, I want to say thanks for helping me get this far in my training, you all are the BEST!