Good Fight Sub Only Worlds Retrospective
12/23/2025
📝 Preface
Going into this tournament and reviewing previous footage of my rolls, I realized just how awful I really was 4 months into my journey. There were so many holes in my game it was absurd. I had no real gameplans, just maintaining frames and hunting for submissions when possible. This won me double gold in gi and no-gi. However, I only had 2 competitors I faced-off against in gi, and 2 in no-gi.📊 Results
At goodfight worlds, a test of my endurance was employed. I had 3 opponents to defeat to win gold in Gi, and for no-gi I was looking at another 3 wins for gold. As the results would reveal, I had won gold in Gi, however in no-gi I won my first round and lost my second. I arrived at 11:30 AM, with my final match not occurring until 8:30 PM.
There were delays up to 5-6 hours for matches that should have started much earlier due to the sheer amount of competitors and kids' matches taking place. I hadn't anticipated these delays or how much I would have to manage my nutrition and endurance throughout. I had to reframe my approach. Ultimately I was put against a completely fresh opponent at the end of the day. I had already faced off versus four opponents and won all of them. I won't make excuses for the loss, though. My opponent performed well and won fair and square. I am glad with my gi gold, and in the next tournament hopefully delays and wonky brackets won't impact my performance as much as it had that day.
🥋 Preparation and Events
Going into GF Worlds, I had only really given time to the fundamentals of pin escapes and guard retention. This was enough to help me succeed. I ended up losing to a guillotine, a well timed attack from my opponent when I was regaining top position. I had fended off an ezekiel and was unfortunately ultimately submitted whilst transitioning to top.
I will say that I am not deterred by this result, however I am in a way glad I got my first loss out of the way. I stand at 8-1 in white belt, all before getting more than 2 stripes. 3 golds. This is something I am certainly pleased with.
💪🏻 Submissions
Another thing to note: the opportunities for armbars were very significant and I was able to submit most of my opponents (excluding one back take choke) using only this submission. I am now seeing why it is the highest percentage submission opportunity in competition.
📉 The Cut
Cutting was also a learning experience for me, I made the poor decision of purchasing a (nicotine) vape to curb my appetite. I came to find out that the limiting of my calories wasn't necessarilly an issue, but more-so the water management. Not that the water management was an issue, rather I hadn't realized just how much weight I would indeed cut from doing so. I ended up weighing in at 184 without realizing there was a 1lb grace. I was completely depleted, felt horrible, and was nowhere near feeling decent. Note to self and other competitors: the water cut really does work. Also, check for potential 1lb graces, as some of my opponents weighed in at 185.2 and I genuinely thought some of them were not in my weight class because of how full they looked. I did not need to destroy my body as violently as I had to cut this weight. The vape also impeded upon my cardio.
🥇 Conclusion
Winning gold in gi was a great solidifier for my ability to perform under pressure, compete and reaffirmed the fact that I am indeed able to win at my belt and weight division. The no-gi loss was a little rough on my psyche, but this was indeed due in part to the fact that it was my single and only loss. The loss has relieved pressure off of me in the way that I now no longer have to fear losing. I have experienced it now. This is something that doing these tournaments and competing has taught me: doing the thing. Doing the thing is nigh always less dubious than we originally anticipate, and once we do said thing, we are glad we have done it rather than not. Win or lose. You went out, competed, and gave it your all. Not many people step on to the training mat letalone a competition mat voluntarily. With that, I say good rolls to all I competed with that day, I thank everyone for coming and putting in the effort to be vulnerable and try. It is an achievement in and of itself. To wrap up with a quote by the stoic philosopher Seneca: "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."