I started Jiu-Jitsu in November 2020 when I was in kindergarten. I didn’t know anything, had no skills, and was really shy. I was a white belt, which is the lowest belt, but everyone starts there. The problem was, I had no confidence and was always nervous. It took me 2 and a half months just to get my first stripe.
After a year of training, I entered an SJJA competition. I wasn’t nervous at all—I just went in and fought. I had four matches and won them all, earning my first gold medal! My first opponent was BB, a full grey belt. He was tough, but I beat him. Next was AL, a white belt like me. He was also hard to beat, and I only won by decision. My third match was against LK. I felt bad because I caught him in a triangle choke, and he couldn’t breathe properly. My final match was against GO, my friend from the gym. I won, but I didn’t care much because he was my friend.
My dad always told me to be strong and confident. I realized that being good at Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just about training—it’s also about having a strong heart and mind. If you believe in yourself, you can do anything—sports, exams, anything! That’s like a superpower.
My next competition was the state cup. This time, I was really nervous because my first opponent, AAM, was from Iraq and super tough. But I beat him by 4 points! My next opponent, HM, was easier, but still good. He got 4 points, and I got 8. Then I fought DS, who wasn’t that hard, but I was already so tired from fighting AAM. DS ended up beating me, and I won a bronze medal. (April 30, 2023)
In the Winter Cup, my first opponent was AP, a grey belt. Then I fought AS, a friend from another gym. He was really nice. In my third match, I beat ZB by advantage, but he didn’t want to be friends after, maybe because he was mad he lost. My final opponent was AAM again. This time, he beat me in 12 seconds with a submission! We shook hands, and I won silver while he took gold.
After that, my coach told me to train harder because losing to AAM like that was dumb. So I trained after school every day. In my next competition, I tried my best but still lost.
At the 2023 SJJA Cup, my first opponent was KZ. He wasn’t easy, but I beat him with a submission. He cried, so I helped him up, and he felt better. My next opponent, AR, was huge—145cm tall, while I was only 132cm! But my dad always told me that strength doesn’t always win, so I used my technique and beat him 4-2. I won another gold medal!
In the Summer Cup, I lost my first match to TZ. I felt dumb for not trying hard enough.
At the Sydney Championship, I beat HT by submission. But against AW, the fight was unfair. When I took his back, they didn’t count my points, but when he did a takedown, they gave him points. It was rigged.
In the Autumn Cup, I beat OS by points. But my next opponent, AJ, was amazing. He submitted me in one minute! He had been training Jiu-Jitsu for five years, which was really impressive.
At the 2024 State Cup, I beat KD by submission and won my next match against NK by advantage. NK was my friend—we had met in a fun sparring corner. But then, of course, AAM showed up again and beat me the same way. I didn’t care too much because I still got a silver medal, but I was annoyed he submitted me again.
On November 3, 2024, I entered the SJJA Cup again. I saw my friends competing, and at 9:30 AM, I felt nervous because my first opponent, AG, was huge. But I remembered what my dad told me and won! My next opponent was CF. One of my coaches said he was the best fighter in our gym, so I got really nervous. But I told myself, “I can do it!” and won by advantage. He was the hardest opponent I ever fought—besides AAM.
My last competition in Australia was my first time competing in both gi and no-gi. In gi, I lost my first match because the ref made a bad call when MT tried to armbar me. Even my parents thought it was unfair. In no-gi, I won my first match against TP by decision. Then I faced MT again and lost, but this time, I fought way better. I double-legged him, got into his guard, and defended myself well before he finally caught me in an armbar.
Looking back, I’ve come a long way. I started as a shy white belt with no skills, but now I’m stronger, more confident, and have won multiple medals. My dad was right—Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just about strength or skill. It’s about believing in yourself and never giving up!
I used ChatGPT
