2021 was a rewarding year for Absolute MMA team member Lyndsie Hauck. As a blue belt, Lyndsie won the IBJJF Boise Open, IBJJF Pan, IBJJF World Masters, IBJJF International Masters, and IBJJF Worlds. This incredible accomplishment can be greatly attributed to Lyndsie’s work ethic and dedication to the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Below are Lyndsie’s insights she’s gained throughout her jiu jitsu journey as a competitor and a jiu jitsu practitioner. She answers some of the most common questions people ask about competing which covers everything from mental preparation to how she recovers post-tournament.
Q: What goes into your mental preparation before a tournament?
Lyndsie: I take a lot of solace in knowing that I’ve done all l can leading up to competition day. Things such as eating right, sauna, ice baths, stretching routine, Assault bike sprints, cardio sessions, getting enough rest, etc. They couldn’t say I didn’t prepare to the best of my ability.
Knowing that I have done all these things helps my mental state on game day. Stepping on the competition mat I know that the hardest part is behind me and now was the fun part.
Q: What advice do you have for people new to competing?
Lyndsie: That it’s okay to be nervous and trust your coaches. I once had a mentor tell me that “nerves show you have respect.” Now the key is to keep it in check and don’t let it become negative self-talk. So, have some fun. Try to relax. Breathe. Know that your opponent is just as nervous as you and whatever happens, it’s okay. We all want to do well and want to do our best. Don’t make excuses if you lose and be humble in victory. Then bring your experience back to Absolute and share it with your teammates. We will all grow from your experience.
Q: What were some of the challenges you dealt with during training that you were able to overcome?
Lyndsie: A big challenge for me is learning to put my energy into the things that I can control and let the other stuff be. This lesson is applicable in many areas of my life but to be honest, Professor Rob had to remind me of this countless times last year. It continues to be something I’m working on.
Q: Will you share some of the things you do off the mat/outside of the gym to prepare for competitions?
Lyndsie: Professor Rob and I watched past fights of some of my competitors prior to Worlds. This was hugely beneficial and helped form a game plan for individual fighters I faced.
I also keep a jiu jitsu and judo journal. I believe a picture is worth a thousand words. Drawing the positions not only helps my mind’s eye but also helps me retain the information from class. I’m usually behind on this so leading up to a competition I make an attempt to catch up and review.
Q: How do you like to celebrate/recover after a tournament?
Lyndsie: After the tournament, I want to be wherever the team is at. To share laughs, recount war stories, and epic matches of the day. We’re all tired and a little beat up, but it’s the best feeling. We earned it. The team camaraderie is unmatched after a long day on the mats. The evening usually consists of some unhealthy food, a beverage or two, planning the next trip, and then a great night’s sleep.
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