| The other day I had a conversation with a master | | | | trains and believes he will win, is he/she more likely to |
| Black Belt Jiu-Jitsu instructor about the issue of | | | | compete? Or is there also some issue in not wanting |
| competition. He told me that few students in his | | | | to win? Is winning negative in some way? Is there an |
| school want to compete in tournaments. What's the | | | | established belief that to win is not desirable? Is a |
| reason for this? Is this decision based on time | | | | winner at some greater risk? The risk may be that |
| restraints, no interest in that aspect of the sport or | | | | the artist receives attention, praise, and expectations. |
| just out of fear? I am embarking on the exploration | | | | Will he or she be envied or despised by others? |
| of this question. I hope that my ideas spark you to | | | | What's the individual's emotional reaction to winning? |
| contemplate your choice. | | | | Is there too high a demand for commitment to train, |
| What is the meaning of the word COMPETITION? | | | | to focus, and to prepare? Are there other priorities? |
| According to Webster's Third New International | | | | What about losing? What if you fully prepare and |
| Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged (1986), | | | | then lose? What does it mean to lose? What will it |
| the word comes from the Latin word competere, | | | | do to your self esteem? Where is your self esteem |
| "com-to come together, agree, be suitable, belong, | | | | on a scale from 0 to 10, 10 being the highest? Can |
| and compete for and petere- to go to, head for, and | | | | you afford to go down a few notches? Will losing a |
| seek. To seek for, strive for something, for which | | | | match, bring you down for a few seconds, for a few |
| others are also contending." | | | | minutes, days or years? |
| If a student is encouraged and supported by an | | | | Why compete then? What can participating in a |
| instructor to compete, then the instructor is aware | | | | match, in a tournament give you, whether you win or |
| that the student can come together and be suitable | | | | lose? Is there much to gain? Can you gain a winning |
| to contend for the position of winner. Is there | | | | edge for today and tomorrow? Will you compete? |
| something in the risk of having one winner and one | | | | Good Luck whatever you do. I wish you the best. |
| loser that is threatening? If one artist competes and | | | | |