NAGA Feb. 2017 Competition

Abigail participated in the NAGA (North American Grappling Association) yesterday. It was a multi-format competition where they did both gi and no gi matches. This was Abigail’s first no gi match and that went first in the (extra long) day.

She didn’t do so well in her first match, and not because it was her first no gi match. It was more because her head just wasn’t in the game. She wasn’t in it to win it. She only had one match and the girl submitted her within half the allotted time.

After lunch it was the gi matches. She was bracketed with one other girl, but unlike the no gi matches they decided the best out of three would win.

Again she lost her first match. Again she just wasn’t in the game.

We had a little talk, something along the lines of you’re not competing to your potential, then she won the second match 7 to 0.

At stake for first place was an actual samurai sword. We told her it was now hers to lose. If she lost this match, she lost the sword.

Completely fired up she went for her third match and totally kicked butt. She won 11 to 0 with an attempt on an Americana submission, but didn’t get it and obviously won by points instead.

Unfortunately they had run out of swords to hand out by this time in the (very long) day, so she’ll get hers mailed to her.

There’s another competition next month. We’re considering entering as there are a number of kids from our gym who are involved and going as a team (yet competing individually) seems pretty fun for this group.

– b