BJJ: America’s fastest growing martial art
A thick cloud of emotions followed him for a while. Months of practice. Weeks of refining the craft. They all led to this day.
“The closer I get the more my heart races,” said Matthias Probitschka, nerves are typical in this land. His coach, Adam Lambert-Gorwyn recalls his first competition, “When I first started competing at blue belt, I couldn’t think of anything else all week, I was nervous, I couldn’t sleep all week,”.
When it comes to other sports, the teams or players know exactly who they are going against and watch film on previous games or competitions to prepare themselves for what they are about to do. While that is the usual, Probitschka has a different approach with his opponents, “I don’t like knowing who my opponent is, when I know who they are I think about it too much,” said Probitschka.
Probitschka has a slight disadvantage when it comes to his weight. “I’m really light so most classes I get put in are usually someone older or someone heavier, so it’s hard to just know who I’m going up against weeks in advance.” said Probitschka. While his weight may be a hindrance, overcoming this hardship has made him adapt in his landscape in ways many others don’t, “You become more technical with a lighter weight.”
This is it, the moment Probitschka has been waiting for, now it’s just him and his opponent. The nerves are higher than ever, “Right before you’re on the mat, you stand there, there’s usually someone in front of you [..] and it’s a very, very nervous experience, because all that waiting has [led] to this moment, my first competition” said Probitschka. It’s go-time.
Probitschka looks up nervously, what a relief, his opponent is shorter than him, perfect for his signature move: the triangle. His opponent’s size paired with Probitschka’s technicality made for the perfect conditions for a first competition, “He’s a little shorter, but we were about the same weight. He didn’t seem to be as technical as me. And so going up against him, he didn’t seem to know what to do, either. […] I can’t really remember it a whole lot. I just remember that I took him down and I put him in a triangle and submitted him,” said Probitschka.
He had done it, at his first competition, Probitschka was the victor, “it was a good feeling, like, just being relieved that I just won, and I get to go home with my medal, and I just get to relax and go eat everything. It’s just a big relief.”
