[MMA Mama]

My son and daughter both do BJJ and my daughter, who just now turned 14 yrs old, has always had to go up against some BIG boys. (They mainly do NAGA) She is an orange belt and has worked up to the Advanced/Expert Division in kids.

She was always on the higher end of the weight classes and she did GREAT going against the boys, she just couldn't match their strength. Most of her matches went to points, not tap outs. She decided to move up to the girls teen division in hopes of finally having girls to go up against, but most of the girls at her tournaments are way out of her weight range. The last tournament that she entered they found a competitor to do her gi event. (The same girl she has gone against the past three tournaments and hurt each time. I will be surprised if the girl will go up against her in the next tournament. ) But they could not find a competitor for her no-gi. (That other girl never does no-gi.) So they suggested she move up to the Women's Division in hopes of finding a competitor.

Technically, NAGA rules state that she has to go as an Advanced/Expert since she is an orange belt with 2+ yrs experience. Her coaches did not feel this should be since she was only 13 at the time and the judge and ref agreed that she could move down to Intermediate all in the name of helping her to find a match. They found one competitor for her and she did ok, came in second.

The next tournament is a two day event. We drive two hours to get to these tournaments. They always do the adult matches on Saturday and the kids/teens on Sunday. So we will not have the option to move her up to adult division if they cannot find her a competitor in teens. And they do not give refunds. So just seeking some advice or ideas so I know what to bring to the table.

I am really trying to get her to cut weight before next tournament, but that is easier said than done. ha ha She has to want that for herself. This just came to mind today so haven't even discussed it with her instructor. My fear is that if we do decide to just enter her in the women's division, they will insist that she go in as Advanced/Expert and I am just not seeing that as a fair match. Those women are TOUGH and AGGRESSIVE. Several seemed more like street fighters than trained MMA.

My concern is how aggressive the adult women are and the maturity level. She does grapple with grown men at the gym, but they "go easy" on her so she has a hard time gauging her own strengths. Just looking for ideas, suggestions, advice, etc.

[Moonpaw]

I was under the impression that 2+ years in NAGA is still Intermediate, not Advanced. Since she didn't come in first last time she did Intermediate, I don't think they would move her up if she was in the women's division. Orange belt is still a kid's belt and NOT equal to a blue belt. I don't say this to sound condescending to her rank; I say it because NAGA shouldn't have her going against women who are blues and higher.

I know they do not give refunds, but do they allow you to use the entry fee for another competition if somehow she could not compete on that day? Sometimes injuries happen in training for competition. One of our purple belts couldn't compete once, and didn't find out until he was actually there, because they wouldn't let him use his knee brace (it had metal in it).

You're right as far as her cutting weight. However, if weight is an issue for her, that needs to become a lifestyle change for her, not a quick fix for a tournament that makes her weight fluctuate...but I'm sure you realized that already. I don't know her weight, body type, or BMI, so I can't make any solid suggestions.

Really, the issue is the lack of women competing these days. Hopefully, as long as your girl continues to enter tournaments, more girls will see that there is competition for them and they'll enter as well. Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

[MMA Mama]

Moonpaw- Thanks for your reply. And yes, I agree about her weight loss being a life decision. Fully with you there. This is the main reason we have encouraged her in this sport. My husband and I both are tall (5'11" and 6'4")and have fought our weight our whole lives. She would never do any other sports and once she did this, she was HOOKED. She has always been very shy and reserved and this has helped her confidence HUGELY. Not sure how you see people's photo galleries on here...maybe I can attach her pic to this reply...will try.

Just getting her to that point is the issue. She is still a pre-teen and likes to eat. Ha ha I do what i can at home. Mainly for her, it is portion control and not going for seconds and watching the carbs. We do not eat out a lot and we do not eat many fried foods. My kids mainly drink water and rarely have sodas. Lucky for me, summer is coming and she loves salads....however, she loves all the calories of great flavor she can add to it with toppings and a load of dressing. ha ha So getting her to make those choices....She is about 5'8" (? guessing) and she was around 180 lbs. last tournament. That even shocked her. It isn't all fat, she is muscular, but she does have some chub she can do away with. lol And in the summer in the South, she will naturally lose some of that training in the heat as our gym has no A/C. ha ha

As far as her being Advanced....she earned the Advanced level by winning her teen events. When they suggested she try to get a competitor in the Women's division her coaches were ok with it as long as she was brought down a skill level. So though their rules state otherwise, Joe Cuff, the ref and judge agreed and let her enter in intermediate and even then the woman she went up against was a lower weight class. But that, TO ME, made it an equal playing field for her and she handled herself very well. She lost, but it was fair.

We drove ten hours one way to go to Boca Raton for her to get her first match with a girl and her first win. We also ended up moving her up to the teen divisons and that made a difference at first, but like I said, due to her skill level and weight there weren't competitors. There are a lot of teen girls, but many of them are very slim and shorter so they are out of her weight range by a lot and not many above yellow belt.

I agree, there aren't a lot of girls/women competing in the sport. We are anxious for her to get old enough to enter the BJJ competitions and not just NAGA.

Regarding whether or not they let you carry your entry fee over to a future tournament, I am not sure. That seems like an accounting nightmare for them I would think. But they might.... Since making my initial post, I sent her instructor an email and he may be able to call the people at NAGA and talk to them, but I know myself and another teen were asking ?'s about it to the main lady that handles all the entries and she was adamant that it did not matter and that is how it was. So was very grateful when Joe Cuff overrode that. So will have to see.

[clinzy]

I can tell you that at a US Grappling event, I would suggest NOT putting your daughter in the teen divisions with teenage boys that weigh 180 lbs. Those boys are man-sized and have the strength to go with it. They're going to be 16 or 17 years old, and I would rather refund you than have her in a division with a teenage boy that is 4 years older than she is just because their weight is similar. I would strongly suggest having her enter the women's divisions. Plus, our (US Grappling) time training works like this for adults:

up to 9 months = novice
9 months to 2 years = beginner
2-5 years = intermediate
5+ years = advanced

I believe NAGA has similar guidelines for adult divisions - her teen skill level might be advanced, but her adult skill level shouldn't be. Look at their guidelines for time training for adults to determine the proper division for her to enter.

And, as you already know, get her out of that 'and up' category. Her odds will be much better when she's under that weight cutoff (by changing her diet, not by cutting water weight) so that she has matches with women closer to her true size and skill.

As for the women's divisions being intense - no more so than a teenage boy fueled by newfound testosterone that absolutely cannot lose to a girl. That's how people get hurt, imo.

Good luck with your daughter - I'm glad you've gotten her into BJJ and I hope she sticks around!!

[MMA Mama]

According to the main lady that does the entries for NAGA as well as enters the winnings into the computers, etc. (I am drawing a blank on her name right now) she was adamant that it did not matter. The NAGA way of earning skill levels is that if you win first place in Novice (6 mos or less of training) then you must move up to Beginner (Less than one yr exp). Once you win Beginner you must move up to Intermediate (Less than two yrs experience). Once you win Intermediate you must move up to Advanced/Expert (more than two yrs exp). She said that if you were a Novice or Beginner having to move into the adult divisions she could see the leniency, but since my daughter is an orange belt and has had two yrs experience that they will not do that. (Even though unbeknownst to me Joe Cuff and her instructor already made the arrangements to do just that at her last tournament, just not sure we can go in right off the bat w/that leniency).

They have a time guide persey, but irregardless, they consider it sandbagging if you have won a first place and do not move up to the next skill level. I fully get that when you are within your own age and weight range, just not sure I get that when she has JUST turned 14 (minimum age for teen division) and having to move up to adult women's to find a competitior.

I am really pounding it into her that she HAS to step up her cardio and her workouts and cut back on food proportions etc. I am trying to get through to her that by cutting the weight she eliminates MANY issues all around. ha ha

[clinzy]

That whole 'once you win X division, you must move up' thing makes no sense to me. What if it's you and one other competitor? That's a lot different than winning a field of 16, you know? I guess that's why I don't go to NAGA.