EPTHere's a pic of the customary corridor in which they hit you with the belts after graduation:
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![[image loading]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/pasillito2.jpg/)
Also right before graduation there was a tournment in Madrid in which 90% of gyms and teams of the region attended to, so it was quite big and had no lack of skill.
I lost my first match in the first round of my category (white belt -82 kg) against a really strong mma fighter who didn't really have much idea of BJJ. I got really mad because the guy basically ran over me and pinned my to the ground with brute force. He almost tapped me out to a V lock from side control I think, and even though I reversed him 2-3 times he basically pushed me over with brute strength and no tecnique. I was really furious after the match. At least on second round he had no more energy, and as soon as his back was on the mat, he didn't have anymore strength to go on. I guess I was the unlucky one. I was pretty unhappy at first, but after watching the video I realized I didn't lose my composure and kept trying to do the right tecniques and escapes.
After some hours of tournment I felt pretty well for the prospect of participating in the absolute category. Although many hours later most people didn't feel like competing there were enough white belts for some nice fights. Sadly, the batteries on my camera died and I could only find my semifinal bout against a lighter judoka (76 kg) Ironically I won via cheesy TD after failing with sweeps throughout the whole round. I feel I did manage to get a sweep but it was out of the ring so they didn't give me the points. I especially like the phrase heard (in spanish) in the video which says: come on (name) sprawl! he can't take you down!, you're a judoka! -Dammit (name), what the hell! :D
So I reached the final and proceeded to lose via armbar in like 30 seconds from my opponent's guard. I did get the takedown though!
All in all a good and hard tournment with sweet and sour taste.
P.D. My girlfriend won the absolute division (white and blue belts) while wearing the white belt
She also got her blue belt then.
Final Match
P.P.D I've counted my official match list, and throughout all my white belt tournments I managed an 11-5 record with 5 finishes and I've been finished three times myself.
). I don't know which judo belt wore the guy in the semi-final match.anyway.
