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Why do we compete?
I found myself searching for answers to this question as I paced the warm-up area of the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, preparing myself for the 2019 IBJJF World Championships.
There are a lot of people in the stands and they all seem to be screaming and chanting in Portuguese. My friends and family are sending me text messages that read “good luck”. My teammates and coaches are eagerly watching online to see if another year’s work has paid off.
There are 35 people in my division (and that’s small for this tournament); I have a 2.8% chance of winning gold.
I’m excited and nervous, eager and reluctant, confident and unsure. I look down at the ground, then up at the ceiling.
Why am I even here?
Seriously, am I driven by my love of the sport?
Is this part of my identity?
Do I personally see special value in competition?
Am I worried about what others will think?
Am I hoping to win and get sponsors and medals and prize money?
Realistically, I’d say I’m driven by a mixture of all the reasons listed above. Do any of those drives dominate the others? Are any of those reasons better or worse than the others?
Motivation Can Be Tricky
Just like the gas pedal and steering wheel keep a car moving in a particular direction, motivation is the driver and director of human behavior.
Motivation can be divided into two general categories: intrinsic and extrinsic.
- Intrinsic = motivation from inside the individual
- Extrinsic = motivation from outside the individual
Typically, having motives that are internal leads to more self-determined behavior. This means that an individual has more autonomy or control over their engagement and participation in a certain activity.
Self-determined motivation is authentic, and this leads to increased interest, excitement, and confidence, which can, in turn, lead to improved performance, as well as increased general well-being.
Below is a graphic that details the different types of motivation (taken from Self-Determination Theory), accompanied by a scale on the side for self-determination.
Relating This to Competition
It is common for competitors to be motivated by more than one if not all the motives from the above table. However, it’s important to consider which motives are most responsible for your desire to step onto the competition mats.
Let’s look at each motive closer and see how they relate to BJJ competition specifically.
Amotivation occurs when someone does not value an activity, and usually ends up with the person just going through the motions before quitting.
External Regulation is an extrinsic motivator that is external. These competitors compete to gain rewards (gold medals, cash prizes, sponsorships) and avoid punishment (pressure from teammates or coaches, loss of money and sponsorships).
Introjected Regulation is an extrinsic motivator that is somewhat external. These competitors compete for ego-related reasons (praise, perceived respect from friends/teammates/coaches/others, “the podium feeling”).
Identified Regulation is an extrinsic motivator that is somewhat internal. These competitors compete because they find value and place personal importance on competition, as well as on the process of training and preparing for an event.
Integrated Regulation is an extrinsic motivator that is internal. These competitors feel their identity is connected to the martial arts lifestyle, and that competition is vital to who they are as a person.
Intrinsic Motivation is fully internal and is where a competitor is driven by pure enjoyment, as well as a passion for the sport and for the nature of competition.
What Drives You?
As has already been stated, it is completely normal for competitors to be driven by a variety of motives.
However, it is important to note that self-determined behavior has been shown to lead to increased interest, persistence, excitement, and confidence, which can in turn lead to improved performance and well-being.
It should now be obvious why it is ideal to be intrinsically motivated if your goal is to be happy and successful, not only in the immediate but also in the long term.
Look back at the graphic above and see how much of your motivation comes from each of the different categories.
What are you gaining from competition?
Are you competing for yourself or for other people? Would you be lost as a person without training camps and tournaments? Do you smile when you think about stepping onto the mats?
Why do you compete?
Why Are These Questions Important?
There’s nothing wrong with being extrinsically motivated. In fact, humanity would not have accomplished anything had we only done things out of pure enjoyment. That being said, it is necessary to find the balance between a sense of enjoyment and a sense of duty or obligation.
It is extremely important to understand and identify your drives in life, as there may be times where you find yourself misguiding your energy towards something that is not worth your time and effort.
Living an authentic life, one where you can be the most honest version of yourself, can only occur when intrinsic motivation is your main drive.
Your survival instincts require you to seek rewards and acceptance from others, and this is absolutely normal – especially in competitive settings. You should be envisioning yourself on the podium, with a particular colour of medal around your neck, being praised by teammates, coaches, and peers.
But these daydreams do not hold enough fuel to power you through a competition career spanning years. For that, you also need a pure passion for the sport and the nature of the art itself.
Would you compete if there was no belt or gold medal on the line?
Would you compete if nobody watched the competition or saw the results?
Would you compete if you weren’t allowed to tell anyone about it?
Why do you compete?
References
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.
Lox, C. L., Martin Ginis, K. A., & Petruzzello, S. J. (2014). The psychology of exercise: Integrating theory and practice (3rd edition). Scottsdale, AZ: Holcomb Hathaway Publishers.
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