Sandbagging in Jiu Jitsu tournments, yes this happens a lot.
Grapplers Quest, April 2011. Here is Pro MMA Fighter with a CFFC Bantomw Weight Champion, 10-0 record Ricky Bendejas (http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/fighter/Ricky-Bandejas:25262412782D1F5A), Also at the time of this video High School Wrestling Champion (http://bricktwp.theshoreconference.com/2010season.html), Competing against Frank "The Bully" Aiello who only has 9 months of Grappling experience total competing in Grappler's Quest Novice Division.
http://www.grapplersquest.com/events/results/divisional-results-2011-grapplers-quest-beast-east-asbury-park-nj-april-9-2011
Men's No-Gi Novice Featherweight (140 – 149.9 lbs)
1st Place: Humberto Morales (Bronx Martial Arts)
2nd Place: Ricky Bandejas (Nick Catones MMA)
3rd Place: Timothy Frye (Battle Ground)
So here we have a champion wrestler competing in a Novice grappling competition in order to get an easy medal instead of competing in Intermediate (Where a high school wrestler should be competing). As you can see the young wrestler has a huge advantage against the new grappler using high level techniques that a Novice would not be ready for. Even with this advantage Aiello sinks in a Guillotine but Bandejas crawls out of balance and Aiello is forces to let go (Points should have been awarded to Aiello). Bandejas continues to use high level techniques which give him a huge advantage, but Aiello was still fighting to win, out classed but never beaten.
So if you are a new competitor here is the advice I have for you if this happens:
- Do not get down on yourself, get right back out there and compete again.
- Take a picture of the fight bracket and look up the person who eliminated you, if you can find a website showing them on a HS wrestling roster, or a Facebook picture showing them with a Purple Belt on. You can get the tournament to give you a free entry into the next competition.
- Contact the Association you competed and and present them with the information. They will likely disqualify your opponent for Sand Bagging and you might get a credit for the next competition.
- Watch the video on your loss and learn from it, this goes for every match but especially to a loss against a cheater, you will be inspired to learn faster.
- Do not let this affect you, just because this happened this time, does not mean it will happen again.
After that loss I went on to do very well, and I even learned the take down that this cheater used.
One more thing to note, this does not go away when you get to the intermediate level, but it is less common. I once faced a Purple Belt in the Intermediate bracket for NAGA which is for Blue Belt and below.
In the below Video Frank "The Bully" Aiello (Just received his Blue Belt April 2013), is in the NAGA November 2013 Intermediate bracket and this Purple Belt (Who was a purple belt for over 2 years at the time).
In this match Frank "The Bully" Aiello should have had the win due to his opponent stumbling away Guillotine Drunk after being choked by Aiello. However the Purple Belt was able to catch Aiello in an Arm-Bar to which he cranked on causing ligament damage and audible popping. Aiello was forced to tap, injured and unable to compete in the Gi competition later that day. However his opponent did and was found competing in a purple belt. Aiello's coach spoke to the good people at NAGA and since it was a finals match Aiello was awarded the gold and Kaltneckar was DQ'ed.
At the end of the day people are going to Cheat in any way they can, some compete in brackets below their skill level and other tap then if the ref does not see it continue fighting when you let go. Some people cheat by taking performance enhancers such as: Steroids, Beta Blockers, Amphetamines, Pain Killers, and other chemical means of cheating. At the end of the day all you can do is your best and if you see cheating report it. This is a sport of Honor, and cheaters dishonor the sport that I love.
I have never been a hardcore competitor and joined late in life so I nave always been promoted well before I had the opportunity to sandbag. Seems every time I compete, the next time I see the guys in my bracket, they are the next belt up.
I suppose it makes sense not to rush a 20 something through the belts because a few more medals, a couple more years at each belt, and more time developing wisdom (within the sport and outside) are probably not a bad thing in a competitor. You can see the head instructors wanting to sandbag a bit to create a winning competitor to represent the gym and a 29-year old blackbelt would most likely compete on the world stage at masters anyhow because it is the most prestigious.
Entering a tourney in a category below your skill/level is just dumb and I would never understand why someone would cheat themselves and their opponent that way.
Good attitude and outlook dood! OSS!
Thank you. To be honest my outlook at the time was very different, however that anger was channeled and but to good use. That loss helped motivate me in a way I can not identify, and I now treasure that loss the way I treasure my IBJJF Gold. Thank you for commenting friend, oss!
Yah I only have one IBJJF gold (and one silver) and they are special.
You win or you learn. You learned!
Congrats my friend, that is a very prestigious award! Fighting your way through the ranks against people on your own skill level is a huge test of your skills! Congrats!
Thanks for the post, I like your message. I watched the video I liked, so much energy received positive. Thank you very much.
thank you friend.
I'm glad that you liked my comment
Man I been there my first tournament as a white belt was a local small Reno’s Gracie tournament. I went up against a guy in final that did something I have never seen before, I was beating him on points badly . He went underneath me wrapped his legs around mine and one arm under my foot. Bumped me to the ground and started manipulating my ankle. My foot snapped and dislocated. Later many years after I saw him at a IBJJF tournament, he was competing at purple about to get his brown. I just got my blue and learned the technique he used . Single leg X or Ashi Gurami and straight leg ankle lock. Bastard wa s new purple competing no gi beginner. I’m gonna follow you, we both living in NY maybe we can roll at each other’s gyms.
Hate sandbaggers, but we have the last laugh.
Great post OSS.
Darn, sorry you got hurt by that cheater. Where do you train, I would love to roll. Thanks for following, I will follow back.
Train in a Manhattan at a small gym called Evolution Muay Thai and also down by Five Points Academy in their bjj program called Workshop
Nice, I am at Team Real USA in Staten Island. I also pop in at Renzo Gracie SI on occasion.
FYI this guy who sandbagged me is not the number 1 ranked bantom weight on the east cost with 10-0 as a Pro.