I think often the reason a bracket is empty is because so many people think like your example Shivali, that they will only sign up if they see people already signed up! If everyone thinks like that then you get an empty bracket. I always check the refund policy and if I know I’ll get a refund if no one else signs up then I’ll happily be first to sign up, to encourage others to, and that’s what I tell my students too. I believe most comps on Smoothcomp will allow you to sign up without paying, so at least you show in the bracket before even committing money.
Another reason I think less women compete is risk of injury and how dealing with an injury will affect their daily life, especially if they have kids. I’d like to see statistics but I would guess the risk of injury at a comp might only be very slightly higher than usual training and still mostly minor, but when you watch competition it can look more injurious to the uninitiated!
However, in my opinion the biggest reason is one you mentioned, the time commitment to training and the day of competition itself. I’m so busy all the time and I don’t even have kids!!!!
I do think that sadly it’s still just a statistical thing - there are way less women training BJJ, therefore way less women at a competition. In order to get stacked female brackets in the same way the men’s are, we’d have to get every single woman who trains Jiu Jitsu to compete.
Really great article. more women will only compete when more women compete!
And encourage each other to do so.
I think often the reason a bracket is empty is because so many people think like your example Shivali, that they will only sign up if they see people already signed up! If everyone thinks like that then you get an empty bracket. I always check the refund policy and if I know I’ll get a refund if no one else signs up then I’ll happily be first to sign up, to encourage others to, and that’s what I tell my students too. I believe most comps on Smoothcomp will allow you to sign up without paying, so at least you show in the bracket before even committing money.
Another reason I think less women compete is risk of injury and how dealing with an injury will affect their daily life, especially if they have kids. I’d like to see statistics but I would guess the risk of injury at a comp might only be very slightly higher than usual training and still mostly minor, but when you watch competition it can look more injurious to the uninitiated!
However, in my opinion the biggest reason is one you mentioned, the time commitment to training and the day of competition itself. I’m so busy all the time and I don’t even have kids!!!!
Such good points!! Thanks so much for sharing ♥️♥️
I do think that sadly it’s still just a statistical thing - there are way less women training BJJ, therefore way less women at a competition. In order to get stacked female brackets in the same way the men’s are, we’d have to get every single woman who trains Jiu Jitsu to compete.