How does sleep affect your performance in competition

You can't expect to perform at your best when you're not getting enough sleep. It doesn't matter if you're training for an MMA match or you have a BJJ tournament coming up in 24 hours. You need to get enough sleep which means you need to be sleeping at least 7 to 9 hours a night.

How does sleep affect your performance? Let's go over three ways sleep plays into how you grapple:

Reaction time

When your body and mind is dealing with sleep deprivation, your reaction time suffers. You won't be able to respond quickly to the scenarios you're faced with. This means that you won't be to do things that require quick movements such as sprawling when your opponent shoots for a takedown.

By getting enough sleep, you can stay sharp and quick. You'll be more likely to recognize potentially bad situations at a faster rate which will help you improve your defense.

Memory retention

If you want to remember more moves like submissions and escapes, get more sleep! The less you sleep, the less likely you're able to recall techniques while drilling and rolling. Your brain processes the information you've received during the day as you sleep. It helps you form long-term memories that you can use later on.

A lack of sleep also hurts your ability to focus in class and learn. When you're getting quality sleep, you'll be a better student and also be able to contribute to your gym in a positive way.

Recovery

Believe it or not, your body can't heal and come back even stronger if you're getting proper rest. Sleeping 7 to 9 hours a night on a consistent basis will help you recover quickly and give your muscles a chance to heal. You'll be even stronger while reducing the risk of injuries.

Hopefully, the three reasons shared above help you gain a better understanding of why you need to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can prove costly and will reduce your chances of success on the mats.

Are you getting enough sleep? Let us know in the comments below!