I had a plan for the tournament, and I didn't get punched in the mouth, so I stuck with it. My goal was to submit with a gi choke. I think it was a good plan, and it might have even succeeded if, on my best attempt, I hadn't accidentally grabbed her braid along with her gi. My hand just kept sliding down her hair, until *ping*, off came her hair tie, and my grip.
I think the problem with my plan is that I didn't have a back-up. I just kept focusing on the gi choke, and my tunnel vision prevented me from seeing any other options. When I watched the video, I could see about 87 times where I should have armbarred her instead. It doesn't help that I am generally too focused on choking, and I don't go after other submissions like I should.
I feel like I still have a delayed reaction time in realizing what is happening. My brain and my body are not communicating with each other like they should be, and I am missing opportunites because of it. I can see things afterward, but while I am in the midst of fighting there is a lot that I miss.
While it's good to have a plan; to have some idea in your head of how you would like the match to go, if your plan isn't working out you should abandon it. When I didn't get the gi choke, I should have moved on to something else.
If only someone would have punched me in the mouth.
"The best laid schemes of Mice and Men
oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!"- Robert Burns
oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!"- Robert Burns