After the Championship
by: BTM - Tue, 18 Nov 2025
Bahraini Jiu-Jitsu athlete Ahmed Al Nooh reflects on the emotional and mental journey behind his most recent World Championship appearance. In this candid piece, he shares what it truly means to be a fighter, far beyond the medals or the glory.
The championship is over.
I won’t talk about results here; I have already shared those elsewhere.
What I want is to talk about something deeper: the experience itself and the emotions that come with it.
Human beings naturally feel safe with what is familiar, with what they know and can predict. But the moment life pushes us out of that comfort zone, something shifts inside. Some resist it, some hide behind excuses, and some simply freeze.
Think back to the first time you gave a presentation: the shaking hands, the dry throat, the nervous smile. You probably improved after repeating it a few times, but that fear of the first time never really disappears.
Now imagine that same feeling multiplied by ten. That is what a fighter feels before stepping onto the mat. You are about to fight, to get exhausted, to feel pain, and maybe even to lose. Your mind starts whispering, “Why are you doing this? You don’t have to.” It tries to protect you, to pull you back to safety.
That is the battle before the battle, the mental fight that begins long before the referee says “go.”
And this is where mental strength comes in. You do not fight your emotions; you accept them. You acknowledge the fear, the pressure, the tension, and then you use them. You make them work for you, not against you.
Every athlete goes through four stages:
- The anticipation
The excitement, and sometimes fear, before it all begins. Some are over the moon, others are simply curious to see how it feels.
- The tension
That wave of anxiety right before the fight. For some, it shows up as restlessness; for others, as fatigue or pain. It usually fades the moment you step on the mat.
- The mental battle
Once the fight begins, it is not just about skill. It is about emotional control. Either you stay centred, or your emotions take over.
- The calm
That moment after it is all over. Win or lose, you breathe again. The pressure fades and peace slowly returns.
But here is what I love most: every competition teaches me something new about myself. It is not just about Jiu-Jitsu. It is about resilience, mindset, and growth. Every fight leaves me a little stronger, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.
That is why I always feel a kind of sadness when a tournament ends. It is strange, but I miss the chaos, the nerves, the pain, even the fear. Because those moments remind me that I am alive, learning, and evolving.
So if you train but have not competed yet, I have one piece of advice for you:
Do it.
Step onto that mat.
It is an experience no one can describe, and no money can ever buy.
Tags #bahraini athlete #ahmed al nooh #bahrain jiu jitsu
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