Hello from Las Vegas this week. I've been here to compete at the American Nationals along with my 2 sons.

At the same time, Lee Heery and Isabelly Oliveira were in Brazil competing at the Brazilian NoGi Nationals in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil and the US are really the 2 strongholds of Jiu Jitsu, for obvious reasons. Getting the experience of competition here has been really positive for the 4 people who competed- Isabelly and Lee (both 21) in Brazil, Reuben (17) and Max (21) in Las Vegas.

The level here is really good. Outside of the majors, this is the hardest it gets to win anything. They're travelling on from all over the USA and indeed (like us), the world, so you'd better believe they're ready to fight.

I get asked if it's hard to win a match in Jiu Jitsu. My answer is simple- it's hard to do anything. Get a score, get a position, even get a grip!

I had a mixed outing myself and I'll come home with a bronze. But I'm too old for it to matter as much! The guys have long competition careers ahead of them and they'll get so much from this.

There were tough matches out in Rio for Isa who lost by points, and Lee who lost by submission. Max won his first in Vegas before getting submitted in the 1/4 finals, and Reuben fell to a footlock in the semis of his Gi match, before rallying in his nogi, losing narrowly on points.

You can be disappointed with your results, and still appreciate the experience. I saw Olympian Wrestler Jordan Burroughs speak to kids about what he called the Arcade Theory. If you gave a kid a day in a gaming arcade, and after a day he traded in his tokens for his prize (a whoopee cushion or some other cheap tat), he'd be delighted. But then he said, what if he didn't win the prize? A day in the arcade is still a pretty good day!

So why not treat competition the same? Yes there's a prize at the end if you win, but if someone gave you the chance to do the matches without the medals, would you still do it?

Of course you would. We're out here doing what we love. Win or lose, it's a good day.

That doesn't take away the will to win, but it frees you from the result being the be-all to your enjoyment of the sport, your tournament, your day, your trip, your training.

4 young people from Kyuzo took on the best in the world last weekend, performed with skill and courage, and gave it their all. The results will come next time, or one time after that.

See you on the mat soon.