Comparison of competitive anxiety and self-confidence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills levels: a cross-sectional in-event study

Background. Competitive anxiety and self-confidence can be influenced by a number of factors, including skills levels and changes during sporting events. However, the effect of changes in-event are unclear. Problem and Aim. We aimed to compare in-event competitive anxiety and self-confidence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes with different belt colors and compare the levels between the first and second bouts. 113 BJJ male athletes (26.6 ± 5.36 years) competing in the Northeastern Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017 were included. Methods. They responded to the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) after weighing and 15 min before their first fight and those who won responded again before their second bout. Cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence domains were analyzed. Null-hypothesis test and magnitude-based inference analysis were performed. Results. The athletes in the black belt group were older and more experienced (p<0.05). There was no difference between belt color groups in cognitive and somatic anxiety, and self-confidence (p>0.05). However, after winning there was a decrease in cognitive and somatic anxiety only in the blue, purple and brown belt groups, while only the black belt group increased self-confidence. Conclusions. We conclude that skills levels did not influence competitive anxiety and self-confidence in combat sports, but it did influence how it changed during a competition. © Idōkan Poland Association “IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 20, no. 1 (2020), pp. 30–39 DOI: 10.14589/ido.20.1.4