Gracie Barra powerhouse Felipe Pena, aka "Slot" goes over pre-requisites to earn a blue belt, and how to overcome the adrenaline factor before Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments.
The adrenaline before the competition is normal -- I think everybody gets it, but I think that, the more you fight in tournaments, the more experienced you get, and that reduces that adrenaline a bit, removing some of the nervousness, but that adrenaline, that nervousness before the match, I think it will always exist. Especially before the first fight. At least with me, after I fight in the first match, I get relaxed, I sweat and then I'm calmer.