---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned early on that when you compete…"
description: "\"I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes emotions are good, but I never used emotion when I wrestled and I don't use emotion when I fight.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg"
---

#  I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes…

![“I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes emotions are good, but I never used emotion when I wrestled and I don't use emotion when I fight.” quote by Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg)

> “I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes emotions are good, but I never used emotion when I wrestled and I don't use emotion when I fight.”

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Competing without emotional interference leads to clearer focus and better performance.

**In simple terms:** Control emotions for better performance.

Key Takeaway

Stay calm, act strategically.

Themes

discipline competition emotional control

Mood

focused determined

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- sports competition
- high pressure negotiations
- business deals
- public speaking

Key Concepts

psychology performance optimization

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you let emotions guide a decision?
- Can you separate feeling from strategy?

A Different Perspective

Emotions can sometimes enhance intuition; suppressing them may reduce creativity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compete Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compete-emotions-1314451/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Emotion Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-fight-1314453/) [Emotion Wrestled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-wrestled-1314452/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Emotions Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-good-459932/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Used Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-emotion-859154/)

## Related quotes

> [I have always used emotion as a writing tool. That goes back to me being on the stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/i-have-always-used-emotion-as-a-writing-tool-that-goes-back-to-me/)

[Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/)

> [“Remember, emotions themselves are neither good nor bad. They are simply our psychological responses to the events of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/remember-emotions-themselves-are-neither-good-nor-bad-they-are-simply/)

[Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/)

> [I am an honest person, and that includes showing my emotions - good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-am-an-honest-person-and-that-includes-showing-my-emotions-good-or/)

[Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/)

> [Sex is always about emotions. Good sex is about free emotions; bad sex is about blocked emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/sex-is-always-about-emotions-good-sex-is-about-free-emotions-bad-sex/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Emotions have a good way of making a bad situation worse. We all must learn how to control them and act accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/emotions-have-a-good-way-of-making-a-bad-situation-worse-we-all-must/)

[Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/)

> [We are very passionate and very emotional people in Serbia. Everything we do, it is done with emotions. We are very good at sport,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusan-tadic/we-are-very-passionate-and-very-emotional-people-in-serbia-everything/)

[Dusan Tadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusan-tadic/)

> [A man who is swayed by negative emotions may have good enough intentions, may be truthful in word, but he will never find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-who-is-swayed-by-negative-emotions-may-have-good-enough/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Today there are no more irreconcilable enmities, because there are no more disinterested emotions: that's a good thing born from a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/today-there-are-no-more-irreconcilable-enmities-because-there-are-no/)

[Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/)

> [“Life can be portrayed as a mix of exaggerated emotions where good and evil always tends to get into a notion of conflicts bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-basu/life-can-be-portrayed-as-a-mix-of-exaggerated-emotions-where-good-and/)

[Ayaan Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-basu/)

> [“Emotions are not good, bad, right, or wrong. The ﬁrst step to changing our relationship to feelings is to be curious about them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-pederson/emotions-are-not-good-bad-right-or-wrong-the-rst-step-to-changing-our/)

[Lane Pederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-pederson/)

> [We've been given the full spectrum of emotions for good reason, and it helps us be happy, in my opinion. I think it's totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-centineo/we-ve-been-given-the-full-spectrum-of-emotions-for-good-reason-and-it/)

[Noah Centineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-centineo/)

> [I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-definitely-count-my-blessings-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-such-a-great/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [I knew music was for me from an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-knew-music-was-for-me-from-an-early-age/)

[Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/)

[Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/)

## More by Curtis Blaydes

> [I can strike if I have to, but I'm not going to play that game, this is heavyweight. If I was a bantamweight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-can-strike-if-i-have-to-but-i-m-not-going-to-play-that-game-this-is/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [It's not like basketball, football or rugby, where they judge you on potential. In this sport it's about 'what have you done lately' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/it-s-not-like-basketball-football-or-rugby-where-they-judge-you-on/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [That's one thing I love about the NFL If you can't play, they're not going to pay you. They're going to release you. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/that-s-one-thing-i-love-about-the-nfl-if-you-can-t-play-they-re-not/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [I'm not a smack talker. I have a speech impediment. So if I try to talk smack and I start stuttering, that ruins the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-m-not-a-smack-talker-i-have-a-speech-impediment-so-if-i-try-to-talk/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [I believe in my conditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-believe-in-my-conditioning/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [It's always good to learn lessons, especially when you win and learn a lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/it-s-always-good-to-learn-lessons-especially-when-you-win-and-learn-a/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [I've already shown that I can strike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-ve-already-shown-that-i-can-strike/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [My focus is just taking every opponent and focusing on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/my-focus-is-just-taking-every-opponent-and-focusing-on-them/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [People who think the venue actually has a factor on the outcome of the fight, I don't know what to tell you besides I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/people-who-think-the-venue-actually-has-a-factor-on-the-outcome-of/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [When I get on top of somebody, I don't have to do all the other little checks and balances guys in other weight classes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/when-i-get-on-top-of-somebody-i-don-t-have-to-do-all-the-other-little/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [I don't even view Brock as a legitimate MMA fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-don-t-even-view-brock-as-a-legitimate-mma-fighter/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [Title shot, that's the ultimate goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/title-shot-that-s-the-ultimate-goal/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [Contrary to popular belief, a lot of us who have speech impediments are really, really intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/contrary-to-popular-belief-a-lot-of-us-who-have-speech-impediments/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [I know I can hang with anybody on the feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-know-i-can-hang-with-anybody-on-the-feet/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

> [That's the beauty of my game plan: it's pretty universal, regardless of my opponent's style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/that-s-the-beauty-of-my-game-plan-it-s-pretty-universal-regardless-of/)

[Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

[Explore all 98 Curtis Blaydes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/)

## More Early quotes

> [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/)

[Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [I knew music was for me from an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-knew-music-was-for-me-from-an-early-age/)

[Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/)

> [I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-definitely-count-my-blessings-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-such-a-great/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [I had been exposed to bitcoin early. I thought the consumer application of it felt, to me, further away. I thought there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garlinghouse/i-had-been-exposed-to-bitcoin-early-i-thought-the-consumer/)

[Brad Garlinghouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garlinghouse/)

> [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&amp;R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/)

[Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/)

> [With 'Aurangzeb,' I just knew that the film wasn't going to work, though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/with-aurangzeb-i-just-knew-that-the-film-wasn-t-going-to-work-though/)

[Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/)

> [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/)

[Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/)

> [The early days were really difficult because it was constant no's, I didn't have an agent. I always knew that I had something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madelyn-cline/the-early-days-were-really-difficult-because-it-was-constant-no-s-i/)

[Madelyn Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madelyn-cline/)

> [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [“Why'd she leave so early? It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [The game business arose from computer programs that were written by and for young men in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-laurel/the-game-business-arose-from-computer-programs-that-were-written-by/)

[Brenda Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-laurel/)

> [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/)

[Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/)

> [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/)

[George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/)

> [Kids in the entertainment industry are at a risk of developing depression, as they see glamour at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/kids-in-the-entertainment-industry-are-at-a-risk-of-developing/)

[Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/)

[Browse all 3,940 Early quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes emotions are good, but I never used emotion when I wrestled and I don't use emotion when I fight.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Curtis Blaydes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete-sometimes-emotions-are-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Early"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete-sometimes-emotions-are-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/curtis-blaydes-6229_early_i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete_908996.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I learned early on that when you compete, sometimes emotions are good, but I never used emotion when I…” — Curtis Blaydes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Curtis Blaydes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I learned early on that when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete-sometimes-emotions-are-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-learned-early-on-that-when-you-compete-sometimes-emotions-are-good/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
