Sandbagging (grappling)

{{Short description|Ranking lower than ones actual ability}}

Sandbagging is a term used in martial arts to denote a practitioner who competes at a skill-bracket deemed less rigorous than their actual level of competitive ability.{{cite web |url=https://thewisegrappler.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/should-you-have-sympathy-for-the-sandbagger/ |title=Should You Have Sympathy For the Sandbagger? |first=Paul |last=Greenhill |year=2008 |accessdate=May 31, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.scientificwrestling.com/products/department4.cfm |title=NO POINTS - NO POLITICS - NO SANDBAGGING Submit or Pin to Win! |work=A catch-as-catch-can wrestling promo mentioning sandbagging |accessdate=May 31, 2012}}

The term is adopted similarly in golf and various forms of racing. In contrast to these sports however, it remains unclear whether the grappling "sandbagger" necessarily does so intentionally.{{cite web |url=http://www.bjj-asia.com/2010/07/massive-shout-out-to-team-vpf-brown.html |title=MASSIVE SHOUT-OUT TO 'ATOS VPF': BROWN, PURPLE & BLUES! |date=July 4, 2010 |work=A blog post suggesting one might be an unintentional 'sandbagger' |accessdate=May 31, 2012}} For example, in Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where competition is generally divided by belt rank, a practitioner is conventionally not allowed to choose his or her own ranking and thus must compete at a level predetermined by his or her instructor.{{cite web |url=http://www.ibjjf.org/graduation.htm |title=IBJJF Graduation System |work=Official IBJJF graduation system |accessdate=June 4, 2012}}