The last time I had local FGC tournament experience was SF4 a decade ago. Time has gone and so I decided to try my first local tournament at the local FGC.
One thing I forgot was just how nerves impact your play such an incredible amount. And having not played in a tournament or even at the local group, I was definitely shaking at each match.
My last double-elimination match, I had a lot of mistakes on combos that I know I am consistent on in ranked matches. I sensed my opponent was in the same situation and dropping his combos too. On Game 3 Round 3, both in CA stage, he dropped a combo that would have finished me and I then dropped the punish combo that would have finished him. He deserved that win.
I still had a great time. If you haven't looked up your local FGC yet, they're starting to come back up again after the pandemic and I would encourage you check them out. The only thing that will calm tournament nerves is more local practice.
Back in the Genesis days, I invested in a 6-button controller, but I only had one, which is maybe one reason nobody wanted to play with me! The layout was actually better than the SNES, and the direction pad was really good.
So far, I haven't really experienced any jerks while playing. In Battle Hub, I run in to some people who are just way better than me and I'll get completely destroyed, but I haven't seen any teabagging yet, etc. Sometimes if I'm getting completely decimated, I secretly hope my opponent will let up a bit so I can try some things, but they don't really owe me that.
Ranked is stressful, but as many say, at least in Ranked you are more or less facing off against people in the same skill ballpark. I just went up to Silver for the first time. I know if I go on a losing streak and it looks like I'll get demoted, I'll feel the nerves, but I'll get over it and hopefully come back and go up again.