Fight First, Win Later

So it's been quite a few months since my last post and much has occurred since then.

This past August of 2008 marked my first Muay Thai bout in over 7 years. To say the least, it was a reviving and fun experience. And at 32 years old, I've proved to many, and more so to myself, that I still have a little bit of 'fight' left in this youthful, yet aging and sore body of mine.

There wasn't much of a game plan or strategical preparation coming into this bout. But I knew for certain that World Team USA produces some of the finer Muay Thai athletes in today's competitive circuit. I could trust that my boxing would be superior against most traditional Thai fighters, as it would eventually prove during my second homecoming to the four-sided circle. The first round saw a punishment of jabs and toxic hooks handed to my opponents dome. But he was quick to respond with a return of low kicks that were less damaging than what they appeared to be. I was caught off balance a few times and kicked in the process. I'm sure the judges saw these exchanges in my opponent's favor. The second, was even or very close, in my eyes. But the 3rd and 4th is where I felt I became stronger while initiating the attack and clearly landing the bigger and more efficient blows. In short, I would suffer my very first loss to a hometown favorite. An obvious sense of frustration and disappointment were prevalent after the winner was announced. But the praises that I received in the aftermath, were certainly assuring that I had fought hard and fair to the last sound of the bell.

Even after nearly 8 months, I am still allured to the idea that I won that fight. And amongst particular circumstances, the 'fight in the dog' becomes much more significant that the win itself. In hindsight, I suppose that without a game plan, and considering my 7 year hiatus, a great performance would supersede on any given day.

Three months later, the so called 'plan' for the coming bout in December of 08 was to display patience and composure. In this instance, the expectation may have been carried out a little too far as my Team Voodoo counterpart was hesitant to engage for the entire fight. I still committed to a patient and composed performance, but lacked the 'fight' as in my previous bout. In the end, mission accomplished; got the 'W' and executed at will.

There is, without a doubt, much to take from each bout you pursue. And in that, a loss brings forth an equal value as does a win. How so? Simply, the fight game is a constant evolution and test of your physical conditioning, emotional stability, gameness, desire, technique, and knowledge. You will not always win in the same fashion, and you won't always win, period. As your opponent's evolve, so will you. Well, at least for those who genuinely plan to succeed. In my recent scenarios it was all bout the 'fight' as in my first return to the ring. The following bout daunted the task of showing poise. There, I won. It was by far not the most exciting fight to witness. But I stuck to the plan.

For my next bout in June, there will be a beautiful bridal of 'fight' and 'poise.' Always evolving, adapting, and adopting a pre-bout 'plan.' Win or lose.

World Combat Sport Challenge- Strikers 3

Hi All,

After nearly 8 weeks of gruesome bagwork, pad drills, sparring, kettlebell swings, clubbell shield casts, 30 second sprints (uphill), turkish get-ups, sledgehammer throws, jump squats, bulgarian training bag tosses, knee sparring, hindu pushups, dieting, and getting my a** kicked in the gym... we're finally just two weeks away from August 16th.

After it's all said and done, it's going to be a good time... at least for me!

'Heart'-ful Honors

There are many apparent ingredients to cultivating one's self as well as your own students in the art and sport of hand-to-hand combat. Skills are developed through repetitive drilling, sparring, and a diligent eye of a coach or professor. Discipline, is learned as one of many unsaid tenets of all martial arts. A strong work ethic is required to build the most durable and conditioned work-machines to ever walk the planet. Either to equate, or outlast the opposition. A supportive team is also crucial to a fighter's success. Providing perpetual knowledge, encouragement, and a facility for expending a rigorous regimen. And when one or more of these ingredients are lacking during the arduous preparations for a bout, the results can be detrimental. Both to the body and the spirit. But how does your body and mind respond when the pre-bout preparations are matched? Where lies the definitive edge when power and speed are too familiar to opposing corner? When skill is matched or even 'out'- matched?

While all these portions are critical to the success of any combat athlete, there are no developmental means to the un-pedagocical entity of having 'heart.' As everyone has an innate will to win, not all, have the desire to persevere through pain and overwhelming adversity. When speed and power are nullified, and your opponent is far from exhaustion just as you are, how is a 'W' received in your favor?

This past weekend marked an eventful bout where one of FSA's up and coming strikers displayed pure will and raw 'heart.' The War of the Heroes event, sponsored by Fairtex, congregated some the best local and even national talent in the Muay Thai circuit. There were beautiful ceremonies of the traditional, Wai Khru, which represented camps from their original home in Thailand. Where styles were abundant, yet choiceful outcomes were not. We cornered from the blue corner, as he trusted us as his outside eyes and ears. The fight was spectacular to say the least. Phil was obviously the heavy-handed powerhouse in this match, where his opponent was the technician in the clinch while keeping his distance from Phil's deadly right hand. Some of the exchanges were even. Spawning the crowd to great applause. Phil stumbled his adversary while the red corner's pride did the same. As Phil's opposition realized that it wasn't safe to bang with a 'banger' they became smart to close the distance and use height and knees to their advantage. Their plan worked at times where Phil was the unlucky recipient of some nasty knees to the midsection. Despite being over-worked in the clinch, Phil kept fighting. Even after being dropped a couple of times. We were able to regroup in between rounds. We told Phil to keep his arsenal simple. "Jab, jab, overhand right!" We all emphasized. "Fuck the clinch, Phil. Don't give him the clinch. Bodylock! Bodylock!" It may have took a few moments for him to figure out his gameplan, but before he even knew it, Phil was able to shut his opponent's clinch-game down. With every attempt to engage the neck, Phil would automatically clutter his opponent's attempt with a bear-hug-like lock. Phil kept fighting. Landing text book jab-overhand rights to a 'T'. Forcing 'red' to now keep Phil away with his rangy 'teep' kick and occasional powershots that intermittently slowed Phil down. But Phil kept fighting. Like a machine. Exhausted, with almost lifeless arms, he effectively continued his jab- overhand right combo until the very end of the fight. Most of which his adversary did not any want part of. But by the time Phil deciphered how to adapt to his opponent's style, it was slightly too late as he had fell short on the judge's scorecards. And although we did not get the 'W' that night, Phil did prove his warrior spirit. After being downed more than once during the electrifying three round battle, his heart showed that he would never give up, and 'fight til' death.' Similar as that of the ancient Spartans. A modern example of true Bushido spirit. An intangible characteristic that cannot be taught. With all skills aside, it's genuinely something that you are born with. Heart. You either have it, or you don't. It's as simple as that.

Placing Art in Physical Culture

Without delving into any frivolous formalities, I've decided to create this clever blog to simply share, gain (from other readers and bloggers), and exercise a medium for self expression. I've been a fitness enthusiast for over 15 years and equally a martial artist for the same tenure. In my time of tutelage across many art forms, I've had the privilege to visit the Kukiwon World Headquarters of Tae Kwon Do to mentoring under renowned world champions like Lucia Rijker, Jongsanan Fairtex, Bunkerd Faphimai, Hapkido founder Grandmaster, Ji Han Jae, and local Bay Area talent in former Olympic Boxing team member, Michael A. Espinoza. It's certainly been a hybrid experience of sorts, experimenting with different styles, philosophies, training methods, and martial creeds. Many of which have displayed their raw effectiveness as well as techniques I would question in real life combat. But nonetheless, each of these martial arts is deserving of respect and honor for their individual traditions and history of over hundreds and thousands of years. My experience, of course, may never amount to such legacy. Although, in my 15 plus years of learning and refining my own technique and belief system, I've kept and maintained techniques that have worked. Analyzed those that were questionable. All while trying to make sense towards a method of sound stand-up combat. No claiming superior styles here. Much like the late Bruce Lee once resounded, 'In memory of a once fluid man, crammed and distorted by the classical mess.'