So, I decided to jump back into the ring for a local kickboxing tournament recently. Felt like I needed to shake off some rust, you know? Been training consistently, but sparring in the gym is one thing, actually competing is a whole different beast.
Getting Ready
The lead-up was pretty intense. Woke up early most mornings for roadwork, just pounding the pavement before the sun was really up. Evenings were all about the gym. Hours spent hitting pads, working combinations with my coach, lots of drills. My shins were constantly bruised from checking kicks in sparring. Lots of sweat, fair bit of groaning getting out of bed some days.
- Focused hard on my cardio – last thing you want is to gas out in the second round.
- Drilled defensive stuff relentlessly. Keeping those hands up!
- Tried to eat clean, which is always a struggle for me. Failed sometimes, not gonna lie.
Felt reasonably prepared, but you always have that little voice wondering if you did enough.
Tournament Day
Woke up on the day feeling that familiar mix of nervous energy and excitement. Got to the venue, checked in, weighed in. The place was packed. You could feel the tension in the air. Lots of fighters warming up, coaches giving last-minute instructions, the smell of liniment everywhere. Found my corner, started to get my head in the game.
Did some light stretching, shadow boxing, just trying to stay loose and focused. Watched a couple of the earlier fights. Seeing others compete definitely gets the adrenaline pumping.
In the Ring
Finally, my turn came. Heard my name called, did the walkout. It’s always a bit surreal stepping through the ropes. Lights seem brighter, the crowd noise kind of fades into a buzz. Touched gloves with my opponent, listened to the ref, then it was on.
First round was fast. We exchanged a few kicks, felt each other out. Tried to stick to my game plan, work my jab, look for openings. Landed a solid body kick that seemed to get his attention. He came back strong though, caught me with a clean right hand near the end of the round. Definitely woke me up.
Second round felt tougher. We clinched up a few times, traded knees. I could feel myself starting to breathe heavier. Coach was yelling instructions, trying to keep me focused. Managed to score with a few more leg kicks, but he was constantly pressing forward.
Third round was a bit of a slugfest. We both knew it was probably close. Just stood in the pocket and traded shots more than we probably should have. Got tagged again, felt my legs wobble for a second, but managed to stay up and fire back. Went the distance.
Aftermath
Ended up losing a close decision. Honestly, wasn’t even mad. Disappointed? A little, sure. But mostly just relieved it was over and proud I went through with it. Shook my opponent’s hand, thanked my coach. Felt completely drained but good, you know? That feeling of having tested yourself.
Packed my gear, grabbed some water. My legs felt like jelly. Definitely learned a few things, areas I need to work on. Mostly reminded me why I love this stuff, even when it hurts. It’s raw, it’s real. Just glad I did it.
