How to win? Account of FC fight in Japan

[Kris]

This is my account of the last tournament. I need to learn how to win. I think it is a mental thing. Anybody got any ideas?

Fight time again. This time the tournament was in Nagano. Got up at four in the morning to go with the crew from my Dojo in Yokohama with a chartered bus to the former Olympic city. This was big. Fights on eight mats at the same time in the Olympic arena. Mostly Zendokai clubs taking part, but also a few other full contact styles that I couldn’t determine the name of.

After weight check at 8.30 I found out that my fight was number 33. This meant waiting until way after lunch time. Gave me time to check out the other matches. The many different classes have all different rules. I was in the age group of 35 and over. This means the fights are two minutes instead of three for the younger fighters. The most important difference between classes is whether or not the rules allow take downs and continues on the ground. This is Daido Juku with Vale Tudo rules.

In full vale tudo rules the fight starts upright with kicks and punches, soon to continue on the ground as soon as any of the fighters manage to take the other down. Punching is still allowed on the ground. In my class take downs was allowed, but then the referee would break and the fight resume in standing position. Performing a take down would give you a point though.

This is a single elimination tournament. Loose one match and you are out. Adding the full contact element gets you very close to fight club. There was only a few clean KO:s but many fighters could barely walk off the mat after their fights. One was taken away in ambulance. Is this scary? Yes, and it puts me in a very defensive mode. When you are on the mat and the referee says “hajime!” (begin) you know someone is gonna get hurt.

This was my second time in a tournament and I am beginning to see a pattern in my style. Both times I have endured the full time of the match, (no KO), scored a few points, but in the end lost. I think it is because I get too defensive. In a real fight, and this is as close as you can get still being reasonably safe, your brain shuts down most of its functions.

You can only perform what you have been conditioned to do from hours of training. You can’t think because you are under attack. You go into survival mode. To win, that reflex must be changed. Through the physical conditioning of training and the mental training of actually being in tournaments the attitude needs to be “I will beat this guy, no sweat” instead of “I hope I make it out of here alive”.

By the way, the “Supersafe” headgear that we use for this isn’t really that super safe. The tall guy I was up against kicked me to the side of the neck and pushed my jaw in sideways. Got to keep my teeth. Need to get a mouth guard for next time.

Well, it’s been two weeks since this event and my neck, mouth, rib and foot are all much better. Received the papers for the next tournament at the Dojo yesterday so until next time. Mahalo.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Fantastic post. I struggled with the psych side of fighting & always had bad self talk like "why the hell am I doing this" before fights & "when will it be over" during. Similar to your "someone is going to get hurt"!

I've done a bit of study & learned my problems stemmed from being "results focussed" ie. spending too much time worrying about winning or losing & not worrying about what I was doing. Now I try to be "process focussed" ie. always thinking about what my game plan is & training entirely for that plan (ie. my strengths).

When it comes to the event (I've only had one since doing this & I won my division and enjoyed the entire event!) think about pulling off certain things during the match. For Kyokushin beginners I'd suggest these are real basic - like being in control of range during the fight & blocking leg attacks for example with one or two offensive techniques that work for you. New fighters tend to have big ideas about what they're going to pull off but just like postitional control is the foundation of ground fighting I think range control is the foundation of standup. You can have an amazing high kick but unless you have your range right & you're reading your opponents movements you'll be lucky to make it effective.

Also, know what wins fights - 100 punches to the chest aren't likely to win a fight... you need to know vital points & choose your targets. Without the stress ("noise") that comes with being results focussed you're more likely to be able to read when you have a technique that's working for you or where your opponent has a gap & you can work your plan (which you've drilled) and, if the planets are aligned right that day, the win will come!

[Shokei Marcsui]

Great post and response by Aunti ichigeki and Kris.

I too am working out some mental mindwork when fighting taller people. Very inciteful information and good luck to you on your next tournament.

(I'm only a beginner but here goes...) My shihan and sempai have told me to rely on my training in kyokushin. The moment you start doubting your training and conditioning is the moment you start holding back and going into a defensive mode.

Just go out there and let it hang out, but....

I have to work on keeping my hands up too.

[Kris]

Thanks, great input! From the three fights I had so far (counting the one at my first grading too) I feel that I learned a lot from each one. Like they took me to a new level every time. I am working now on always attacking at an angle, both with kicks and hands. Also to go for the head with the straight right in a combination, that is a winner if hit.