Ok,
So I competed again this year in Scotland. despite having a strained elbow/ bicep tendon and being nearly 5kG over weight with a week to go.
Basically I decided to test something other than my physical ability, this may sound wise after the event or just plain stupid but any of you that know me know I'm nothing bu straight so this is the way it was.
At Christmas I decided to enter the Scottish Open with plenty of time to get tournament fit and lose the 10kG I needed to (12 weeks). Bu that 10kG had been the result of loosing my interest in training since my 3rd dan grading and my 2 favorite training partners.
So I started an intense program over Christmas, a period I love to train. It was going well but then in my 3rd session of boxing day I hit the heavy bag and my right forearm was on fire!
Prognoses was a strained or torn tendon. So off with the back to the wine
But I really had the bug and wanted to compete. So after another few weeks of non training I was back at it.All the training was weight loss based but with plenty of tournament timing sets, 30s off 30s on 2min vs 20 rounds etc but limited sparing opportunities and a complete lack of anything resembling upper body work as I couldn't straighten my arm.
The last few weeks drew in and I was down to 73ish kG so I confirmed on deadline day that I was in.... My work then went mental and I was off all over the place and had lots of 'business lunches' so a week to go and I'm 74.7kG...
Thanks to my mate Troy and EPking's advise I cut the hardest amount of weight I've ever done... WHY? At 45 years old!!!
Because I really enjoy coaching, I lead by example and while I have trained my arse off to make weight the last few years cutting is something I have never personally experienced. So I went for it, could bore you with the details if you're interested but I got to 69.2kG the morning of the weigh in and still 69.3kG after the drive to Scotland.
I then had to rehydrate... again dull stuff but basically loads of carbs, plus salt to help absorb the fluids and both water and electrolyte filled fluids. Reckon I was 71-72 on the day and while I felt poor on the Friday and Saturday morning I was fine by fight time... back to 74kG after the all you can eat Chinese and a few glasses of wine
The fights were both v.tough, felt if I'd been as fit as the year before I could have won but that's speculative, on the day I was strong enough and technical enough to cope with an incredibly strong opponent in the semi final and a deceptively strong, fast and very fit opponent in the final who scored the first head kick, wasari I've ever conceded.
Actually did stun me so another new experience on the Matt, took me a second or too to refocus so fairplay it had to be a wasari.
So 2nd place at the Scottish Open for the 3rd time of asking...
Moving forward, As they moved it for my benefit and as it was on my birthday I yesterday took part in our Clicker Tournament.
It didn't go to plan, was still a bit in Knockdown mode so maybe my contact level was a we bit heavy, so a lot of my head kicks were deemed (I think) too heavy... only got warned for a few but saw nothing wrong with a dozen of them that weren't given... always the issue with points tournaments, too subjective and limited feedback.
Today I have decided my weary bones, muscles and especially my tendons need a rest so today as the 1st of my 46th year is day one of my extended rest period.... Will I do Kyokushin again, certainly, will I compete again, who knows.
Where I do see my long term future is in coaching. I have a small stable of decent young men who could be quality fighters as well as some very competent teenagers including my youngest who could also fight at a very high level and although I would love to have lifted that allusive first place trophy I have no doubt what I have learned as a fighter will no doubt make me a better coach, which ultimately, returning to open tournaments in my 40's was my true goal.