I wasn’t really at 100% for this tournament but I did the best I could. As this was my first tournament, in Japan, I went out 110% in the first match. My cardio wasn’t really up to par as you can see, I get tired around the first minute mark.

But I kept going and won the first match. The guy was actually bigger than me but he did mostly straight attacks. As you can see I keep moving around him making it hard for me to hit me while I’m punishing his legs. Also towards the end of the round he’s tired too and I just keep pummeling his legs and get the victory.

I didn’t have much ‘cardio’ left for the second round which causes it to assume a different form of fight, it’s calmer but more explosive. I decided that since I don’t have so much gas left I’ll not move much but hit him hard as he closes in. I got in a couple nice Chudan Mawashigeri’s which made him realize my power and he didn’t come close for the rest of the fight, utilizing his reach.

I was the agressor and I was confident about winning until the last ten seconds … I do a Chudan Mawashigeri which hits his knee (just below my shinguard). A tremendous pain shoots down my foot and I’m shocked. I stagger trying to maintin composure and keep standing up. But he sees that I’m totally off balance and grabs the opportunity. He hit a semi-clean Jodan Mawashigeri and then he did a cool Kaiten Geri which hit in the LAST SECOND – which made him win the fight.

But all in all a good experience and I’m gonna train much harder and diligently for my next tournament!

OSU!

Enjoy!