Competition Cycle

We are entering the fourth week of a competition cycle. Fights are October 6th.

The intensity increases each week.

The combinations get more complex.

The level of expectation rises with each passing week.

The advertised two-hour session has been stretching to 2-1/2; beyond that, Ivan keeps us late to spar. The nights grow longer; camaraderie is strengthened. Most of us agree that our mental toughness is being conditioned as well as our bodies. Something you don’t get spending evenings surfing MySpace Groups or making claymation videos for youtube.com. It is not uncommon to have guys drop 4, 6, even 8, or more, pounds of water weight by the end of the night, even while replenishing during practice.

Attendance ebbs and flows around a nucleus of regulars. A newcomer, at this stage, is tossed into the deep end immediately. On the nights I feel weak, I am thankful to have three months of buildup to help push through the pain and fatigue. Sometimes, I am surprised the new ones make it, or that they return. It is nice to be considered a “regular” now; the road to get here was long and painful, but worth every step.

Sparring is getting more intense. Last night was a round-robin, with each fighter in the ring for two two-round sessions, with fresh opponents each round. It was a good test of muscle-memory, endurance, and strategy. Upon reflection, I saw some areas which have improved, but others still need work. In a true ‘learn-by-doing’ sport, sparring is the truest way to find holes and improve.