GuruMuayThai review by Kerry (complete beginner)

https://youtu.be/PDDGHPpJvcg

Prepare yourself, believe in yourself and do your best

Day after my last fight I was talking to one of my best training partner, team mate and corner man Michael.
We spent a lot of time together training, not only in our gym but also in different camps inside and outside of the UK.
We know each other very well.
Strength and weaknesses. We can quite easy understand each others emotions, and we can help to motivate each other.
But anyway....
Michael has shared with me his observations and his opinion over my performance during last fight.
He has quite clearly and correctly red some of the feelings I had before and while fighting.
Michael also said that he was very surprised at the pace we have both set up right from the beginning of the bout.
As it was 10 rounds, championship fight he has though that we would start of much slower,  just to feel each other, then pick up the pace as it progresses.  Very much like in the traditional MuayThai Thai fight.
My answer was; that there was no time to waste.
Me and my opponent both knew each other.  We both did our homework and prepared best we could for that particular event.
We both knew that we wouldn't wanna let the judges make the decision.
We both aimed for clear win by the stoppage.
If I waited for further rounds to pick up the fight I would take a massive risk.
Anything could happen.
I was facing strong opponent with great experience and amazing power of his punches.
One clear shot could change everything.
So I have choose to risk while executing our plan. Plan that we have trained with my coaches, my training partner Roman and all the GMMA Academy team for weeks.
Simply; if something goes wrong, I prefer if it happens when I am doing my best than when I don't do nothing.
If I was going to die, I wanna die as a warrior not a coward.
This same philosophy I do bring out in to my life. Only those who don't do anything don't make mistakes.
I choose to be a doer.
I believe that this is the only way forward.
Prepare yourself, believe in yourself and do your best.
If not working.
Make changes and repeat the procedure.

www.GMMA.co.uk

Krystian Ozog Fighter/Instructor, GMMA Academy 07928093841 | KrystianGuruMuayThai@gmail.com | http://www.gmma.co.uk/ | London/Great Britain

World title fight

Five more days to go.
This Saturday coming ,19th of September 2015 another big test for me and my team. I am going to fight for B.I.K.M.A middleweight low kick kickboxing World Title.
For the second time in my career I am going to fight against very strong, skilled and end experienced fighter, current British Champion, representing  Albania and Great Britain at once: Jetnor Pjetri.
Our previous fight took place about four years ago and I can honestly say that it was one of the hardest and most precious point decision victories on my record.
It has been a long time since then and we both went long way.
I believe it is going to be very interesting match where we both going to give it all for 10, 2 minutes rounds that has been contracted.

We are both going to fight hoping that we are going to make our teammates, fans and family proud.

For me personally it will be another step towards achieving my goals, another position on my CV, another great opportunity to test myself.
I do want to make my students proud, I do want to make them believe in themselves and that they can become whoever they want.

I want my friends, family and readers to believe this same.
Since I have started my journey with martial arts, my life has changed and is constantly changing a lot.
It is improving.

If you wish to come and support myself and good cause which are Children in need which all the tickets money are donated to.
You are more than welcome.
Just let me know and meet me at the venue.

Saturday 19th September 2015 at "Night of champions" Chestnut Grove school, Chestnut Grove, Balham SW12 8JZ.
Doors are open at 3pm, first bout at 4pm.
Cost of tickets £20, all money donated to children with heart disease.

Krystian Ozog Fighter/Instructor, GMMA Academy 07928093841 | KrystianGuruMuayThai@gmail.com | http://www.gmma.co.uk/ | London/Great Britain

"The spiritual journey continues"

Parkash 2015

17th - 19th of July at

Guru Nanak Sikh academy,Springfield road, Hayes, UB4 0LT

"The spiritual journey continues"

Meaningful title of this year Sikh cultural and religious event in Hayes describes well surrounding atmosphere over that amazing happening.

It has been second year in a row when we had an honor and pleasure to participate in such a wonderful event with our martial arts school / GMMA Academy.

All area has been overflown with joy and kindness during time of the celebration.

Thousands of people in colorful, traditional clothing and smiles on they faces coming from every possible direction.

Inside the venue, right in the middle has been situated great size tent where took place: seminars, lectures and religious events, all projected on the screen outside for those who couldn't fit inside that enormous size tent. 

Or for those who were discovering stalls around the main venue.

Stalls promoting traditional Indian / food, clothing, music, films, organizations, shows, support centers, charity institutions...

Stalls promoting community development like; British Army, Metropolitan Police, Firefighters, Traditional Sikh martial artists performing fantastic ritual of Gatka. 

It was once again, great great experience for us to be part of all that.

We have felt very welcome and I am pleased to say that we had a lot of interest and positive feedback in what we had to offer. 

Our principals of Martial arts training to cultivate a disciplined mind, body and spirit, has blended perfectly with ideology of the happening and its title "The spiritual journey continues".

It was fantastic weekend for all our Gukwoone and GuruMuayThai students and parents. 

I am looking forward for Parkash 2016.

Expecting it bigger and better as every year.

Kind Regards 

GMMA Academy

Krystian Ozog Fighter/Instructor, GMMA Academy 07928093841 | KrystianGuruMuayThai@gmail.com | http://www.gmma.co.uk/ | London/Great Britain

Be champion of your own life

It is very relaxing Saturday evening.
After very positive and productive morning then another great afternoon session of GuruMuayThai.
I have sat down plugged to the computer catching up with some of my work.
My wife sat right next to me and searched on the TV something interesting for us to watch.

She has tuned on documentary about controversial career of one of the most popular "sportsman" in the world; Lance Armstrong.
Which has inspired and gave hope to millions of people.
Not only as the greatest of all times road cyclist who managed to win Tour the France race along with his team of course for seven times in a row.
His achievement was even more inspiring, as he has managed to bit the cancer and that was his big come back to the sport, to new life.
However, after many years of leading road cycling races, being an icon of sportsmanship and hard work at any circumstances. After establishing foundation fighting with cancer and supporting the victims of that disease.
He has been accused and proved the later on confessed himself of taking a doping and not being honest for all those years.

Watching this and hearing all the story made me think deeply of his motives.
Obviously he was very ambitious, hard working and very talented road cyclist at the beginning of his career. But the nature of the sport he has chose has pretty quick made him understand that as a human being you cannot be at your peak at all times.
His young and sick ambition wouldn't agree with that. Especially after winning with deadly disease of a testicular cancer ( quite often diagnosed among the cyclists ).
World wide publicity, sponsors, money involved and probably many more his own reasons would make him cheat this way.

After all, he has got stripped of all the titles and become a "Champion" of a cheat.

He couldn't cope with thoughts that you can be great, while still having ups and downs.
In life, you cannot go up on your graph at all times. It is not natural.
There will always be ups and downs. There will always be someone training harder and wanting it more. But that is the beauty of sportsmanship. That does always motivates me to work harder, better, smarter. And as long as I listen to my body and stay consistent with my training, I know that I will achieve what I aim for, I will get the best I can possibly be.

I will "become a champion of my own life".
( These words I have red on the banner outside the Master Sken gym in Stockport at the training camp few years back ).

www.GMMA.co.uk

Krystian Ozog Fighter/Instructor, GMMA Academy 07928093841 | KrystianGuruMuayThai@gmail.com | http://www.gmma.co.uk/ | London/Great Britain

Go and get it

We all want be successful and achieve something in our lives.

There is nothing wrong about it. We should all aim for better living.

We should all aim high and constantly look for the way to improve.

We do deserve the best, every one of  us.

But it is not going to be given to us.

We have to "go and get it".

If I wanted to become a doctor, I would most likely try to get myself on the course at medical university, would study the subject and try to graduate the best I can. Once completed the Uni I would look for the practise, understanding that only persistence in my work and education can make me qualified doctor.

If I wanted to become a carpenter, I would look for carpentry courses, buy myself a set of tools and look for the practise on the building sites. Knowing that it takes time, hard work and constant learning to become qualified carpenter.

If I wanted to become a professional boxer, I would start by signing up with amateur boxing club, buy myself boxing gloves and some running shoes. Would take any opportunity to improve my boxing skills, would work on my sparring, endurance, diet and everything it takes to become qualified boxer.

And so on... .

Simple method in whoever you choose you wanna become.

Just "go and get it"!

You wanna loose few kilos simply: change your diet and exercise.

You want to improve your flexibility: stretch daily.

You want to improve your stamina: increase your cardio workout.

You want to become a great fighter: train and compete.

Whatever you wanna achieve, whoever you wanna become: just "go and get it".

There is no short cuts.

You cannot open the door without unlocking it first.

www.GMMA.co.uk

   

Be positive.

Every day we are having a gift of getting another chance, we can start again or simply continue achieving our goals.
It is our choice what we are going to do with that great gift.
It is our choice how we are going to feel about it, about ourselves and our situation. 
We all get absorbed by everydays life and its difficulties. We all get tired physically and mentally.
Is there any recipe of how to get through those times?
Well I think there is.
I think that first of all we should all understand that life is full of ups and downs.  We should be grateful of what we have, stay focused and positive.
Surround ourselves with positive people who are going to lift us up instead of pulling down.
Great vision of the future created by positive thinking and having good plan can give us so much more power to go through the obstacles.
Just like in the ring: the winner becomes the one who wants it more.
It is a simple math; two trained and skilled fighters facing each other at this same weight category, got equal chances to win, very often it depends on mental strength and never give up attitude.
When we believe in the end result and not being afraid of failure, we are going to get what we want easier and possibly quicker.
As I have mentioned in one of my previous post "Unnecessary stress" , about the power of emotions.
Emotions can give you super strenght or paralyse you. And there is no doubt about it.
You choose which way you wanna go.
You choose to spend your day with complaints and excuses or stay positive, enjoy what you got and use all that to eget better.
Passion, love, sharing with others will give more sense to your everyday life and will help you to go through the hardship.
Just remember your goals.
Do what you believe in.
Be positive, be happy.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Composure

Everybody can kick and punch.
But if you wanna become a skillful and successful fighter, there is many more skills you need to develop.
In this post I am going to concentrate on one of them. The one I am currently working on.
It is "composure".
Not that fancy stands and moves you could think of.
Composure in terms of staying alert and ready at all times.
It is kind of back to basics proces.
I am trying to sharpen up my tools, while keeping right position and balance after each strike. That will help me to read the game better and always beeing able to react at various occasions.
It takes a lot of time spend on the footwork,balance, extending the strikes, stepping in and out ( managing the distance ) as well as right twist of the feet and body.
The aim is to become more fluid in all my actions.
There is few bad habits I got to get rid off, to make things work right.
But I am very excited as while I am working on my development I can already see the benefits of it.
I can see that by improving my "composure", many other aspects will get better too.
All that also helps with saving energy during the fight as well as during the practice.
I can see that when I manage to loosen up and sharpen my reaction while executing right turn in and out of each combination. Everything works smoother and clearer.
No unnecessary swinging and throwing hands gets involved.
All that works and looks much better at all.
All needs to be done is practice.
Teach my body and brain to react the way I want it to.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Love will give you wisdom.

There was a time, when I first started teaching martial arts to children, when I was pretty nervous.
I knew what I was doing. I was quite convinced that I've got a lot to share with them and what I've got to offer can help them improve their lives.
Task was theoretically simple. Just bring to the table my own experience. Exactly  the way I used to do with the groups and individual adults I was already teaching for a while.
I was impressed how easy can children learn and how quick they can achieve things when they love what they are doing.
However there was few factors of helping children that have got me a bit stressed.
First of all;  children have much less patience than adults.
As a foreigner speaking to the bunch of adults and bunch of kids I could clearly  see the difference. Children wouldn't hide if they didn't understand and they wouldn't try to figure out the meanings.
They would simply express themselves while adults would usually carry on the way they think is right, waiting for eventual corrections.
I could also see the way they look at me, especially the youngest ones. I became a role model for many of them in terms of Martial arts.
That was another reason why I could feel under pressure. I knew that what I do and say is been taken deep into their little hearts and they will fallow my footsteps.
Parents watching me taking care of their loved ones and hoping to help them rise their child the best they can.
And finally; GMMA Academy standards. The highest standards brought by my coaches, developed in a lifetime experience of their very intense work as a martial artists,fighters and instructors.
I've got given great credit by my Coaches and at this same time, expectations are great.
All those aspects have gave me a bit of stress as I have always been  trying to perform the best I can or even better.
So many times I've been asking myself how can I improve as a instructor.
There is so much to go with it .
Everyone is different, everyone has got different abilities and needs.
How can I help one person without missing on the other?
This and many more important questions would come through my head.
It took me a while to figure out that: all of those questions have only got one answer: "love".
When you bring love and passion to something that you are good at,you can create amazing things.
We all need love,understanding, patience and right motivation.
So I have learnt that everything goes easier when I just fallow my heart and intuition. When I treat everyone with love and respect, I can't go wrong and they will pay back with this same.
This is a win - win situation where we all improving in positive environment.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Busy life vs training

There is so much more I wanna get from my life.
As a fighter, student, instructor.
As well as in my career outside the sports and as a husband, brother, son and simply a men.
I strongly believe that we were born as a community and we should also leave as a community too. I wanna be able to so much more for others.
I know that I am on the right path to achieve all this. I am with right, like minded people.
As most of us this days I can't always do things that I would like to  (even if they are right things to do ). Like my training.
My routine is at least two trainings day, six days a week. When I accomplish this schedule,  I do have a Sunday off with full peace of mind.
If I know that tomorrow I've got to start work earlier I will make sure that I wake up early enough to do my morning session and prepare myself for rest of the day.
My main trainings (Gukwoone, GuruMuayThai etc) are in the afternoon or evening. And they are my priorities.
I will literally do all my best to attend my main sessions.
As much as the morning ones are flexible, I can't change nothing when it comes to the main ones.
So in the busy schedule of my other work related duties. Sometimes it is physically impossible to make it on time.
Sometimes even beeing slightly late is not an option either.
Do I just finish what I've got to do and go home to have a peaceful night?
No way.
That wouldn't be possible.  I wouldn't sleep well at all.
The more I achieve the busier I get and the harder it is to fit in everything I wanna do. But if I can't cope with what is happening now, how will I perform having more responsibilities and more duties (which I am planning to ) on my head.
I am not even parent yet:-) !
So I will always make sure that I have this couple of things with me at all times.
My training kit and membership card to chain of the gyms at different locations around London, where I can do my routine if I miss my planned training.
If I skip it today, tomorrow will something else pop out. Day after day, week after week I will miss more and instead of getting closer I will move away from my goals.
So here we are.
Missed my evening session and just about to start my own training of a run on the treadmill...
Good luck with achieving your goals👍
www.GMMA.co.uk

Copycatting skills of children

While enjoying beautiful English spring I have recently been increasing outdoor training of my own, as well as with my students. It would be a criminal not to use this warm and sunny days.
At the beginning of this week, at one of the West London parks I was training one of my regular students, a five years old boy. His mum and little sister, two years old were enjoying the weather watching us from time to time.
Little girl was as most of the little children would be really interested in all surroundings,flowers,trees, dogs passing by. But every time her brother had a break for a drink she would come to me,bow the way we do at Gukwoone and kick the pads with big smile on her face.
We spent some time on developing back kick of my young student and added it up to nice short combination at the end.
When we finally finished the training little girl had run back to me again and begun kicking the pads the best she could.
I gave her short instructions and taught her how to punch too.
Over sudden she has turned around and performed back kick which has briefly seen us practicing with her brother.
We were all amazed.
After all we went to playground in the park to let children have some fun.
Girl has continued fallowing the footstepsof her older brother.
She would fearlessly repeat every action taken by him.
One thing I know for sure and there is no doubt about it,is that children have great ability of copycatting others.
There is no boundaries in their abilities as they not over thinking it. They have no doubt, all they wanna do is accomplish their mission.
That's why as a teachers,parents,older siblings,any other kind of mentors or role models, we have very responsible task. We have to choose wisely what kind of people we are, what kind of attitude we have and what do we say to our upper coming hero's.
Words are not enough to inspire them and make them become confident and successful.
They need to see great perspective in our actions.
Will I teach my students how to perform correct back kick without showing them example?
Will I teach them respect while laughing at their problems and difficulties?
Will I teach them how to improve if I am staying still satisfied with what I've got ?
Whatever is your role; teacher, parent,brother,sister.
Remember that kids simply observing and copycatting.
Don't matter how much you explain, they will most likely fallow your actions rather than words.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Stressing food

I have experienced how stress can affect our nerve system and our health at numbers of situations.
I have had serious problem with my lower back ( when I have thought that my fighting career was finished ).
At very unexpected moment, when I was actually feeling pretty strong.
I have seen my wife beeing incorrectly diagnosed with asthma few months after our wedding. When she finally settled down after all the preparation and stressing about the ceremony and party.
So many times I've got ill straight after the fight as my nerve system would be overloaded in the preparation and during the competition. When it was all done my body and brain would completely relax and being tired after all the tension I would catch any virus hanging around.
Having the back problem I have mentioned before I was regularly visiting chiropractic for months.
At that time I would always have pack or two of peppermint chewing gums in my pocket.
Emptying pockets before each session my Chiropractic has noticed that and proposed me a test.
Test was simple: I had to lie down  on my back and lift my legs and arms,keeping them straight and try to resist while he was pulling pushing or to the side and pushing down.
It wouldn't look too bad.
Then he would ask me to put one of the chewing gum in my mouth, without even chewing just let the taste come out.
It was no longer than two minutes before we repeated the test.
I couldn'tbelieve of the outcome and I have accused the doctor of pushing and pulling harder than before.
He would smile and explain to me what was he trying to prove.
Doctor has explained to me that what I have experienced was result of my nerve system being weaken up while protecting my body against poisoning chemical of the chewing gum called aspartame.
While he was explaining I was waiting for the taste to go away and we had the test for the third time.
Everything was more or less back to normal after about five minutes chat.
Aspartame is one of many chemical ingredients of today's processed food.
Along with many other sweeteners, regulators, preservatives and countless enhancements used by food producers.
All of those have similar effect on our health to mental stress.
It all affects our nerve system then amune.
You can run and train everyday, but if you are not having good rest, peaceful life, plenty of love and healthy diet.
You might still suffer health wise.
So make right choices at your next meal.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Train your subconsciousness mind

Everyday we hear and read inspiring quotes that can bring some spark to the moment we are in.
Especially when it comes to social media.
We are flooded with images and videos that meant to change our lives.
I do love them myself and I have personally subscribed to quite few interesting pages and websites that I do always share with my friends.
I believe they are good and they can help us by educating and giving new ideas.
Or simply reminding us who we really are and where we are going to.
But we all need to realise one very important thing; it doesn't matter how much you work in order to get something by your conscious mind if your unconscious mind goes opposite direction. 
As Bruce Lipton, great biologists and book  writer says; only 5% of our everyday activities and decisions are made by our conscious mind.
95% is what we have programmed in our unconscious brain.
Even though we constantly thinking,planning and making decisions.
It is still mainly dictated by what we have programmed ourselves for.
Breathing, walking, driving, speaking, observing, eating, drinking, sleeping and many others actions we take through the day are taken without over thinking.
We can train our innerself in everyday life just like in the Martial arts and fighting sports. That's the reason why we are endless practicing techniques which can be used at the event of danger or in the ring during the competition.
In the fight there is no time to think.
On the street, split second can decide of a outcome. Your body need to react spontaneously. Your muscles stimulated by the brain ( part responsible for sight ) are going to use their memory.
They are going to react the way you prepared them to. In the ring rules are this same. The only difference is that in the sport fight mostly it goes over longer period of time. But then again you are still going to react the way you train yourself.
Especially when you are tired or under pressure, bad habits you were hiding while you were fresh are going to come out.
Apart your physical reactions, this form of actions are also great test for our mental attitude. Are you programmed as a winner? Are just survivor?  Are you giving up when the hard times hit you?
I work on my subconscious mind everyday, at work, in the training, at home, in my relationship as well as in the fighting experience.
I believe this is the only way for me to become better and help others.

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

What will they say ? How will they react ?
What if they disagree ? Can I really do it ?
Maybe I am not fit for it ?!
Am I not to old ?
What if this and what if that ?!?
So many questions and doubts  comes to our heads every day.
Conversation with our innerself is never ending.
In sports, career, everydays life. If we allow our innerself, nerves, emotions take control of our reactions and decisions we might miss great opportunities and and go through our lives to cautious.
Not achieving our best, not allowing ourselves to live our lives.
Of course, we can't jump of the boat in the middle of the ocean without the life vest and not being able to swim.
But at this same time not doing things because they might go wrong is a bit like; not getting of the bed because at night we are going to go to sleep again anyway.
Physical  exercise has always been great motor to my life, even before I gave started with fighting and martial arts.
It has always been great tool to work on my mental strength and confidence.
Of course I do still ask myself  ( obvious ) questions like; "can I really?" and "what if?".
I ask those questions in my sport career, professional career as well as in my private life.
And trust me I do fear and I do do doubt.
When emotions begin to take over I simply try to turn of and try to think "what would I do if I weren't afraid? ".
I try to think what has brought me this path, what am I hoping to achieve and where am I going to.
I do train hard and devote my life to become better  fighter, martial artist and instructor. I do work hard to become successful in every aspect of my life and being able to share with others.
Even I do feel tired I've got great believe in myself and my abilities and my plans.
But like in the fighting career.
In a sparring and preparation I feel sharp,strong and able to move mountain.
I do look for the way and plan how to get titles and be a winner, how to develop for myself and for our team.
Then when it comes to the fight day;
I I still question myself if I have done enough and "what if this?"or "what if that?". I suppose it is natural.
It is related to our survival instinct which should help us make the decision at the moment of danger.
But do we not become to cautious at some point?
We do wanna get better job, but we are afraid of changes.
We do wanna travel, have lots of adventure and achieve big things but we are not willing to risk.
If I weren't afraid would become a world champion in kick boxing, I would educate myself in psychology I would become successful in all aspects of my life to be able to take care of my family as well as  help others. Still getting more out of my life, achieving my goals and passions.
What would you do if you weren't afraid?

www.GMMA.co.uk

Follow your dreams.

What is your dream?
What is your ambition?
How would you like to see yourself in few years time?
Those few questions keep on coming back to my head every now and then.
Answer isn't always this same,everything changes. I am changing, my family and my needs are changing.
My surroundings and abilities are changing.
And the most of all my hunger increases.
All my little achievements keep the fire burning inside me.
Keeps me inspired and believe that I am on the right path.
All my failures makes me understand how much work there is still in front of me.
Sharing my knowledge and experience by writing this blog and coaching others gives an additional value to my journey of becoming better.
Gives me hope that my way of improvement and what I have learnt can help others believe in their goals and save some time by not making this same mistakes.
Having weakness, fears or making mistakes is natural.
But don't let all these slow you down or stop you in achieving your goals.
Don't look for excuses.
Fallow people you believe are right and helping you to improve.
Follow your dreams!

I've missed my training!

It happens.
Busy life,busy city,busy roads.
Even though I've  carried with me all day long, my gym bag with equipment and food ready for the training and after.
I was mentally ready for it and would honestly do all my best to get to the gym on time. My coach has promised us some nice sparring session for tonight,one of the last one before next Friday show.
I was really looking forward to it.
On some point I have realised that there is no chance that I am going to make it on time. But  I  still haven't gave up, still tried to get to the gym even if I was going to be late. Nothing worked right.
I was still around half an hour away and training was already 40 minutes in a progress. I would have missed more than half of it. I have no time to waste especially week before the fight. So I have done some quick shopping and went straight home planning my own training while still driving.
What is it I need the most now and what have I been lacking of in my training recently?
I've decided that working on the speed will be what I need right now.
So I have planned some long sprints, skipping,  shadow boxing with dumbells and fast circuit workout.
I am pretty sure that apart of the sparring, boys have been doing very similar routine.
So ambitious plan was in place and I have made myself ready.
Then here we go; other priorities,cold outside,late evening, tiredness, laziness and many other symptoms of human nature, tries to take over initiative.
I've been in this kind of situation many times and I am pretty good at dealing with that.
But then again,doing it and doing it right are two different options which depends on your determination,will power and honesty to yourself.
It is easy to go light on yourself when no one is watching and pushing.
For some strange reason in my case I feel like this is when I really put some good work.
Over the years of training Martial arts, fighting craft but even doing the weights or running I have learnt one thing.
If you don't have enough discipline to train on your own, you are not going to get far.