Back to the drawing board

Winter Time brings me back a lot of positive memories from my childhood back in Poland.
Snowy and icy conditions, which would never be much of a disruptions of our every days activities.It would rather be more of a diversity. We would really enjoy playing football, ride bicycle or playing other games on the snow. We would take it as a challenge and addition to our routine.

Then we would rest, warm up our soaked, frozen and possibly bruised bodies, sitting at home with hot cup of honey and lemon tea while watching most likely some winter sports tournaments.
One of my favorite sport to fallow during the winter time would be ski jumping.

So when I have been at home last Christmas I couldn't miss it and when we had a chance we have watched ski jump tournament again.

Watching it and listening to the commentators I have been analyzing it and finding some useful tips and lessons from the fellows athletes and coaches.

Even thought that the ski jumping season has been quite short; for instance in 2015/2016 it begins 21st of November and finishes on 20th of March. And I would think that all the elite team jumpers would try to do their best at every single competition, unless they are seriously injuries.
One of the experts commentating the competition has mentioned that the main team of Polish national ski jumpers is going to take time off from from few big fallowing tournaments. There is few reasons from what I have understood. One of them would be giving the chance of experience at the great events to our upcoming athletes.
And as commentator has mention, the main reason would be: giving the elite athletes some time to rest their brain and bodies away from the big slides and big pressure.
Coaches would choose the right moment to make sure that they wouldn't miss out on the most prestigious events and on general classification as a individuals and as a team.
They would take time off to recover their bodies and minds. As well as they would have time to correct their mistakes and adjust the techniques on the small slides, in the back garden :-)
Commentator has called this procedure "Back to the drawing board Time".

It makes sense. Doesn't it?

In my experience, going from one fight to the other on a weekly basis for a long period, brings some advantages as well as disadvantages.
When the amateur boxing season kicks in, all kickboxing fights, work load and other duties mix up. My time schedule becomes very tight and my training becomes very essential.
It is more of a fighters training, with focus on speed, stamina, strength and conditioning.
When it comes to techniques; I would concentrate on my strengths mainly with little time  in between the fights to correct mistakes from the last one.
There would not be much time for a fancy stuff and some addition to my vocabulary.

Obviously there is a lot of good about it too. As that teaches me to stay focused, be consistent and never give up in any situation. It teaches me higher level of self discipline and time management.
It makes me go beyond my own limits and helps me understand myself.
It is great experience!
Which I believe I am coping with well.

But then, when I have heard "Back to the drawing board" saying, it made me think of how important it is to step back every now and then and forget about the "Bigger picture" we are creating.
Step back and remind ourselves techniques we were going to use, adjust and modify our product if necessary. Get out of the routine driven by the commitments.
Remind ourselves purpose of what we are doing as well as allow ourselves for a bit of fun in the process of limitless learning.

It isn't easy to decide ourselves to step back. Not in my case. I am determined and sett to improve.
My life experience as well as sports passion has taught me to work hard and never give up.
It is important to have a coaches who can read in between the sentences of help us out with their own experience.
It is important to listen to people from outside the gym,( our friends and family ) who don't necessary have to be an experts to see that we could change something for better and give us valuable feedback.
It is important to listen to our bodies and our gut feelings too.

Krystian Ozog
GMMA Academy 

www.GMMA.co.uk

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

Fighting is like a tennis

Sitting in the café,waiting for my Coach to come for a meeting.
Watching tennis match between two probably the greatest female players of these days at Wimbledon tournament 2015. Match between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Both powerful and skilled ladies, both very experienced and focused.
Not giving each other much space, covering whole court with ease.
Looking for each other mistakes playing the ball at every possible angle, speed and distance.
When it comes to manual skills and physical abilities as a tennis players there isn't much they can both improve.
It is more of a mind game.
Bit of a poker or a  chess game, if you like.
Tricking each other and staying focused till the very last ball as anything can happen to the last minute.
Everything depends on how you manage your emotions, how you read the game and your opponent.  How quick you give the correct answer to a very tricky question?
Both players trying to distract and throw out of balance the  opponent.
After playing close ball to the left, throwing fast - long one to the right, then another long to the left again.
Just like in fighting.
Throwing left low kick,to throw opponent off balance, following with straight right hand to the head and continue with the left hook to see what happens next. All of the shots thrown with speed and power appropriate for the occasion. 

It is all about using different variations, adjusting to the situation  ( strengths and weaknesses of your opponent ) and making use of all of the weapon which you store at your arsenal. To not become obvious and predictable. 

I suppose the principals of tennis training as well as in combat sports, is got to be countless repetition of every possible offense and defense.
Making it the second nature,teaching the mind and body to react instantly.

If you train some kind of fighting sports, next time you practice; think of tennis game.

Play smart, hold your nerves and fight right to the end.

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