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

Surfing experience/training camp

What an amazing August Bank holiday weekend that was.
Plenty of training in beautiful surroundings of a Cornish coast.
Sightseeing of peaceful and very welcoming South of England.
Undertaking another great skills improving experience - surfing.
All that with great company of family, friends, GMMA Academy members.

Everyone has enjoyed it, its own way.

Some of us were tuned up for intense training, others were all about the waves.

Some of us simply came around to spend time together and relax, away from big city life.

One of the biggest attraction of this weekend was definitely surfing experience.

We were very fortunate as we had with us Jean, passionate and experienced surfer,who has given give us quick and essential tutorial. 

As soon as Jean has explained us health safety rules and gave us few tips on technical side.
We would jump the boards few times on the beach before we actually go into the water. As soon as we managed couple of times to stand up on the surf board straight from lie down position. Didn't want to waist any precious time, we would all go in to the sea, for a real deal practice.

Surfing is another quick decision making sport.
Is all about control and balance.
Once you spot that perfect waive, you need to position your board at the right direction and quickly lie down on it. Balance yourself and paddle with your arms to get more speed for the final slide, you are focusing on catching the right moment to gently but promptly stand up on the board.
You do that when you feel that the wave is pulling you.
Then Just like smart Aikido or Judo fighter you are using the energy of your opponent ( wave ).
Right positioning, reaction, balance and focus are the way to succeed.

Walking away from the shore, into the deeper water. Handling surfing board while constantly being hit by the waives. Jumping on and falling of the board.
It can be quite energy draining business, specially for inexperience surfers. Just like me :-)
Those few seconds of actual surfing, when you manage to stand on the board and slide on it right to the end, it is a great reward.
That's why we would keep on going up and down restlessly to achieve our final goal without thinking of tiredness, hungriness, cold or anything else.
We have enjoyed it so much that without realizing when we have spent few hours in the sea till our colleagues would give us sign that it is time to come back.  

I always tent to look for new experience in my life, I love to learn new things and achieve new skills.

I always look for similarities and relationships as well as it helps to look the world with the bigger picture. It helps me to understand better myself, others, the world and other professions.

Obviously it was Thaiboxing training camp.
So as soon as we had some food and bit of rest to recharge the batteries.
We have took our kickboxing equipment out and attracting all the residents of holiday camp where we have stayed we begun to hit the pads and work out bare feet on fresh and clean grass in front of our Glamping accommodation.

Hill runs,sprints,pad work,strength and conditioning workouts.
Surfing and socializing with our team.
Beautiful sightseeing and relaxing.
New achievements, new experiences.
Can't wait for next training camp.
Already thinking of about the time and location.

www.GMMA.co.uk

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

"Kihap" the spirited yell

"Kihap," the spirited yell. 

"Kihap"; translating from Korean language, where it originally comes from, means yell/shout.

As a Taekwondo has great influence in Gukwoone mixed martial arts. Founders of Gukwoone, who are practitioners of Taekwondo on the highest level, adopted some of its techniques as well as terminology.

"Kihap" is a short, loud yell, which helps to accumulate explosive power in the action. 

It helps to control the breathing, what will naturally increase the stamina.
It literally brings the spirit to the action.
Brings the spirit to our classes where we always tell our students that they are allowed to shout ( while performing ) as much as they want.

Some of the people find it  difficult to shout when kicking  and punching. Especially teenagers and adults who got some kind of barriers.

That's another reason why we encourage our students to "Kihap", we want them to build up their confidence, let their emotions out and feel free during the lessons.

Our type of training can be very good stress buster, we want everyone to exercise their body, mind and spirit at this same time. 

Boxers, don't usually shout loud, but you can clearly hear their breath out while throwing the punches, when they punch hard they do make sounds, it is natural.

Watching tennis game, all you can hear is sounds of tennis ball hitting the rackets and players "Kihap" while swinging sharp.

Weight lifters, do help themselves screaming out, when they feel like they reached they limit.

I believe all of us tried to lift something heavy and threw uncontrolled "Kihap" while meeting great resistance. Even if that didn't help with lifting the weight it was natural instinct. So trust the nature and let yourself free while working out.

www.GMMA.co uk

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

Resistance bands workout

I have met this morning in West London with one of my team Mate and fellow Fighter from GMMA Academy, Roman.
Roman has agreed to help me on regular bases in preparation for my next kickboxing fight which is going to happened in just over month.
He knows the craft very well, and helps me to push harder and smarter.
Roman and myself being seen over by Sir ( our coach ) who adjusts the training to increase and develop what he knows ( out of his great experience and observation ) is best for me in upcoming event.

This morning Sir has watched me hitting the pads and came up with question if I got elastic bands with me by any chance.
Funny enough.
I always got some in my training bag.
Simple rubber bands with different resistance levels, usually used for yoga.
I do carry them along with skipping rope as they are great tools which don't require much room or any special, additional equipment to be used with.

We have used three bands all together.
Two tied up to the bench feet and my legs each end, one wrapped around my palms both ends, running behind my back.
Roman would hold the pads for me, standing right in front in a distance which would require me to extend each kick and turn my hips right.
Also, I would stand away from the bench to make sure that the bands are pulling me back, giving me resistance.
I would execute kicks on the pads the quickest I can

, then make sure I control my legs on the way back and return to this same position with proper stands, ready for whatever comes next. Holding the third band I would throw some hands techniques in between.

There is so much more you can do with this simple tools.
You can tie it up to your belt and some post to pull you back while doing the pad work.
You could use one tied up to each leg both ends and practice your kicks.

It builds up the speed, teaches you to control your techniques and takes a lot of energy out of your muscles when used properly.
It can be used for stretching and building up strength and muscles too.
Everything depends on your imagination.
Always look for better way, always enjoy it and you will not realize when improvement comes.

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

Let the action talk.

Last Saturday afternoon instead of taking part in GuruMuayThai class as we usually do.

Me and my great friend and training partner Michael drove to Coventry, where represented our club at kickboxing show.

Going there we didn't know nothing about my opponent apart of that his weight should match my 75kg and that we were going to fight K1 rules.

We got in there with no expectations what so ever.

All we had in our strategy was to use all our strengths and experience the best we can possibly do.

This is one of the things we have learnt over the years of travelling and competing  around.

There is no point of wasting our precious energy on speculating and stressing over what my opponent brings with him.
Obviously I get some thoughts building up in my head going towards possible abilities and skills of my opponent but instead of concentrating  on what he has got in his sleeve, I am trying to turn it into planning how am I going to respond.
What we have always been taught by our coaches is that it doesn't matter what they can do if you don't give them chance to do it.
So the plan is simple: put the work rate very high, double up on each attack from the other side and make sure I do always respond. According to the plan, as long as my kicks and punches are solid, my distance and timing are right and I use the angles right way, I can't go wrong.
Michael has reminded me few facts about my strengths and advantages, what has pushed away any even minor self doubt.
In the ring anything can really happen, but I know for sure that negative thoughts are not going to make it any better. All they can do is; make me not perform to my best and make me regret things I haven't done after the fight. I've been there before.
I have walked into the ring as second, my rival and his team were already there.
Stepping in I could feel his eyes on me at all times. When I looked at him, he looked very angry and determined to hurt me. He definitely wanted to play the eye contact game ( must have watched a lot of UFC I suppose). I haven't fallowed the game, it isn't much of my style. Again I rather to save my energy and show my skills in the fight, not before.
That's how I have always wanted to be. Humble, respectful and calm fighter which talks with the actions at the appropriate time.
I suppose everyone reacts different to the stress and everyone has got different methods of breaking the opponent confidence.
I believe that my fighting experience makes me not only better fighter and instructor but also better human being in general. 
That's why I wanna be able to control my emotions and my life in the ring as well as outside.
I wanna be positive and confident and push the negativity away.
It is great if you have like minded people surrounding you, like my coaches and team Mates.
You can consider yourself a lucky.
I do.

P.S I have won that fight by unanimous decision. 
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

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