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

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

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

   

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

Unnecessary stress

Recently I've been watching some interesting channels on the YouTube about psychology, emotions, nutrition, self improvement.
All of them had something in common.
They were describing destructive power of the stress.
We do stress everyday and a lot of us do it excessively.
Bit of stress can sometimes help us think and react sharper.
Make some sudden decisions which normally we would take us ages.
We can't forget that like any other animals on the planet earth we got developed  survival instinct. At the event of danger adrenaline kicks in, all our muscles and brain works extremely intense to take us to position of safety.
Our problem as a human is that we overuse this ability and stress over small things. As well as we stress long before (thinking what if) and long after (again, thinking what if and why).
I've heard one very clever comparison watching one of the interviews. Gentlemen was saying that we should look at the gazelle,  chased by the lion she runs for her life. When she feels safe after around 10, 15 minutes she is back in the field eating grass and enjoying sunshine.
When we as humans will think about for the rest of the day.
I do really believe that we are over thinking things and create a lot of problems ourselves.
Our brains are activating our nerve system to protect our selves.
Over stressing causes a lot of damage and create diseases on our brains and body.
As a fighter I have experienced destructive power of stress on myself.
Even after quite few years of experience in the ring I still go through different emotions when it comes to the fight.
In general I can tell that I have improved.
At the early stages of my career I have been making different scenarios in my head weeks before the fight.  Then it decreased to days. Now I usually become nervous in the changing room.
My recent experience has given me another lesson and example of how stress can affect your performance.
I was in the competition where I had to face one of my old colleague and training partner. I suppose it was a bit emotional experience for both of us.
Only when I turned off the thinking I begun to put things together and started feeling comfortable. Begun to do what I was train to.
I still have to remind myself every now and then that this is something I love, this is something that makes me improve.
Whatever the outcome it helps me and I can help others with my experience.
So why should I stress over that.
I believe that as long as I train and work hard. Being honest to myself and others.
I shouldn't stress at all.
Should you my energy on getting better.
Obviously I do try to bring all that knowledge and experience to my everydays life too.

www.GMMA.co.uk 

After winter must come spring

8When I first came to UK, I could barely make an conversation in English.
I was able to put few words together,  but had real problem with understanding as I found so many different accents so different to those I have studied back in Poland.
So whatever I was going to do for leaving in here I had to improve my English.
Evening classes, reading books and newspapers, talking with others. All that was my way of development.
There was one thing I have always loved and it helped me a lot in catching up the phrases. It was listening to the music.
Translating the songs, understanding the meanings and remembering whole sentences. I would memorise the lyrics and make use of them. Especially those bits which I would find interesting, motivational or rich in contest.
One ofthe examples that stayed in my head was lyrics from Lauren Hill song "Everything is everything "where she sings that "after winter must come spring".
I would remember these words when things wouldn't work right for me.
As with our form, we cannot be at the peak at all times.
So with other parts of our lives, we cannot have it alway the way we would like to.
There is always ups and downs.
It depends on us how we go through those 'winter days'.
Believe me.
It is much easier when you remember those simple lyrics sang by Lauren Hill.
Be positive, focused,always do your best and you going to enjoy those sunny days in your life.
Just like we do past few day in UK.

Three minutes = 180 seconds

When you stepping into the ring.
Standing face to face with your opponent. Referee briefly remind you rules, then asking you to touch gloves and return to your corners.
Ring bells and three minutes of the truth begins. Every second counts,every second can change final results.
You loose your focus for a bit and that can cost you an early stoppage. You freeze for some time and that will surely be noticed by the judges and can cost you loss by the decision.
Three minutes of your precious life, three minutes of an exam. Three  minutes =180 seconds.
No more, no less. In those three minutes you both giving it all. Winner becomes the one who wants it more, who is mentally stronger and is willing to put more work from the beginning, right to the end.
How do you prepare so you are able to perform on the highest level for those three minutes in the ring?
By being honest to yourself in the training. Skipping, shadow boxing, bag work , sparring,  circuit, running all those simple routines can be done two ways. Can be done so you benefit out of it or can just be done. Hard and honest training is one and very important way to prepare yourself for the event of fight. Making sure that you work hard from beginning of the workout right to the end. Not looking for the short cuts, not buying the time.
When you working with the clock work for all the time you supposed to. Three minut rounds lasting three minutes not 2 minutes and 50 seconds. If you are working by the repetitions, ten reps should really mean ten. Not nine and half.
That's the only way forward.
When the bell rings you got to stay busy and focused right to the final bell.
There will be no excuse if you switch of ten seconds before it ends and your opponent use it and give you the stoppage.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Different aspects of fighting training

Everybody has its own reasons and own goals to achieve by training combat sports.
As long as your motives are clean and you stay within sports ship values.
As long as you doing it to help others rather than harm them. That's great.
Apart of your personal reasons why you choose fighting training there will be much more you gonna gain and earn in a process.
Everyday I learn more about it.
Even if I don't learn something new I do improve what I already know.
For example when I have first started I just wanted to learn a bit of self defence and improve my cardio.
Self confidence, speed, stamina, flexibility, reaction, self control and much more just came along in a package while I kept improving.
As a fighter, it is very important that even when you feel weaker and your energy level goes down,you still "dig it in".
You work till bell rings or referee stops you. You go beyond the average, beyond the tiredness, laziness and all weaknesses.
All that cannot be just said and done.
You got to learn that like "A,B,C", like foreign languages, like kicking and punching combos.
You got to drill it. You got to teach your brain to become your natural instinct.
At the moment of pressure is no time to motivate yourself.  You got to have it in you and fight to the end.
This kind of attitude will make your life easier and better not only as a sportsman.
Also as a professional in your everydays work, as a parent and simply human being.
At GMMA Academy we strongly believe that we do much more than just " kicking and punching ".
GMMA Academy "Sporting, Inspiring, Greatness ".
www.GMMA.co.uk

New years resolutions.

If you have declared some changes to your everydays life along with beginning of new 2015 year.
I would truly like to wish you all the strength and energy to keep up with your resolutions. I hope everything works just like you want or even better.
New year can possibly be good starting point for some positive changes and adjustments to our lives.
Giving ourselves some time frames, or setting up breaking points can help us achieving our goals and make some improvements.
It can help to prepare ourselves for bigger or smaller revolutions.
There is so many things I would like to do, improve, increase.
As my schedule is already pretty busy it isn't easy to fit in some extra activities in a regular basis.
What I have learnt in my short life is that I shouldn't wait for new year,next month,week or tomorrow.
I should try to do what I believe is right for me straight away.
Tomorrow we are going to be busy with something else and our priorities and unexpected things might send our ambitions at the back of the queue.
Anyway, whatever we are going to change; get rid of some habits, improve our training, diet etc.
Magic comes with persistence.
Doesn't matter when you make changes as long as you remain strong and keep up with your resolutions.
Happy New year everyone.
All the best with your resolutions :-)
www.GMMA.co.uk

Last days of training in Thailand.

As we have came back late after fight night, after 2am also wasn't sure how my legs going to feel like due to kicking and blocking.
I have skipped morning 10k run and joined the session an hour later.
Quick warm up with shadow, series of knees on the bag,then moved on to my favourite punch bag made of three tyres.
Worked out on my punches a lot with fresh idea of what I was lacking of in the fight.
We did few more work outs and finished off with a ground work (press ups, sit ups,...).
As my legs surprisingly weren't to bad (when it comes to walking and running ).
Second session I have started with everyone of 7k run,including the hill run.
Instead of pad work I worked intensively on the bags.
Punches,knees and elbows. (No kicking )
Then I have asked one of the guys for boxing sparring which he agreed for.
We did few minutes of good exchanges, then we moved on in to the ring where we happened to be the partners in clinching sparring.
After the training we had good by dinner with few of the fighters from Singpatong Gym.
And went to night market for some fruits and shakes.
Came home packed bags and prepare everything to be ready to go straight after morning session.
I have run my last 10k in Patong for this year.
For the last time I run up the "killer hill" and as since the second day, never stopped even once.
What many can tell, is an achievement.
My body did feel more fatigued than yesterday.
I suppose due to lack of rest and sleep after the fight.
But still one of the coaches decided to give me one more,boxing pad work session which we have pushed hard.
That was best happy end of my training camp in Thailand 2014, I could wish for.
We have took quick shower before the training finished and came back to the gym,say thank you  and goodbye to all of the coaches and fighters present in the gym.
Singpatong Gym, it was great place to be and great place to learn.
Me as well as the rest of my team, surely going to remember our experience from training and sparring provided over almost past three weeks.
Looking forward to come back sometimes next year if possible.
www.GMMA.co.uk 

Muay Thai fight experience!

... Now I am sitting on the chaire, ready for fight,watching the bout before mine.
Right next to me is standing my GMMA coach,who is pointing at few techniques delivered by one of the fighters that we planned in our preparation.
Last few words from Sir Dave.
And the time has come.
They introducing my name in to the red corner and as in the Thai tradition I am stepping in to the ring over the ropes (never bend down).
Referees equipment check,brief explanation of rules and touch gloves with my opponent.
We walked back to our corners,traditional music sounded and we walked around the ring to present our Waikru  (Traditional dance to show appreciation to our coach. In the old days also showing the respect to the king and audience ).
We both did it very simple (just walked around touching the ropes and punching each corner.
My Thai coach did the prayers again and took the Mongkol off my head.
The bell rings,fight has begun.
I have stepped to the center of the ring touched gloves with my opponent and we started exchanges straight away.
As I have mentioned before I knew my legs are stronger than his so I have straight away charged his legs with some powerful low kicks.
He was trying to use his height  with I have anticipated.
I wasn't sure about his clinching and close distance fighting skills so I tried to  stay in the middle range.
Close enough for me to get in and far enough to move away.
My low kicks have worked, I have been continuously chopping his legs of.
Breaking his base and his confidence.
However the guy was mentally and physically very strong. Stronger than I thought he would be.
We have fought tough fight right to the end, right to the end trying to finish before the time.
We went all the distance, five - three minutes rounds.
Unanimous decision of judges was in my favour.
I was over the top.
Seeing a big smiles on the faces of my team mates from GMMA Academy  and Singpatong Gym.
Mainly seeing massive grin on Sir's Dave face,who I could tell he was experiencing it as it was his own fight or even more.
Seeing pride and fulfillnes in Sir's expression has made me feel completed.
We are all working on developing ourselves, our students and International GMMA Academy.
www.GMMA.co.uk

Muay Thai fight experience (arrival ).

23rd of December 2014, 7pm.
Meeting with Singpatong Gym coaches and fighters outside the gym.
I have jumped in the car with couple of coaches and few young Thai fighters.
My GMMA Academy crew was following us on the scooters. As well as few more members of the gym.
We arrived at Chalong boxing stadium (around 20km away from our gym) just before 8pm.
When we walked inside the stadium we could smell  Thai oil straight away.
Crew has showed us the way to changing room, where we already met couple of guys wrapping they hands,getting massage with Thai oil and shadow boxing.
Fights started at eight o clock.
Young boys has opened the ceremony.
Fighters from our gym were fight number 2 , 3 and 5.
As my fight was number 8 I sat down with my team and watched the show.
Muay Thai music,waikru (traditional dance before the fight) and amazing performance of young hard working,big hearted warriors.
All that atmosphere was sinking in my head and body.
I felt really  focused as well as inspired by all the situation and surroundings.
Some tall eastern European looking fellow has sat down right next me.
I looked at him and his mates and I've red on one of theirs tshirts name of the club, Rawai Thai boxing.
Then I realised that this is my Russian opponent.
What a funny coincidence.
Obviously I had a proper look at him trying to read his strengths and weaknesses from his physics.
He was much taller than me and he looked like good athlete.
One thing I could clearly compare with him sitting right next to me was our legs.
His were definitely long,then I thought of mine strong conditioned legs as a key weapon to brake his base.
During the third fight one of Singpatong coaches has took me to the changing room,wrapped  my hands and double checked if we got everything.
We have came back after to watch couple more fights.
In the middle of fifth bout couple of young Singpatong team guys has called me to the room again.
Where I have lied down on the big wooden table and had my pre fight massage with Muay Thai oil...
www.GMMA.co.uk