I remember my first fight, it wasnt my decision - my coach thought i was ready
I didnt want to look like a bitch so i said nonchalantly "yea - i'll do it". Easy money.
I went home and nearly shit the bed worrying about the fight.
I trained like my mind depended on it (because i truly felt it did)
The night before the fight i hardly slept.
As the soon as the bell went i threw everything i could at the guy, not breathing thinking or feeling, Gassed after a minute 30 seconds I spent the rest of the round shelling up
trying not to break my chest because i was breathing so hard.
(As tired as i was my body still had the intelligence to realise at 2:33 the perfect strike to throw was a spinning backfist, which on pure instinct i followed up with a flying knee, and then a spinning back kick - ALL OF WHICH LANDED. Its crazy, i never give myself credit for the fighter I am, its also crazy how fickle people are - they were screaming for my head but at that point they were applauding me.)
Heres the crux of the matter -
As soon as i got hit
My mind -
"Ouch, what if he hits you again? you cant breathe how can you punch? what if you lose? all your friends and teammates will laugh at you!, they will laugh you out of the arena!, you better bail right now and save your life!, BITE HIM! KICK HIM IN HIS BALLS! is that illegal? oh. Quit you Fool! QUIT!!!
and sure enough he threw a head cake (kick) which didnt bother me but something got in my eye and i decided not to continue - I quit.
i felt so ashamed.
Fastforward 5 years or so
I know who i am, i know what i am capable of - my mind listens to me i dont listen to my mind - i meditate and i am working on mastering self.
I have learnt a lot about myself, about fear, about fighting and i want to find out who the hell i think i am.
I accept a fight, a boxing match (rubs hands together in glee) against a beast of a man, and i hear everyone speaking about his cardio but i know when i step into that ring I will be part machine.
I work hard, I work smart, i prepare my mind and im ready, everytime fear comes, i look it up and down and then i tell it to fuck off - this is my choice, this my time, this my show.
I repeat my mantra
"I will control my breathing
I will control my emotions
I will control my opponent
I will deliver a masterful performance"
I am running 4 laps around a standard football field in 3 minute so iknow my cardio is as good as its ever been, im meditating - visualising everything from my walk out to the knock out - i am visualising getting knocked down and getting back up - im sharp im powerful and im ready to suprise anyone who doubts me.
I dance into the ring, i smile at my opponent - the bell rings, the fight starts
As soon as i get hit:
My Mind
"Ouch, he means business" ,
haha, i mean business too, i just need to touch him once
"what if he catches you??"
Breathe David, relax, this is your ring. Get your rhythmn, FLOW...
"Damn this motherfucker hits hard!"
Breathe, FLOW,
I didnt come here to lose, I did not step in this ring to lose,
Flow
I will get you
you will be over in a minute
..BOOM!
He goes down and i see it i slow motion.
While he is down i get a quick ten seconds to tell his friends who were yelling "fuck him up" to go suck my ...you get it.
He gets back up catches me in the 2nd round but i was here for war - i expected it and i knew what i had to do. In the end and we fight to a draw, but i learn a valuable lesson that night.
I hold NO FEAR in my heart for any man, but know i realise that my mind is powerful enough to create my reality.
Ofcourse i am not greater than the one who created me, but if i am made in His image then i am something truly exceptional.
Dont get me wrong, fighting is a scary thing - but preparation is everything.
In conclusion, and in all honesty, when i think about my next fight - i am scared
But not for me, for my next opponent.
