.8

After what feels like a long recovery period, here I am, laptop in hand, finally able to write up my report on an absolutely splendid tournament.
From what could have been a weekend of complete failure (due to my own very smart decisions), I actually walked away with a sense of triumph. Time to bring some medals back to the club.

Friday night, after probably the longest exercise session of my life, I decided it would be best to for go on any exercise during Saturday, and instead opt for some sparring to ensure I was still on my game. This helped in that I was able to just practice a few things against differing partners, but also almost ruined my chance of fighting after a nasty knee strike to my shin, which left me lying on the floor and unable to walk. A few hours of ice packs and painkillers later though and I would be limping like a pro.

The second brilliant decision came in the idea that I would stay out in town clubbing till 2am, go home, get to sleep by 3, wake up at 5:50 and get ready for the tournament. And that is exactly how it happened. By 7am I was ready and raring to go to Leigh, a good 1 1/2 hours drive from Stafford, much to my brothers disdain. By the way, I must thank Sean for dragging his sorry ass out of bed so early on a Sunday morning to stand in a freezing cold dojo armed with a video camera. I would have probably ended up going insane without a friendly face to talk to between rounds, so thank you.

Anyway, we finally arrived in Leigh around 8:30am, to the stark realisation that I was the first competitor to the dojo. Luckily for us, the owners had already opened up, allowing me to get changed and weigh in. Now, Friday I had found out this tournament actually had weight categories, with a 75-82kg Light Heavyweight category, and a 82-88kg Heavyweight category. According to my scales at the time, I was exactly 82kg, so I tried everything in my power to limit how much I had to drink and eat, to make sure I made it into the LHW category. Come Sunday morning, the scales in my bathroom signified I had won and reached 80kg. This however would all be for nought at my weigh in. 82.8kg. POINT EIGHT OF A KILOGRAM OVER! Therefore, I would be the lighest in the Heavyweight cagtegory....great.

To Be Continued...

Weight:12 Stone 13 Pounds
Resting BPM: 47
Fridays Exercise: 34 Lengths in the pool. Weight Training centred around Biceps, Triceps, Pectorals, Deltoids, Trapezius, Latissimus Dorsi, Abdominals, Obliques, Quadriceps, Hamstrings and Gluteals. 30 minute exertion on the recumbent bike. 98 Lengths in the pool.
Saturdays Exercise: 2 Hours of Grappling.
Yesterdays Exercise: AMA Jujitsu Ground Fighting Tournament - 3 Fights.