NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2003
ARTICLE
My Experience of my First Championships
by Andrew Mangion, 8th Ji (Hornchurch)
I first joined Ren Yi Wu Kwan Tang Sou Dao in February of this year. I joined because I always had an interest in the martial arts but had been too bone idle to begin taking lessons.
Eventually a friend of mine persuaded me to go to a lesson. Then one sunny Sunday afternoon, Tang Sou Dao entered my life. Watching the others practicing their high punches, I watched as they practiced their high kicks and then the students went through their forms. It was almost a religious experience, I knew from that moment it was for me.
When the lesson was over I returned home, muscles and joints aching, but very pleased with myself. Friday's lesson could not come fast enough. That Friday I ordered my uniform and when it arrived on the Sunday I rushed to the locker room to try it on. It was massive but I was assured that it would shrink in the wash.
Over the next month, I attended two lessons a week and as my uniform shrunk into its correct size my technique improved little by little.
After about 15 lessons Grandmaster Loke said I could attend my first grading in March. I'm going to let you into a secret - I am 21 and I still have trouble with my left and right, so to say I was a little anxious was a bit of an understatement.
Now I had a yellow tag, and I was allowed to spar, this in itself was a revelation, watching the Duan grades spar was one thing but sparring with them made me realise how far I had to go.
That's what I like about Ren Yi Wu Kwan Tang Sou Dao, it takes a long time and a lot of hard work to get really good at it, and therefore it is worthy of my attention.
By now it's was getting towards the end of April and I was being asked whether I was going to compete, I simply laughed it off, thinking I would never be good enough to compete.
I was assured that I would only fight other Ji grades and they would be the same weight and age as me so I handed in my entry form.
From that moment on I put double effort into my sparring. I was always being told to relax. Let me assure you it was sheer terror not nerves. I always watched the Duan grades when they sparred hoping to glean some kind of secret knowledge which I believed they must have.
The weeks flew by, and the same week as I had my final exams at University I took a grading for 8th Ji, and I received the coveted yellow belt.
Just a week later I would attend the National Championships, so I tried to put it to the back of my mind and concentrated on looking for a "proper job".
Then Friday came, so I went to my usual lesson with only one thing on my mind. I went through the lesson praying I would not get injured and hoping to get some last minute tips from anyone who would give them.
In the spirit of proper preparation I skipped the usual Friday night pint, and had an early night.
The early night was a waste of time; I didn't sleep a wink, I left my warm bed at the ungodly hour of 6am.
Bleary eyed David and I started out on our journey to the Championships leaving a good hour and a half for the drive. We drove up the M25, however, despite our best efforts and my flawless map reading skills, we then managed to get a little lost outside Gatwick Airport. Stopping for a brief "discussion" we both concluded that the AA map must be incorrect and carried on in the general direction of Haywards Heath.
We arrived at the Dolphin Centre just after 9am. David and I entered the hall. I have never seen so many competitiors let alone Duan grades in one place. I quickly found my number (359) and had a look at the boards to discover who I would be pitted against; he had number (332). The search was on...
After a very brief reconnaissance, a loud whistle went and we stood in lines while Grandmaster Loke told us what would be happening. The group photo was next, all the junior belts were told to go to the top of the stand, I am sure its used as incentive to get better, all the Duan grades were right at the front.
I found a spot in the back row (I'm the good looking one on the left) and found myself standing next to my opponent. We had a "friendly" chat, trying to glean any facts about our strengths or weaknesses. He then trod on my foot, I like to think by accident, but you never know!
The next few hours were spent watching the forms competition, and chatting to my friends from Hornchurch club about who they were going to fight. Everyone seemed to be fighting a 7 ft tall 6 ft wide version of an angry Mike Tyson ... I was going to fight him too.
Eventually the forms competition ended and after a short break the free fighting started. One thing I noticed was the kids have so much energy and are so fast, just watching them was making me tired. Watching the Duan grades fight, with their grace and skill left me in awe.
Then the moment me and my friend Alex (also from Hornchurch) had been waiting for arrived. The call for event 75; Mens 9-7 Ji, free fighting contest came. At ring 6 the air was electric. We were all in our twenties; we were all new, so we all wanted to prove we were the best. You could literally smell the testosterone.
Alex and I sat and watched the others go through their fights, pointing out weaknesses or things we would exploit, the game plan forming in our minds.
Before I knew it my number was called. I stood up next to the number 332. Trying to focus my mind and calm down, while the referee told us not to kill each other and generlaly take it easy.
My first match went right to the wire, he scored first then I equalised, in a flash the two minutes were over, then we tied at 3-3. We were to fight an extra deciding minute.
As minutes go this was the longeset of my life. In the ensuing melee, I caught him with a front thrust kick, and then his punch connected a second later right in my ribs (I am always being told off for lowering my arms when I kick, lesson learnt) so we stood at our line, and the Ref said "Red one point" I was in shock. I was red. I had won my first competitive fight!
I watched Alex lose his first match, and we chatted about how he was robbed while the other fights took place. Then I was called up again, and was up against a young man who was just superb, I saw him in his first round match and he was great. I won't go into details but he humiliated me 4-0.
So I sat back down, having tasted defeat, knowing that victory was sweeter, I focused my mind again and fought my next opponent.
He was another yellow belt, a bit shorter but looked stronger. I thought as long as I kept him far away with my kicks, I should be OK. Thankfully I was. I caught him with what I think was a beautiful roundhouse kick, then with a poor excuse for a side thrust kick. The buzzer went and I shook hands with my opponend and sat back down.
Alex and I being nosey as we are, heard our numbers spoken by the timekeepers, and both stood up immediately. We received a smirk from the referee, as he put our ribbons on us. We both lied through our teeth as we wished each other luck.
Fighting strangers is one thing, you don't know them, you probably won't see them for a long time so you can detach your mind and focus on your technique. But this was Alex, we had graded together, go to the same lessons. He is a mate, it was quite offputting. So when I won my first point, it was a relief that I had scored. but I felt guilty too, since you always want your club to be the best.
Then I scored again with a side punch and went 2-0 up. This was even more nerve racking because I knew if I lost now then I would never live it down. That's what almost happened, Alex scored, and then I scored again just as the buzzer went. We went back and sat at the edge of the ring again, slapping each others backs and congratulating each other on a well fought fight.
Next we were all told to stand in a line and take a step forward as the results were called over the microphone. I was so proud when I stood forward for third place. Second place was won by the chap who beat me 4-0 and it was well deserved.
The rest of the afternoon was spent finding out who won what from our club. Needless to say I had a big grin plastered on my face all afternoon.
When the presentations were handed out, I got both sore hands and bum, from too much clapping and the very hard floor. It was nice to see everyone running up still full of energy to receive their prizes.
As David and I sped down the M23, I reflected on the day, and decided that actually, it's not who wins that's important, it's the way you play the game. I didn't meet one sore loser, and the spirit and general atmosphere was amazing.
It was a brillinant day and I have some great memories, a trophy and a fantastic bruise to prove it. I can't wait until next year.
Thanks to Grandmaster Loke and everyone who organised the event - it was wonderful.
Andrew Mangion, 8th Ji, Yellow Belt (Hornchurch)
TANG SOU!
© Ren Yi Wu Kwan Tang Sou Dao, All Rights Reserved
