Back from WAKO! (With videos!)

Torakaka · 9/18/2006 12:32pm

Just got back from the WAKO US Open kickboxing tournament late last night and man am I sore today...

(Go to the bottom of the page for videos if you'd like to watch them before reading my recaps.)

<img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/kidspatula123/AshlyBelt2.jpg" align="left" height=200 width=150>

I'm very happy to say that I won the lightweight (60kg) Full Contact devision after battling it out in International/Low kick bout with Jennifer Han.

Kat won her first Full Contact bout and her Low Kick bout, but was knocked down in the final Full Contact bout and decided not to continue. I'll let her post whatever she wants to about her fights (including her videos).

Unfortunately I got my ass kicked by Jennifer Han. She was too quick and too experienced for me at this point, but I stuck it out with her and I'm proud to say that I made her work for her win. With her 45-4 record I definitely had my work cut out for me, and according to what everyone had told me she pretty much always just completely destroys her opponents. Her last opponent was 8 counted five times in their match. I was 8 counted twice, but both times were just from me losing balance (I have a problem with bringing my feet together sometimes).

One thing I can say after this is that I've just fought definitely one of the toughest girls I will ever fight and I stuck it out there with her.

My second fight was against Vanessa Wood. This match was a preliminary bout so it was only two rounds. I felt pretty strong and confident going into this match so the first round I really went for it and 8 counted my opponent twice in the first round.

One of my problems though, which I feel I run into in ALL my fights (including all the ones at this tournament) was that after I got a little tired I started to lose focus. I didn't concentrate enough on working hard to make a convincing win so I started to slip up a bit. I still took the victory, but I think I could've worked much harder to make it look a lot more decisive.

My last fight was against Erica Deleon. This girl basically tried to do to me what I did with Vanessa. She came at me full bore throwing left right over and over. This fight was pretty early in the morning and I felt pretty sleepy going into the match so it took me a while to really get things started. I think in the latter half of the round, though, I started to work my range better and utilized my jab which had good effect on a shorter opponent. The end of the first round and most of the second round looked good for me, though again I started to lose focus in the third round and the fight was again much closer than it should've been I think.

So, things that I'd like to improve on for my next fight:

-learn to focus better and concentrate on the fight, even when I'm getting a bit tired

-improve my cardio obviously (my cardio wasn't bad, but could be a lot better)

- keep my left hand from dropping so much unintentionally or learn to cover with my shoulder better

-keep my head moving more instead of slipping to one side and leaving my head there

-utilize my rear leg kicks a LOT more. I have a really strong rear leg kick when I really use it, but during all of my fights I have a hard time making myself commit to it.

Videos (I may possibly have the order wrong but this should be right)

Me vs Jennifer Han (Low Kick): http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Down...9-3aa498eccdbf

Me vs Vanessa Wood (Full Contact): http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Down...4-21712e49de1f

Me vs Erica Deleon (Full Contact): http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Down...0-728cdd185cd4

Any comments or critiques feel free to post them :)

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 12:36pm

AWESOME! Gratz!

**Bang!** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 12:44pm

Props, you fine ladies.

**Draven** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 12:52pm

Well done.

But on to more important matters.

Long lost twins.

**Odacon** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 1:18pm

Really great stuff, are you going to try and get another fight with Han in the future?

P.S. Rogue that's not very nice at all.

**Arbiter** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 1:23pm

Great job Ashley!!

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 1:27pm

Originally Posted by odacon

Really great stuff, are you going to try and get another fight with Han in the future?

I think I'm gonna give myself another year to train and fight and improve and then see about a rematch.

**Tenebrous** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 1:57pm

Goddamn. The screamer in that first video.

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 1:59pm

Originally Posted by Tenebrous

Goddamn. The screamer in that first video.

I was standing pretty much right next to her, talk about annoying.

(as an aside, why would someone with 100~ fights between boxing and kickboxing enter a tournament to fight some girls with less then 10 fights between them? Talk about sandbaggin it.)

**Tenebrous** · Posted On: 9/18/2006 2:04pm

Originally Posted by AnnaTrocity

I was standing pretty much right next to her, talk about annoying.

My first mma show was a present from somebody. Great seats and all. Close enough to the ring to be right fucking next to one of the heavyweight titlebout guy's girlfriend. Long match. Screamed her motherfucking head off and fucked up my present. Sounded just like the girl in the video.

Knock her out and post video next time so I can live vicariously through you.

Edit: Yeah. It did sound a bit strange when Kid said her opponent was 45-4. Suspicious really. I know I've read you both saying it's hard to get a good matchup and all, but really, that sounds kinda messed up. Grats to Kid for doing it in the first place.