FunSeveral months ago I put a post of me competing in a kickboxing team completion of USA Vs. South Africa. It was a modified version of American Kickboxing (above the waist kicks). We through hard contact to the body and pull the punches to the head. The cameraman for the event recently uploaded our bouts and I wanted to share a better quality video. Recently my teammates, AJ Weathersby and Kelly Leo's bouts were posted, so I am now sharing mine. I had fun throwing punches and kicks in a competitive format. Even though I stay active at age 50 by competing in Judo, it has been 12 years since I punched and kicked at an opponent (fortunately I stay in shape by working out with a talented team of students who fight in Karate, Kickboxing, MMA, etc.). So, I still feel young. In this clip, I am moving around with a youngster in his 20s. Because I've had the privilege of being able to compete in a variety of combat sports, in this match I'm able to utilize my boxing and taekwondo back ground in a fun way. 



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​How Hard Shoud You Spar?When training should you spar light, hard, or somewhere in the middle? It will depend on your goals. If you are getting ready for a match, you have to have some sessions that include hard contact. If you are a beginner, you will start out light. If you are maintaining (not competing) somewhere in the middle is good. When sparring keep your ego out of it and see it as a tool (just like bag work and jump rope). There are no winners in practice and many times people get bent out of shape because the they get hit. Always make your sparring sessions productive by working on specific things. If you spar a round and don't know what you did right and wrong then you got nothing out of it.

In listening to different fighters talk, I see many turning down fight opportunities because they don't think they're ready. They want to avoid the top fighters in their weight class because the time is not right. A trainer once said, "If a new fighter walks into his gym and doesn't believe he will be champion from day one, then he never will".  Of course everyone can't attain the top spot, but I think that if you want to be a fighter you have develop that mindset of taking on all comers. Test yourself against top opposition. If you lose, you know where you stand. You can evaluate what you are capable of and go from their. You can possibly win against your perception of another. We see upsets in all sports. No matter what, be a winner in your mind.