It dawned on me in the morning what I might be possibly letting myself in for. It was quite possibly the most physical thing I have ever done.
We arrived at the club for a quick warm up, and then the first fight started...I hoped that my yellow belt would shine out and speak out to some of the fighters (she's newish - please be gentle), but within minutes some stranger had kicked me in the chest and whacked me in the nose. Realising that different types of karate (and there were some kick boxers in the mix) have different belt sytems and may not be aware that a yellow belt does really mean that I am not overly confident at blocking, punching and kicking. I decided for self preservation, to start each fight with the following statement "please be gentle with me, have only been doing karate for a year" at which point I may receive a punch to the side of my head...I ended up getting a standard response too "nooo, you be gentle with me", as the black belted person in front of me did a jump turn back kick...
The whistle kept going and I soon lost count, it was then announced we would have a drinks break but only 25 fights had passed...I have never been so hot.
Finally, at 9.20pm, we finished. I won two raffle prizes, one being a gum shield that I think may come in handy for next year's 100 fight kumite...if I dare enter it again! I was a bit a wuss for the last 25 fights I think my challenge next year would be to keep the momentum up. I drove home shaking but pleased that betweeen this and the kick-a-thon the week before we had raised over £1000.
This is towards the end, had to take helmet off as I was so hot
I think I am about to pass out - rather than bowing to my sparring partner
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