Since it’s come round to another fight day, I thought I would pen down some great tips, on how to be successful when competing in a Kickboxing bout. I help referee and judge at national events, and have been doing this for a few years and I help with K1, Semi contact, semi-heavy and full contact kickboxing. These are in no particular order.

* Don’t stand still, might seem a bit of common sense but it is common for people when they don’t have any ring experience to fade under the spotlight of an event and not perform. Standing there makes your opponent’s live easier as you’re an easier target.
* Don’t always back down in a straight line, simple reason is this makes it easier for your opponent to unload back on to you. You will know from training that as soon as you finish blocking you want to hit back directly where the blows came from. If you have taken a few steps back at an angle you won’t be where you opponent things you will be or are, which gives you a little breather but also, it can open your opponent up for you to strike when they’re not expecting it.

* Use the ring space, only engage your opponent or let them engage you when you’re ready to strike or take contact. This is about controlling your opponent. Putting space between you and your opponent, a few steps so you’re not in easy striking reach, allows you to quickly think and get your breath back. You see professional boxers doing it all the time, they are saying what worked well, didn’t anything I can capitalise or weakness I spotted, which I will capitalise on when I engage my opponent again. This will annoy your opponent and they will lose concentration and therefore, tire and become easier to fight.

* Don’t throw one strike and then step back. There’s no point throwing one hit and trying to celebrate it. The first 1-2 strikes of any combination you throw at an opponent is meant to be ensuring that you are in striking distance and testing their guard the 3-5 hit before you get out are meant to make scoring contact. As I’d hope your opponent is too busy blocking strikes 1-2 that they are not ready to defend strikes 3-5.

* Don’t drop your guard. Hands and forearms are meant to protect your head and rib cage, stomach and lower you can use your legs to block. If you lower your hands to protect your stomach, then you leave your head exposed and an experience or quick fighter will soon be capitalising on this. Remember your head contains your brain. It’s like a computer, it gets hit and doesn’t always work properly for a short period of time whilst it sorts it’s self out. Which could spell the end of your fight, as it will slow down your reaction time, and next few quick blows, could result in you being knocked out, as your concentration has been impaired.

* Make sure you know the rules, what is legal and what is not. I once stupidly decided to compete when I left my organisation to set up on my own. I went to the ISKA World Championship qualifiers in Birmingham. I’d never competed before and had no corner team. I didn’t know the rules and went in and fought a number of lads who competed at least once a month. Not knowing the rule’s did not help my performance but it defiantly helps knowing what will score you points and what will get you a warning.

* When an opponent is striking you, try and turn the attack onto them, this will annoy your opponent. It will take their mind of striking you and into blocking. This can be tricky depending on how you’re being attacked, but it will break their confidence, as they won’t like not being able to score points against you.

There are many more points I could add to this blog and I will probably add to it in the future, but I hope it helps you with your fights, and helps you win a few more bouts.