Sparring day, sweep the mates off their feet
It feels great to be back sparring at my old gym. Even though I trained a bit in Thailand and did a few months in Durham after coming back, with my rustiness unscathed, this young buck a foot taller than me or so expects the low kick to his thigh. He lifts his leg up to check, but my feint completely bypasses his guard, and I deviously front-kick him right in the solar plexus— a quick snap with the toes. If only he were roughly my height—I would have teeped his chest and watched him fall down like a tree.
We trade strikes with our fists. He almost catches me with his lead hook, barely grazing the top of my head; I didn't even see it coming, but pure instinct made me duck. Moving closer, I quickly chop his lead leg again. If he were more confident, he would try to clinch me (the stand-up grappling where you try to strike with elbows or knees).
Instead, I feint for his lead leg again. He takes the bait and eagerly lifts it up to check. Rhythmically, I sweep his rear standing leg. I felt so cool, like David defeating Goliath. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
After the spar, I told my coach about it—saddened that he missed my sweep. He always seems to catch me with my hands down, but never quite makes it to see the cool moves I enact.
“Carsons been here for a little over a year now— he’s new but improving fast” cmon, coach just give me the win— I think to myself. I like it when a coach gives me positive reinforcement it makes me feel good and therefore makes me want to continue doing good. Some fighters operate best with challenges, I on the hand, like to get my ass kissed sometimes. Coach smiles though, and he seems proud. Told me good job and looks forward to seeing it next time. I told him that next time I would like to sweep someone in the midst of their roundhouse kicks. I’ve done all those kinds of fancy sweeps but never had the chance to do that particular one— without my hands or arms to use as leverage. One of these days though. That would be the day 🩷🙂
(Side note: I was reading this novel about a chef and her cooking so it inspired me to write about my experience as an athlete— one that likes to train kickboxing & Muay Thai. This is my first attempt writing down my sparring experience…. Makes me feel good because it shows to me I have fighters IQ when I get to put it down on paper 🩷 like I know what I’m talking about. The beginning of the writing I act as if it’s been a while since I’ve trained but realistically it’s been like roughly since last Winter. But everything else is pretty much on point— I did sweep a taller teammate on his rear leg which isn’t always easy to do as a female sparring partner with another guy— guys are usually ahead of the game but with some years of experience, confidence, and swagger, of course I should be able to execute some moves).
