Patty's Workout Journal

[PandorasVise]

You all wouldn't believe the women that I had to fight. The first woman was built like a Mack truck! She was so tough. I was helping in the kids tournament during the day and she had her kids there. I talked briefly to her and I said to someone that I hope I don't have to fight that woman. They said that she was fighting. I was so freaking scared. Last night before my fights, all the fighters were getting into their divisions and they were lining us up. They put me right behind her, so she was my first fight. She turned around and introduced herself and when she shook my hand, it was shaking the hand of a man!

So the fight starts and we are punching each other like crazy. She got me in the ribs with a hook punch. I felt tears in my eyes and thought she would have received a 1/2 point but I kept my game face on. As long as you keep fighting, they don't award points. It is only if you have to stop fighting do they award a 1/2 point, as long as you can continue in 15 seconds, you do that twice and you lose. You get a whole point when your opponent can't continue and the fight is won. After that the judges choose who did the best fighting and pick a winner.

So I thought she had won that round and was waiting for the corner judges to raise the white flag. (I was in the red corner) Instead they crossed their flags, which means a draw. I looked over at my coach and said I can't do this anymore. I could have cried. So the match was extended by another 2 minute round. I kicked her to the head and she punched me right in the face. (face punches are one of the few things we don't allow) Then I did an inside leg kick and an outside round house to her femur. She winced in pain and that was all I needed. I worked her legs so hard. Whenever she would punch, I would do my best to block it, forgetting to punch back.

I WON!! This win wasn't even a split decision. I had 5 judges say I was the winner.

The next match was against someone who was around my weight, just a bit lighter. This woman went to the world championships in Budapest last October. The first woman was bigger and hit me harder, but she could only hit hard a few times before she would run out of gas. This second woman, hit hard the ENTIRE time. SHe was rocking me. The fight was another tie. During the overtime, I found that my leg went really nicly up to her face. I think I got her 3 times in the head before she remembered how to block. Then I did an uppercut into the ribs and could hear her breath leave her body, and she moved back. I worked more uppercuts before she remembered to block them so I switched hands but didn't have the same force lefty. went back to my right.

I WON AGAIN!! again not a split decision, all 5 judges awarded me the win.

I am now the US Kyokushin Karate Champion! Can you believe it?! I'll be 40 next year!

[Fygle]

That was a great read, congratulations!

[feelin-great]

That is amazing! Definitely wear that title proud! Congratulations

[Boss Man]

You can be very, very proud of yourself. What exactly this will entail regards possibly moving up to better things I don't know, as I'm not really au fai with your sport, but the main thing is you showed the courage of your convictions to keep going when it seemed like you had nothing left to give.

You are a champion because you had the abnility but more importantly you showed the heart and courage needed to go that extra mile. Ability is key, but without proper control, it's not half as effective as it should be.

You have proven yourself to be a success. You were an overweight person who was looking for a change in life and you have now become a champion at a sporting discipline and that is a pretty amazing transofrmation. You have gone from being ordinary in some respects to being extraordinary and you're humble with it, no bragging about how you've changed, or acting like you're someone all of a sudden and that's another great marker to success. That someone who succeeds like you do, knows the privilege and honour attached to be a champion and does not assume it makes them better than a lot of other people. Within their sport yes, but in life no.

Wherever this continues to take you, GOOD LUCK. You have now become a champion like Cassie was when she competed recently and won first in class and you have proven your physical talents are for real, just like Cassie and Lareina Mae have as well.

You are a very good rolemodel to others about chaning your life around. Your attitude to others is outstanding and your humble heart is a wonderful asset, that is a key part of the person you are.

I'm proud of the things you have achieved. You have perhaps not made as drastic a change as some other people in this world, as some people have to seriously undergo a longer, harder, more arduous change process, but you have done something pretty amazing to be where you are now and I thank you deeply for sharing that journey with us.

You are inspiring, heart-warming and someone people can learn something from.

This site will always support, encourage and look out for people like you. It's why we're here, becasue we DO believe in you and your wishes and wants.

Chin up champ and don't ever look back. You're so much more than you ever were before and you can be proud of everything you are and do. You DO make a difference to other people and you DESERVE the small accollades given to you sometimes, for what you do and achieve.

Brilliant outcome for a brilliant Lady. Be proud of yourself, because you DESERVE to be.

.

[musculargirl]

fygle's right that was a great read! Congratulations!

[PandorasVise]

Bossman you are always the sweetest guy, always knowing what to say. Thank you everyone for the encouragement! A friend just emailed me this picture

[fitoverforty]

So the fight starts and we are punching each other like crazy. She got me in the ribs with a hook punch. I felt tears in my eyes and thought she would have received a 1/2 point but I kept my game face on. As long as you keep fighting, they don't award points.

To me, this is where you became a fighter, right in that moment - that is where you won the fight. To be able to find the composure and inner strength inside yourself to not give in to the pain, or show fear or weakness, but to draw from it and use it to turn the tide in your favor. You took control of the fight and proved you are a capable, powerhouse champion WINNER!!!
The reason the other fighter couldn't remember how to block was because you had her so rattled, her brain was rocking around in her head! LOL!

I am now the US Kyokushin Karate Champion!

This is so awe inspiring, I don't even have words to express how great this is! You are such a fierce, strong person - you have proven that you can conquer and achieve any goal you set your mind to. I love the fact that it didn't happen overnight...you worked hard and did it in stages, proving that hard work and discipline is something that is a long term thing - and the rewards are endless, as you have proven Miss US Kyokushin KARATE CHAMPION!!!!! YAY PATTY!!!

[PandorasVise]

I think I am still high from fighting and winning. My Sensei told me last night that I am going to the WORLD"S OPEN TOURNAMENT. OMG and I don't take the OMG lightly in this case. She and I will fight representing the Unitd States but in different weight classes. When she told me, i told her she was crazy. I actually did think she was joking. I only have one full contact tournament that I feel lucky that I pulled it off. She said she wasn't joking and told me that I was taking my title lightly. That is when it struck me, my title? I actally have a TITLE!! I really am the United States Womans Kyokushin Karate Championn That is going to take a long time to sink in. World tournament, the same place my second opponent went to and won the first two rounds of. If I do this, I am going to have to train like crazy. I would love to say 'training like never before', but everything I am doing is like never before. My mind is all over the place. I'll have to find sponsors. I have to find time to train. I don't even know which country this is going to be in this year. AGH! okay taking a deep breath now.

A year and a half ago I was an overweight, unathetic frumpy housewife wearing crappy double x large clothes. Hiking with the kids would leave me breathless and tired. Running was unrealistic. I started weight training to try to get exersice without really breaking a sweat or losing my breath. I hated cardio. I hated being all sweaty. I hated to workout. After doing weights a few weeks I fell in love with it. Still hated cardio and wouldn't do any.

Fighting wasn't even a thought. As a matter of fact, i don't even know why I picked karate out. It was just over a year ago when my husband was at home for the week. He saw all the stuff I did for my kids, esp the homeschooled ones, that he asked if there was something I ever wanted to do all by myself, so I could have some 'me' time. My friend Rosie had invited me to take cake decorating lessons with her. I also in the past loved taking art lessons, and all sorts of domestic housewife-like crafts. I had not seen anything fighting or karate. I didn't think about it but blurted out that when I was a kid, I always wanted to try karate. He said I should try it. Google had two places listed and I looked at both on the internet. The first place had women instructors so I picked that one. When I got there, they were out of business! So I went to Maine Kyokushin Karate, and left the first time without even going inside. I felt so out of place looking through the window seeing all the healthy people. Somehow I managed to walk in there and I am so glad I did. Going in the first time was almost as scary as fighting the other day, so weird huh?

[feelin-great]

Patty, you are so inspirational! I am just in awe of what you have been able to accomplish in the last year and a half. You are proof that you can do what you set your mind to! You deserve that title! I can just about imagine how hard it was to walk through that door for the first time but you overcame your fears and went for it. You are definitely a mother your children can be so proud of

[PandorasVise]

Patty, you are so awesome. Pretty lame I don't know how else to explain that but you have done so much and come so far. Your kids are lucky to have you as a role model. You have overcome so much to get where you are. Trying something new is NEVER easy and man did you ever take that to another level. I've been trying to join the roller derby league here for three months and I just can't seem to do it. And I don't think that is NEARLY as scary as what you're into now. At least I get a helmet! Maybe I need to be a little more Patty. After all, my middle name is Patricia (: I hope I can be as courageous as you.

Total bad ***.

I would LOVE to see you fight. That picture is great but I need an action shot!

Okay you are going to love this. I found out that there is a roller derby league in Portland Maine. As soon as I knoew this, I went right to their site to find out how to try out for it. They just had try outs two weeks before!!! I always wanted to do that since I was a kid.Maybe i'll find a way to go see you roller and while I am there we can go to some seedy bar and you can watch me fight!

[musculargirl]

that's cool that you guys want to do that. Do you get in a lot of fights in a roller derby?? We have some here in minneapolis, some time i will have to go to one and see what there like. It sounds like you have to be pretty bad ass to do that, pefect for you two!

[PandorasVise]

The dvd will be ready in a few weeks. That is way too long to wait!!!

[PandorasVise]

So the fight starts and we are punching each other like crazy. She got me in the ribs with a hook punch. I felt tears in my eyes and thought she would have received a 1/2 point but I kept my game face on. As long as you keep fighting, they don't award points.

To me, this is where you became a fighter, right in that moment - that is where you won the fight. To be able to find the composure and inner strength inside yourself to not give in to the pain, or show fear or weakness, but to draw from it and use it to turn the tide in your favor. You took control of the fight and proved you are a capable, powerhouse champion WINNER!!!
The reason the other fighter couldn't remember how to block was because you had her so rattled, her brain was rocking around in her head! LOL!

I am now the US Kyokushin Karate Champion!

This is so awe inspiring, I don't even have words to express how great this is! You are such a fierce, strong person - you have proven that you can conquer and achieve any goal you set your mind to. I love the fact that it didn't happen overnight...you worked hard and did it in stages, proving that hard work and discipline is something that is a long term thing - and the rewards are endless, as you have proven Miss US Kyokushin KARATE CHAMPION!!!!! YAY PATTY!!!

Thanks Lynne!!

[Boss Man]

I like the fact that someone in the background, appears to be baying for blood and fist pumping.

You must have brought out the inner sadist in her

[ldematto]

Patty!!! I'm speechless! Lynne said everything I feel (I know it's like a cop out, but it can't be said any better!) You look great, I know you must feel on top of the world!! Loved hearing all the details, I felt like I was right there with you - and then to see the picture - you rock - you are a Champion! Woo hoo!!!!