A
Learning Experience – by Rhinox Athlete Ross Gladwin
After my
most successful year in my sport where I won 2 British titles, the
International Cup, fought in the most prestigious event in the UK winning both
bouts and culminating in 2 silver medals at the World Championships, I embarked
on what would be a tough but challenging 2012.
I am lucky
enough to have the backing of my two brilliant sponsors who make my kickboxing career
possible. Firstly Mark Chapman at Rhinox
Nutrition who has supported me over the past 2 years and helps wherever he
can. Secondly my travel sponsor Keith
Wickham at Gate7 who has supported me since achieving a silver medal at the
World Championships by funding all of my trips.
Without these two men the success I have had this year would not have
been possible.
At the turn
of the year I sat with my father and worked out which tournaments were the best
to compete in in Europe and North America and made sure I could train towards
all of them. Firstly I fought at the
Irish Open (Europe’s most prestigious tournament) in March. It was a shock to my system experiencing the
quality of the opposition and the magnitude of the tournament, but I came away
satisfied winning my first bout against a German then losing to an Italian in
the quarter finals.
The second tournament
in my schedule was the Dutch Open. I
fought fantastically well here; as well as I did at the World Championships but
in my opinion I lost out very unfairly to a German in the final.
Between the
Dutch tournament and my next scheduled abroad trip (The Wako World Cup in
Rimini, Italy) I fought in the ISKA English Championships and won my
division. The World Cup for me was the
finest tournament I have ever been to with the highest standard of kickboxing I
have ever seen. This was a good tournament
for me; I fought in two divisions: -89kg and -94kg. I took a bronze medal in both of my
categories but a fight with a HUGE Italian in the -94kg category was one of my
best career victories because of how much stronger he was. I fought well
keeping him at range nullifying his power.
July was the
biggest tournament in Kickboxing and what is classed as the most prestigious
tournament in the World; The US Open.
Considering it was my first attempt at this massive event which consequently
has 52 fighting areas, I came away satisfied.
I decided to fight in the heavyweight section at this tournament and won
my opening bout with a fighter from Trinidad, I then lost out to a big, long
haired Texan in the next bout in a fairly contentious decision.
After the US
Open I decided to take a month or so off but fought in a national tournament in
Worcester late in August winning my -90kg division just to keep me sharp. The final event of the year would be the
Italian Open in Milan. For me this was
my worst performance of the year as I lost out in the final to an Italian who I
really should have beaten. It’s all a
learning curve though and I learned from this and it will make me a better
fighter.
2013 brings
new challenges and a heavier schedule where I am hoping to visit the following
tournaments:
Jan – Wako
European Cup, Marena Di Piave
Feb – WKC
English nationals, Manchester
Mar – Irish
Open – Dublin
Apr –
Austrian Classic, Tirol
June – Wako World
Cup, Rimini
Oct – Wako Italian
Open, Milan
2013 will
also bring my 28th birthday and probably the start of my peak
athletic period for this sport; so it’s up to me to make sure I capitalise on
this and fulfil what goals I have set for myself. Again massive thanks to Mark and Keith for
their support because without them, it wouldn’t have been possible.
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