charleslittle2

So right away there’s a noticeable weight disparity between Akkim and his opponent Joshua Jones. The kid is a big boy. He’s got that wrestler look.  I’d heard Akkim talk about him a bit during the week leading up to the fight; and Akkim expects Jones to “lay on him” and want to bring the fight to the ground.  Akkim loves to grapple but he’s a lethal striker so I hope that he chops that big ole tree down and spends no more time on his back than he needs to and gets that W.

As expected Jones rushes in throwing his body at Akkim.  Tossing his weight around accompanied lots of punches and aggression.  Akkim’s face is focused and calm though throughout.  I’m remembering one of Akkim’s go-to phrases when he’s watching me bang pads or spar: “Relax your face Charles!”  Akkim’s face looks relaxed but you can see that his mind is busy at work.  Jones seemingly wins the first round via ring generalship and out-striking Akkim.  The Duke’s back was either against the cage or on the canvas for the majority of the round.

Round 2 and Akkim’s on the balls of his feet.  It looks like he needs a round or two to get his motor runnin’!  Again, Jones is all over The Duke.  Throwing that weight around and smothering Akkim’s ability to strike.  I’m thinking that Akkim could be more elusive and strike Jones while he’s on the move.  But you know, everyone’s got something to say from the other side of the fence!  Jones scores a big take down, picking The Duke up at the waist and turning him over onto his back.  Akkim did manage to cut Jones open with an elbow in close, but Jones keeps pressing Akkim. Laying on top of him with that body weight and striking Lee, until Jones ultimately finds a way to submit The Duke.

It was strange for me watching my coach get tapped.  I felt an urge to go help him.  Funny, like when I was young: “Hey, that’s my boy, get off my fuckin’ boy!”   After the official decision was announced, we solemnly watched Akkim step out of the cage under his own power which is in itself also a victory!  It wasn’t long before he was out in the crowd shaking hands and smiling alongside his wife, friends and students, whom were present in droves and all excited to have Akkim out of the cage and out of harms way.

see the entire photo set here

Terrion and Rob look like an even match up from my seat.  The fight opens with Rob Gooch landing a couple of times and Terrion visibly shaking his head at himself as he critiques his own performance.  It’s so interesting to watch fighters consciously thinking, strategizing and correcting during a fight.  It’s like playing chess whilst being punched in the face.  It’s an amazing journey for me personally as well, striving to get to that place I might add.

It wasn’t long tho before Terrion became, well basically just hard to hit.  I was yelling at the top of my lungs during this fight and when Terrion’s feet and hands started to fly I just yelled louder and louder!  Ware shuffled, slipped, bobbed and weaved and all the while kept a consistent sharp jab in Rob Gooch’s face.  Terrion Ware won a Unanimous Decision and is already set to fight Melvin Blumer at RFA 40  Congratulations Terrion!  You’re doing the damn thang!

A good couple of weeks passed before I finally had an opportunity to ask Akkim the one question that I had wanted to know during and ever since the fight.

“So coach, what was going thru your mind during that fight?  I mean, did you really want it?  Were you really there or just kinda going thru the motions?”  Akkim paused and chuckled to himself a bit before responding: “You wanna know what I was really thinking about during that fight?  Looking bad in front of my students.  That’s what I was worried about more than anything else.  I really didnt want to let my students down.”

Damn. I was taken aback.  Of all the things to be thinking about when another man is trying to hurt you I thought. Like any injuries he may have been harboring going into the fight, or the weaker points of his fight game or better yet the strong points of his opponents fight game!  But when Akkim went to war he was thinking most about his students.

This moment hung with me prominently for some days and as I write this now I can feel that poignancy visiting me once again.  Look, I’ll be honest.  I’ve had my moments with my coach. The times where I felt like I wasnt getting the attention I thought I needed, wanted or deserved.  “These drills are too basic…” or “Class was kinda weak today, coach is phoning it in.”  There were times where I thought that maybe I should explore aligning with a different coach or a different gym altogether. But during all of those moments, there was always a piece of, something, lingering there inside me advising me to be patient; advising me to “Check that ego!”  This is why I love fight sports and especially Muay Thai.  The learning is infinite, constant and the lessons transcend the sparring and the training right into my life and how I’m living it.  I am compelled to step back and consider just “How am I showing up in the world?”  I’ll tell you, whenever I do take a look, almost always I see that I could be doing better.  I could be more mindful, more honest, more patient, more consistent, more responsible, more present.

So just as each time I have considered cancelling my Krav Maga membership (to save some $) and end up taking away something from class that I know I will only find at Krav Maga; I realized at that moment that what I find with coach Akkim Lee I will only find with coach Akkim Lee.  Look, I’m not saying that Akkim Lee is the end-all-be-all of Muay Thai trainers or that I dont enjoy, desire and need to train with other coaches, krus and fighters.  I’m just saying that there’s a re-occuring mantra here that at the risk of sounding cliché, I must acknowledge.  Whatever you do, listen to your inner voice and be as true to your feelings as you possibly can be.  It can be a difficult act in this world of illusions and distractions but the truth is ever present, ever unchanged and ever within.

I along with the rest of the muay thai/mma/jiu-jitsu students who train under Akkim Lee’s tutelage all let the coach know that we were proud to be there that night making that cage rattle with our support as he went in to do battle.  Akkim’s classes are more filled up today than ever and I invite anyone reading this to come on by A4fitness anytime to experience the training and the comradery that we share there.

Okay coach, lets talk about MY first fight!
Train hard, live well, love much, laugh often.  Sawaddee kap!

see the entire photo set here