What went down in Japan...

Okay, so it’s about time I started to put some effort towards my homepage, or at least update you all with what went down in Japan.

Japan was fabulous!!!

“Just enjoy it” was Snickers’ advice so, on that note, I headed off to Japan with Milk Dud and my promoter, G-Man, to go represent Korea in Japan. After a month of intense dieting, I felt like I had vacuum-wrapped my body because I had definitely limited my intake of liquids. Before I was able to satisfy my overly-loud milk cravings, I had to weigh-in in Japan. I arrived in Japan and was greeted by Mr. Seiki, the organizer of the tournament and my opponent’s coach. He was a 51-year-old Japanese man dressed from head-to-toe in hip-hop style and his favorite English saying was “Take it easy, man.” He was hilarious.

Had weigh-in before the official weigh-in, in addition to already being weighed-in twice already that day, but in Korea (meaning I stepped on the scale FOUR TIMES on Friday!!!). I weighed-in at 46.8kgs, the lightest I have ever been since probably grade eight. They were really professional about dealing with me as a female. They made all the guys, including my promoter and coach, leave the room so that I could weigh-in and have the doctor do a general check on me.

After weigh-in I was allowed to indulge and drink some much needed water. Loaded up on lots of veggies and chicken, and I must have drank about 3 liters of water that night!
Got a good night’s sleep and then woke up for game day.

Up until about ten minutes before my fight, I had stayed out of the public eye by staying in my personal changing room. When I entered the arena however, it felt as if all eyes and heads had been directed to turn to me. My blonde hair made me stand out like a sore thumb and many people took pictures of me. On the advertising game posters, they mentioned that I was from Korea and so I definitely confused them with my foreign looks, super blonde hair, and Korean writing on my game shorts. There were numerous Koreans in the crowd and some approached me before the game to give their support.

They the announcer called my name. I approached the ring, stepped in, and then some Japanese and Koreans in the crowd yelled out “hello!” in Korean. I turned and said hi back.
Then the bell rang and the fight began.

I always hate the first round. My legs never seem to be in sync with the rest of my body until the second round starts. I got her good with a hook though and it seemed like her reaction was forced into slow-motion. I watched as her head snapped back and her face contorted.

Then the second round started.

My opponent was a south paw out-fighter, the very opposite of my style. I stalked her in the ring as she bounced around. I figure I’d let her come to me, waste some of her energy while I take her punches, and then I’d square her with a good couple of hooks. Well, that was the plan but what ended up happening was the ref called the fight. At first I thought he was going to call me for having stepped on her foot but when he pulled me away and told me to go to my corner I knew something was wrong. He had called the fight, as it called it quits. He had hadn’t even so much had given me a fair count before calling the fight.

At the realization of this, my eyes instantly swelled up with tears. I put out my arms and yelled out “why?!”

I never did get an answer to my why but I knew that no matter how much of a stink I’d make over it, there was nothing I could do. They wouldn’t take back the call and let us fight again so I had no choice to accept it. Snickers’ words, “Just enjoy it”, came to mind again, so I sat down and tried to enjoy the rest of my stay in Japan.

And enjoy it was definitely what I did. That night (Saturday night), Mr. Seiki took all of us out for dinner and then a grand tour of Fukuoka. The manager at the restaurant where we ate was lovin’ me and so dinner was courtesy of him – sweet!!!

Despite the obvious disappointment with my fight, Japan was awesome. Sure, I got sick and tired of having to translate things for Junior Mint, and sure I was frustrated with the fact that he still hadn’t even so much had said sorry for mocking me and not believing me when I initially told him I had a fight in Japan, Japan was still awesome. Ya… no bitterness there. Anyways, I had taken Snickers’ words to heart and had enjoyed it.


Moreover, because of my trip to Japan, I was able to see my friend Satoshi again and I was able to spend time with my promoter, G-Man, both of which are awesome guys! It was so great to see Satoshi again and G-Man’s hug at the end of my fight was exactly what I needed.

As for Fukuoka, I will definitely be back. With it’s super clean streets, modern buildings, and super beautiful blue fresh skies, I’m convinced that if Snickers wasn’t back in Korea waiting for me than I wouldn’t have returned to Korea. Plan is to return for a summer holiday with Snickers.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Why did they call my fight?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Just enjoy it.
-- Snickers