📅 TIME & PLACE
Date: February 1 – February 28, 2020
Day: Various – Leading up to March 7
Location: Dragon MMA Gym, Seoul & Pre-Fight Venue, Busan 🇰🇷
📅 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
With exactly one month to go until the Road FC Amateur Bantamweight Tournament in Busan, every moment of Ji-Ho's life revolved around preparation. His schedule was tighter than ever – school from 8 AM to 3 PM, training from 4 PM to 8 PM, and morning sessions with Coach Kang three days a week.
His family had fully come around to supporting him. Ye-Eun started helping him with strength training in their backyard, teaching him how to properly lift weights to build functional fighting muscle without losing speed. His mom researched nutrition for combat athletes, creating meal plans packed with lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats to fuel his training and recovery. Even his dad – still worried about injuries – had started watching fight footage with him, asking thoughtful questions about strategy and technique.
"Your opponent's name is Choi Min-Woo," Coach Kim said one afternoon, sliding a folder across the desk to Ji-Ho. "19 years old, 8 wins, 2 losses – fights out of Busan MMA Academy. He's a striker-first fighter, with a background in kickboxing and Muay Thai. He won his last three fights by knockout."
Ji-Ho opened the folder and studied the scouting report – photos of Min-Woo in the cage, fight stats, even video links to his past matches.
"His left kick is his weapon of choice," Coach Park added, pointing to a chart. "He throws it with power and accuracy, usually after setting it up with jabs to the head. He's aggressive, likes to press forward and control the center of the cage."
"I've watched his fights online," Ji-Ho said, looking up from the folder. "He's good, but he drops his right hand when he throws that left kick. And he tends to get frustrated if he can't finish the fight early."
🥊 FIGHT-SPECIFIC TRAINING
Coach Kim designed a custom training plan to prepare Ji-Ho for Min-Woo's style:
STRIKING SESSIONS WITH COACH LEE
They focused heavily on defending against low and middle kicks – practicing checks, catches, and counter moves. Coach Lee had Takeshi spar with Ji-Ho, mimicking Min-Woo's aggressive striking style to help him get used to the pressure.
"Keep your hands up at all times!" Coach Lee shouted as Takeshi threw a series of left kicks. "When he throws that kick, catch it and counter with a right cross – just like Nonito Donaire does!"
Ji-Ho practiced the technique over and over – catching the kick with his left hand, sweeping his opponent's standing leg with his right foot, and following up with a punch before they could recover. By the end of the first week, he could do it smoothly, even under pressure.
They also worked on Ji-Ho's switch-hitting style, teaching him how to switch stances specifically to avoid Min-Woo's left kick. When he moved to southpaw, his lead leg was further away, making it harder for Min-Woo to land cleanly.
GRAPPLING SESSIONS WITH COACH PARK
Since Min-Woo was primarily a striker, they focused on takedown setups from striking ranges and how to keep the fight on the ground if needed. Seung-Min worked with Ji-Ho on defending against strikes while closing distance, and how to use his wrestling base to control Min-Woo if he managed to take him down.
"Your Imanari Roll was impressive, but don't rely on flashy moves in your first fight," Coach Park advised. "Stick to the basics – solid takedowns, good position control, and simple submissions you can finish reliably."
Ji-Ho spent hours drilling double-leg takedowns, guard passing, and basic submissions like rear-naked chokes and armbars. He also practiced getting back to his feet if Min-Woo managed to take him down – something Coach Kim emphasized as crucial against a striker who'd want to keep the fight standing.
CONDITIONING WITH COACH KANG
Coach Kang adjusted the endurance program to simulate fight conditions more closely. They did five-minute rounds of intense training with only one minute of rest between them – exactly like a real MMA fight. Each round alternated between striking pads, grappling, and simulated cage movement.
"On fight night, adrenaline will carry you through the first round," Kang explained during a particularly tough session. "But rounds two and three are where your conditioning will make the difference. You need to be able to fight just as hard in the last minute as you do in the first."
They also added flexibility training to Ji-Ho's routine – working on splits, hip openers, and core stability to help him move more freely in the cage and avoid injuries from kicks and takedowns.
💡 MENTAL PREPARATION
Coach Kim spent time working with Ji-Ho on the mental side of fighting – how to stay calm under pressure, how to deal with pre-fight nerves, and how to adjust his game plan if things didn't go as expected.
"Every fighter gets nervous before their first fight," Coach Kim said, sitting with Ji-Ho in the empty gym one evening. "I was shaking like a leaf before my first PRIDE match. But nervousness is just energy – you have to learn to channel it into focus and determination."
They practiced visualization techniques – Ji-Ho would close his eyes and imagine every moment of the fight: walking to the cage, touching gloves with his opponent, landing clean strikes, defending against attacks, and ultimately winning the match. He also worked on breathing exercises to help him stay calm and focused when the pressure was on.
His family helped too – his mom made him a lucky charm bracelet with beads in the colors of the South Korean flag, and his sisters promised to drive down to Busan to watch the fight. Even his dad, who'd never been to a combat sports event before, bought tickets for the whole family.
🛠️ FIGHT PREPARATION CHECKLIST
As the fight date drew closer, Ji-Ho and his coaches went through every detail:
- Fight Gear: New 10-ounce fight gloves, custom-fitted mouthguard, shin guards, compression shorts, and a fight shirt with "Dragon MMA" printed across the chest.
- Weight Cut: Ji-Ho was a natural bantamweight, so he only needed to lose a few pounds of water weight to make the official 135-pound limit. Coach Kang helped him with a safe weight cut plan, making sure he stayed hydrated and strong.
- Travel Arrangements: The team would leave Seoul on March 6 – the day before the fight – to get settled in Busan and attend the official weigh-ins.
- Corner Team: Coach Kim and Coach Park would be in Ji-Ho's corner, with Coach Lee and Kang there for support. Takeshi was coming too – he'd volunteered to help with gear and warm-ups.
- Game Plan: Start by using footwork to control distance, avoid Min-Woo's left kick, and counter with jabs and right crosses. If Min-Woo presses too hard, use takedowns to slow him down and work ground-and-pound or submissions. Stay calm, stick to the plan, and conserve energy for later rounds.
✊ THE NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE
On March 5 – the night before they left for Busan – Ji-Ho stood in his room, looking at the posters of his favorite fighters on the wall. He'd come so far in just two months – from a shy kid who'd never trained a day in his life to a fighter preparing for his first real match.
His sisters knocked on the door and came in, carrying a cake they'd made – it was decorated with a small MMA cage and the words "ROAD TO CHAMPION" written in icing.
"For good luck," Ye-Eun said, setting it down on his desk. "We're all really proud of you, little brother. Win or lose, you've already shown us what you're made of."
Hye-Jin handed him a folder. "I looked up Road FC's amateur rules and regulations, made some notes on what to expect. And I talked to a friend who's a sports doctor – she gave me some tips on injury prevention and recovery."
Ji-Ho felt his eyes get wet. "Thank you," he said quietly. "All of you."
His parents came in too, his dad holding a small box. Inside was a pair of custom-made fight shorts – dark blue with red accents, with Ji-Ho's name embroidered on the side and the date of his first fight.
"I still worry about you getting hurt," his dad said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But I see how happy this makes you, how hard you've worked. Your mother and I will be there in Busan, cheering you on every step of the way."
That night, Ji-Ho lay in bed, unable to sleep from excitement and nervousness. He thought about everything he'd learned – from the basic boxing stance Coach Kim had taught him to the endurance drills that had pushed him to his limits. He thought about Min-Woo, his opponent, and the hard work he must have put in to get to this point.
Most of all, he thought about that eight-year-old kid watching UFC on TV, dreaming of one day being in the cage himself.
Tomorrow, that dream would take its first real step toward becoming reality.
[END OF CHAPTER 7]