BellyPunch Contest - Preparation Time and 1st Day  
by Micha



Hi, it's me again, Lindsay. So, the first excitement passes by. I arrived now
in the reality. The first day is nearly over. Ok, today, it was not that hard,
only the formal things were on the line and I could sniff a little of the
contest air. I saw many, very many women. Many of them were already
provocatively clothed up. They put on clothes, where one could see all of
their perfect stomaches. At those, I already could see, what I has to expect,
even when I do not know yet, against what women, I have to fight. But I was
able to do a few contacts and to share my experiences. All in all, it was a
very pleasant day. But now, first back to my preparation time, the last 6
weeks.

Just 6 weeks went by, since I got the invitation. Because of my Pre Contest,
which I had cut off as best of all women, I indeed knew, that I was the number
1 in my county, but at the contest, 31 other women, in my weight class, will
also attempt and give the best they can. Today, I know, what I have to expect.
I saw so many of the other competitors. And now I also know, that it was
completely correct, to train so unbeliavable hard.

But how and what have I trained? Well, mainly the stomach, but also my
remaining body, especially my arms. The stomach is the most important part,
because in the end, he must take every punch and has to live with the hurt,
but the arms are not less important. It is also very important, that I can
punch very hard, so that my opponent has to give up the match. At the pre
contest, there were these 3 tests. First, to do Crunches without a break.
Then, that a man stands on my stomach and I must hold the flex, as long I can.
And at least, the machine, that did a punch in my stomach with different
strength. After these tests, us women, which had passed by all these tests,
had discussed then, who of us has the best methods for training.

Time ago, I already knew, that the contest, with all group fights up to the
finals, will be done in only 3 days. Sure is, that we have 3 group fights.
Depending on whether one will make it to the K.O.Rounds, one will have 1
quarter- and 1 semifinal. If one comes into the final, one has, in the worst
case, 3 more fights, because of the rule „Best of 3". The first woman, who
wins 2 fights in the final, wins the championship. If one will lose the
semifinal, there will be then a fight for place 3. There, one has also fight
the „Best of 3" rule. Speak, if one would make his way up to the semifinal, it
does not matter if you win or lose there, in the worst case, you have 3 more
fights. If you count all together, you will have up to 8 fights in 3 days.
And, if then all fights will go over the highest number of rounds, in total
10, then it must be absolute madness, how much a stomach has to take and
resist.

Of course, everyone, who competes there, wants to be the champion. I want that
too. So I thought then, psychologically, I had to train my head so, that I
will do all 8 fights with each 10 rounds. Or, to say it better, that I have to
prepare my stomach so good, that he can resist everything, better said he must
resist everything. To think that was the smallest prob, because, if I want
something, then I could be always sure, that I nearly get all. I had reached
most of my targets until today. But what about the practical thing? How much
must a stomach resist? How can I measure that? Does not work! Therefore, I
only thought then, that I simply have to simulate such a contest day. So
speaked, I must find women and/or men, with which I can simulate BellyPunch
Matches. These matches then also without greater break, like the same like at
the contest. Besides that, it was also very important to hardened my stomach
much more. To do only matches, brings nothing, because at the end, my stomach
will be then so finished and hurt, before the real contest starts.

6 weeks ago, my thoughts were then like this, that I would train by turns. 2
days only training, mainly for the stomach, but also for the rest of my body.
The day after that then, I would do 3 matches on one day, after each match a
few hours break. I had asked then in my combat sport group for opponents, and
in fact, many offered to me, that they would support me.

On my training days, I did uncountable crunches then. There are so many
different kinds of crunches. I descide then, to make the same, like I did at
the pre contest. Always, only one set, but without a break. I remember still
very much all of my training days. I always gave my best to reach my limit,
but my limit also increased higher and higher. If one is psychologically so
thinking, that one must give always everything, than it will be the same like
being on drugs. Self, if you feel, that your stomach is totally finished, you
continue. You know, that you are already overkilling, but you still continue.
How often did it felt, as if my stomach started burning. You could have boiled
up an egg, so hot was the stomach. But also then, you will not finish.

Worst thing was so 10 days ago. I did Crunches on a incline bench. Those ones
are some of the stronger kinds of crunches. Like I said before, I did them
always one set without a break. I am really glad, that we have currently fall
time. If we would have summer, I surely could not bring such an achievement,
if you think, how hot it can be in an california summer. Therefore, on this
day, I did first these crunches. Because, that those ones were real difficult,
I made first 30 pieces, to warm up. Already after this 30, I was sweating
damned good and my stomach felt, like he were slightly burning. Mostly, I felt
such a drawing in the stomach, when I got back to the starting position, after
holding the flex for 3 secs. And how that felt. But you will feel it and do
the next crunch. So, after the warming up, I wanted to do so much crunches, so
long it goes. I still remember, how strong this drawing was between the 40-45
crunch. But I simply thought then, "Hey Lindsay, go ahead, go ahead. It is
more than possible, that it will be also painful at the contest. You must
fight against these pains. Don't think about them, simply keep on going on!
Yeah, just like that, I always motivated myself. But on this day, the drawing
was so unbeliavable strong, but I continued. The next ones went then also
well, until up to the 53rd crunch. There then, I wanted to give up. Man, that
was hard. My breathing was already against any normal and in addition then
this drawing. My motivated talking to myself became also weaker, because the
pain was simply too big. But I continued. The next 4 crunches, until I had to
give up then, were incredibly hard. When I afterwards went up from the bench,
I was first very dizzy. When I touched my stomach, that one was not only hard,
it cooked. 7 minutes passed by, until my stomach had quite cooled off and
calmed down. I attempted, to breathe quietly, but I can't. My stomach behaved
somehow convulsively. Then, I was not so much dizzy anymore, like before, but
I still could not stand straight up, because my stomach bent so back and
forth. That was a day, at which I learned, how hard pain can be. But I also
must make this experience.

Unfortunately, much too late, I had found a training method, with which one
can train massively. It's very simple. You do hanging leg raises at a
strength-station. You need a partner for that. Then, you do normal this leg
raises. The partner will then punch you in the stomach, while doing the reps.
Always, when the stomach muscles are either fully flexed, or fully relaxed, he
has to punch you. That works people, I say you. If you try then to concentrate
onto the next rep, to make it perfect, is absolute heavy. Even, if you already
did some more, you feel an unbelievable draw in the whole ABS. When youn are
then in the relaxing position and you just get then punched, you do not have
anymore mood to do a next crunch. You would prefer it more with pleasure and
give the puncher some hits. But also here, you always still continue, doing
the reps.

Very bad, that I found this variant so late. Normally, I did not want to do
any training in the last week, before the contest. That would be stupid, to
train the stomach until today. So, I just wanted to train until last sunday
and wanted to make a break of 5 days, until today. Ok, not a full training
break, but no more fights and not such hard trainings. But because of the
reason, that I found this new practice so late, I still trained like this on
Monday and Tuesday. OK, indeed not so hard, like always before, but still hard
enough, that I noticed some pains very good.

The most painful experience then, is just 2 weeks ago. Happened on a day, at
which I normally wanted to do 3 BellyPunch Matches. Until that day, I had
always the same punch-partners, which always give my sweet stomach the rest.
On this day then, one of the 3 was sick. But I absolutely wanted all 3
matches. So, in my combat sport group, somebody was still there, who always
had said before, that he too wanted to support me. As I choose my 3 partners,
6 weeks ago, I had looked for those men or women, who looked strong enough to
me. The reason is simply, I wanted, that they are so strong, that they could
punched out the shit of my stomach. And for that, they need very much strength
in their arms. The one, who was still asking me, did not have such strong
arms. He is very petite, in a muscled way, ok, his arms are not so small. But
in comparison with the 3 other, much weaker. Ok, that was, how they looked
like. Nevertheless, on this day, 2 weeks ago, I asked him then to fight me,
instead of the ill one. I was sure, that he could not give my stomach
everything, like the others always did. There, I have learned then, never
underestimates someone, really never. Also an important lesson for the
championship.

Well, at the beginning of the match, it all just began so, like I had
presumed. OK, I felt some pain in my stomach, but much less, than I know from
my other partners. There I thought then and also wanted to say it, that we
should stop, because it does not bring me the effect, I wanted to feel in my
stomach. Somehow, maybe my mimicry must have looked then like this, he had
noticed my dissatisfaction. What then came, is still unexplainable for me. We
did the same like in a BellyPunch match. We did also rounds, with a short
break between them. It was in the short break after the 4th round, when I
maybe gave him to understand, possible through my mimicry, that his punching
were too weak. Then, the 5th round started, he did not say anything, I stood
provocatively before him and flexed my stomach. I did everything like always
before, but he absolutely not! He punched, somewhere above the navel, but
still far under the gut area. It was that area, from which I thought, I would
get the most punches then, when I do my contest matches. Or to say it better,
the best and most punching area. But his punch, man, fantastic, wow. I still
have no declaration for that, no words, for what he showed me there. This
punch hurts, and how it did. He could not continue punching, because
immediately I fell strongly forward, with my upper body. I was so confused.
What was that? I was fully concentrated and had pushed all mental strength
into the flexing of my stomach muscles, but this punch was hard, damned
massive hard. I could see it seconds later also at my stomach. The place had
become immediately red, not bruised or hurt, did simply coloured red. Then, I
had to hold my stomach for a few seconds. I rubbed, kneaded and massaged him a
little bit. I did not felt any bigger pain. Man, with pleasure, I would like
have to see this punch on a video. This punch must have been pressed in my
stomach very deeply, because immediately I fell forward so far. I was very
much impressed. My partner laughed, ok, smiled, but not despising.

Only a few seconds later then, I asked him, from where he had taken this
strength and if he could call up this strength regularly. Of course, he said
then to me and that I should not underestimate him. He would simply not look
so muscled and strong, like others, but he would have also enough strength.
Yes, there he was absolute right, I had felt that clearly. But, at this time,
I became also a little unsure. Imagine, if I would get such a punch from a
opponent in a contest match. The woman there would not give me any time to
recover. My partner gave me the time, he is only a training-opponent. In a
contest match, every woman gives everything. That was a very good situation
for me. Now I knew, what could happen. The only thing were, that I must learn,
not to take too much time to recover, if I get such a punch there. I told my
partner then, that he should continue with the same hard punches. And this
time, he should fight against my stomach, like if he were a real opponent.
But, I also told him, to do everything with highest security. We did not have
a referee in our match, that could go between us, if the situation gets worse.
Ok, my partner should indeed give his best, but he must also keep attention,
not to hurt me.

Then, we continued in the 5th round. I tried to concentrate myself much more
on the upcoming punch and to blow up my ABS in a much harder way.
Incomprehensible, what then happened. Let me say something first, I was not
hurt, but after this 5th round, the match was over. But what had happened?!
Ok, I stood in the middle of the ring, ready for the punch. My partner took a
big swing and "BOOOOMM", again right in the ABS. Same Area, like before, but
this time a bit harder, than before. This time so crazy strong, that my upper
body bend forwards and simultaneously I lost the ground control. My whole body
raised, through this punch, up a little bit, fell a bit backwards, but my
upper body swings forwards. But not enough. Like I told my partner before, he
should continue, does not matter, if I need time to recover. And he did this
then. Exactly in the moment, where I felt, with my feet, the ground again and
my upper body was just straight enough, the next punch arrived. This time a
little more sidewards, near the right rib arch. After these 2 punches, my body
was not longer standing in the ring middle. I stood then a bit more closer to
one ring corner. I did not have any chance at all to flex my ABS. I just had
again contact, with my feet, at the ground, when his next punch destroyed my
ABS. You could not measure, the time between these two punches, it was less
than a second. But it was exactly that situation, what also could happen to
me, in a real contest match. I can not assume, that my stomach can take
everything and I only punch the whole time.

And again, my partner did not give up. When I again stood nearly uprightly
then, he made a short punching series. Very quickly and by hand turns, he
fired 12 punches into my ABS. Ok, those ones were not so hard, because he
punched very quickly, but I still felt them very clearly. I could simply not
do my flexing and so, I can not defend those punches and have to take them.
This punching series pushed me then into the ring ropes. I noticed clearly,
how I bumped with my back, against these ropes. Before I forget to tell you
outthere this, I also had allowed my partner, that he could kick me in the
stomach. Before the match, I thought, that he is not that strong and I can
take his punches or steps without problems. I thought, he would be more a
partner for a warming up match. For my bad luck, I must noticed then, that he
did not forget my suggestion, with the kicking. So, after I fell into the ring
ropes, he immediately kicked me in my stomach. Because we fought after the
rules of a real BellyPunch match, he was not allowed to wear any shoes and has
to kick with naked foot. But this does not matter, his kick was a full
success, for him, not for me. OMG, that was pressure. I did not notice any
pains, only always this pressure in my stomach, which became increasingly more
harder. Without a break, he continued with 2 more kicks and after them with 4
more hard punches and all with more and more hardness. I could not help myself
out of this situation, I was beaten. I could not do anything, was standing
against the ring ropes, was like a toy in his hands. In order, to simulate the
2 minutes of combat time, we had a stopwatch beside the ring. Depressing was,
that the clock did not made any noise. Means, that the 2 minutes were not
over. Nevertheless, I waved my arms, the sign, that he should stop, what he
did then immediately.

Then, I sat myself down in the ring corner, observed my stomach and massaged
it. He had become very red. It was indeed very funny. I did not feel a pain,
only such a enormously big pressure, as if still an incredible load would
stand on my stomach. My stomach had not swollen, ok, it did not look like
this. Hard, incredibly hard, yes, but it was difficult to see, whether the
stomach was now so incredibly hard, because of the unbelievable punching
before, or if he was swollen. My partner asked me then, how I felt, but I was
still unable to describe it. At this moment, I was very disappointed. That was
the first time, that I had to give up. Well, compared with the 154,5 lbs punch
from the machine at the pre contest, these single punches of my partner were
clearly harder. At the pre contest, they already told me, that it can
absolutely happen, that women could punch with a strength of more than 188 lbs
and kicks could be much more harder than this. Since the pre contest, all my
training partners had already shown me, that my ABS can take more, but this
partner showed me, where my limits were.

All the rest of that day then, I was down. First, on the next day, I felt
better, mainly mental. My stomach was not hurt, but the evening before, I felt
much more clearer, what happened the day before, in the trainings match. In
the evening, the whole pain came through my stomach. But I must say, it was
hard pain, but I could live with it. Nevertheless, I could not sleep the whole
night, because of the pain and always this powerful pressure on my stomach,
which I felt since hours. At the next afternoon, the pressure and pain was not
away, but I was able to train with that. My mental situation was much better.
Like I said, at the contest, I will surely also get such punches. It was very
good, that I made this experiences, better, than to make them first in a
contest match. If I watched back, then I must be glad, that I had made this
experience. Because, after this day, I often took this training partner again.
Ok, his punches were always hard to take. But then I knew, what I had to
expect and with the time, I could absorb his punches better and better.

But all in all, now I am glad, that I am here at the contest. Since 2 days, I
am here. I wanted to be rested, after this long flight and searching for the
hotel and many more. Todays afternoon were used then for the formal things.
Was used for the registration, the weighing and the group drawing. I must add
something, because of the weighing. At the pre contest we were also weighted.
Now, at the contest, it was only allowed, to have 10 % more or less body
weight, in comparison to the weight of the pre contest. That are competition
rules, to show the fairness of the contest. My weight class goes from 121,6
lbs – 139 lbs. For example, if a woman have weighed 122,5 lbs at the pre
contest and weights now 139 lbs, would that be very unfair for all other women
in our weight class. At the registration, I got then also a paper with some
statistics. I could see there the results, from all of my opponents, in my
weight class. The results of the pre contests and in addition was there a big
ranking list. There you can see, at which place of the entire weight class you
stand, with your pre contest results. Ok, for those, who will be in the top
regions of this ranking list can it be a motivation, but if you stand far
below, you rather will be more depressed. Imagine, if you stand very below and
you see then one of your group opponents standing on the top of the list, oh
yes, that is not the best feeling. But do not pay too much attention to such
statistics, it can happen everything. At the ranking list for my weight class,
I stood only at place 14 of 32 opponents. And if I have a look at the results
of the best women, my results would be miles away from them. If you look at
the results from the 1st and 2nd placed woman, oh man, they are far in front
of the next women then. But I must also say, that the 1st placed woman won
last year and the 2nd placed woman 2 years ago. If I should have to fight
against one of these women, that would be presumably a insoluble job. But like
in every competition, everything is possible. You never should start thinking
from the beginning on, that you can loose a match.

I had no coach, which I could take with me to the Contest, I did not have
someone like that. But my best trainings partner comes with me. We are best
friends and he can estimate me very good. He can descide very good, when he
must give up a match for me, if I am unable to do that alone. Also, my best
girlfriend comes along with us. But this BellyPunch Event is absolutely not
her thing. Her main reason, to come with us, was naturally me, but also to use
this longer weekend to have a nice holiday in Miami. She was indeed also
top-fit, but it was impossible to convince her, that she also should try some
belly punching. But, it is ok, such a extreme event is simply not for
everyone.

The group draw, some hours ago, was very excited. It took place in a big hall
from the hotel. I was sitting there in the auditorium and have the statistics,
with the ranking list, in my hands. Then, I can immediately see, how strong or
weak, my opponents are. The tests at the pre contests were always the same, so
I could perfect compare my achievement, with those of my group opponents. And
that will be my group opponents and we all will be in group 4:

At number 1 in my group is set Silvana Malchow. Well, this name does not
sounds american, but she is. She weighs 138,2 lbs at 5,48 ft height. She won
the pre contest in Ohio and got 6 points in the posing round. She did 106
crunches, capacity test, where the man is standing on the stomach, 2:36
minutes. She finished the test with the machine with 193 lbs of strength. All
results were much better, than my own ones.

Magret Messina, is set as 2nd. Won in West Virginia, weighs 129,6 lbs at 5,54
ft height. View test 9 points, crunches 87, capacity 1:44 minutes and machine
punch arm 143,5 lbs. Her results are nearby my ones. She was not as good as me
at the machine test. But she placed, in our group, directly before me, because
of the better resultss in the first two tests and the better points in the
posing round.

Set at place 3, is me then. Current weight 131 lbs at 5,58 ft height, won in
California, posing round 8 points, 78 crunches, 1:36 minute at capacity test
and 154,5 lbs at the end of the machine test.

Set on last place was Sarah Denhardt. 122 lbs weight at 5,41 ft height, posing
round 10 points, crunches 112!!!, capacity test 1:19 minute and machine test
130 lbs. WOW, 112 crunches, that is absolute crazy. OK, she was only set on
the last place, because her other test results were bad, but that she did so
many crunches, is unbelievable madness. But I am a bit confused, that she did
so many crunches, but was so bad at the strength tests. But in this moment, I
rather wanted to see, how her stomach looks like. If she really got 10 points
in the posing round, then WOW, you can not get more than 10 points. How must
her ABS looks then? Must be absolute perfect.

My group, was seen in total, as an average group. But all 8 groups were
builded like this, all average. It was possible to say, who will be the best
placed women, after all group matches. Next, they draw, which 1st place of a
group will fight then another 1st placed woman in the quarter finals, the half
finals and the final.

15 minutes ago now, all athletes got a paper, on which everything around this
contest, stood very clearly. For example, against who and at what time you
will fight. In which ring the fight will be. How much breaks you have. When
the feeding breaks will be. You could see all groups, but only those ones of
your weight class. So, now I can have a look, which 1st place of a group will
then fight against the first place of our group, in the quarter final. That
would be then the best from group 2. The probably best woman there, is like on
the same strength level like Magret Messina from our group. The lot for the
semifinal then, would be more worse. In the worst case, it would be then the
number 2 of the entire ranking list. That is the woman, who had won the
championship 2 years ago. But it is a long way to go to be there.

I will now go eating something and discuss with my friend, about strategies,
how I can do the best in a fight. Maybe, I will then also go into the hotel
lounge. Tomorrow is the first real and long competition day, with all group
fights. Tomorrow, around this time, I know then, how my group fights ended.