Sailing Again's First Fight is in the Books!!

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 12:06 pm

John "Sailing Again" Gallo def Robert "Caz" Castillo via guillotine choke @ :46 Rd1

Hey Guys!!! Thanks for all your Phin Power. My first fight was a total success. I made some mistakes which I'll need to improve upon in the future. Things went great though.
Quick play by play:
As soon as the bell rang, I tried to get a feel for distance with a quick thai kick to the leg and a few jabs which missed. Rob was a wrestler in college so he was very fast. He immediately shot in and grabbed my legs. I tried to sprawl, but his shoot was too fast. He got me down, but I was able to pull guard(on my back, controlling him with my legs around his waist). He threw down a few punches but I was able to create enough space that they glanced off my gloves or caught me in the body. I tried to sit up so I could roll him and get top position but he drove his body into me. We have a saying in jiu-jitsu:"Don't park your head in the guillotine garage." That's exactly what he did. he put his head right under my armpit. I was able to get the blade of my forearm under his throat, lock my hands, squueze the crap out of him and push away with my legs around his waist. It feels like you are being choked while your head is being removed from your body. He tapped out almost instantly.

I'm really excited. I trained almost a year for this. I'll be having at least 1 fight a month from now on. Maybe in a year or so if my record is good I'll get to do it at a show and get paid.

Thanks again PHINS UP!!!!!!

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » May 17, 2004 12:10 pm

CONGRATS MAN!!!

Ya know, I would totally get into that stuff except I don't really like pain, I'm horrendously out of shape, I'm slower than hell, I don't like pain, I have no fighting skills of any kind, I dislike pain, I don't like to train and I have an incredible aversion to pain. Other than that though, i would totally do it!

CRC Parrothead · Post by **CRC Parrothead** » May 17, 2004 12:11 pm

Way to go John!!!

Congrats!!

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 12:15 pm

It's the best thing I ever did for myself physically, NYC. A little over a year ago I weighed 225lbs and was TOTALLY out of shape. This morning I weighed in at 178lbs and I haven't felt this good since high school.

BilltheLizard · Post by **BilltheLizard** » May 17, 2004 12:18 pm

Phantastic John. Congratulations on your first of many wins. Good job on seeing areas where you can improve, it will just make you stronger and better for the next fight.

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 12:21 pm

Thanks Guys!!

Yeah, my two main problems were:
1.Nerves(I was so nervous I almost ran out of gas before the fight started. I'm glad it was so short)
2.My Sprawl(I knew he was going to shoot in on me and I still couldn't stop it)

Oh well. Lots of room to improve. At least he didn't rearrange my pretty face.

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » May 17, 2004 12:23 pm

sailingagain wrote:Oh well. Lots of room to improve. At least he didn't rearrange my pretty face.

*Takes a look at Johns avatar again*

So, i guess you're not in that picture huh?

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 12:27 pm

NYCPORT · Post by **NYCPORT** » May 17, 2004 12:28 pm

Pedro's next!!!

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » May 17, 2004 12:31 pm

sailingagain wrote:

Oh quit cryin' ya big lug! I'd still do ya!

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » May 17, 2004 12:36 pm

sailingagain wrote:Thanks Guys!!

Yeah, my two main problems were:
1.Nerves(I was so nervous I almost ran out of gas before the fight started. I'm glad it was so short)
2.My Sprawl(I knew he was going to shoot in on me and I still couldn't stop it)

Oh well. Lots of room to improve. At least he didn't rearrange my pretty face.

Auntie say "'tis better have run out of gas than to HAVE gas."

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 1:09 pm

I got an armbrar with Pedro's name written all over it!!!

TheSecretsInTheCrust · Post by **TheSecretsInTheCrust** » May 17, 2004 1:16 pm

Who needs a knife....Whay to Go John!

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » May 17, 2004 1:32 pm

Congrats SA!!

ashaway1 · Post by **ashaway1** » May 17, 2004 1:33 pm

sailingagain, what is the name of the organization for which you fight? Is it like Ultimate Fighting? congrats on your win

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 1:40 pm

ashaway,

Right now, I fight only at my school. If you are successful enough in fighting other students, the trainers can recommend you to fight for local organizations. Some of the fighters from my school have done just that. The rules for these organizations are similar to that of UFC. It's VERY sanctioned and regulated now. Not like the old UFC where there were no rules. Although we have a cage in our gym, we fight on open wrestling mats. If you elevate to local organizations, you would either fight in a ring or a cage. I still have a VERY long way to go for that. I've only been training for about a year. I'm pretty good if you match me up with people of similar size and experience, but about 75% of the guys at my school could EASILY kick the crap out of me.

The art I study is called "American Freestyle". It's a combination of Boxing, Muay thai, Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu and Sambo.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » May 17, 2004 2:08 pm

Congrats! 46 seconds...this must be a very fast paced sport. Is that an average length for such a contest?

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » May 17, 2004 3:50 pm

It can be. One fight today ended in :12 when someone scored a KO on the first punch. However, most of the fights went the distance. Our rules were two(2), 5 minute rounds. The trainers and some of the more advanced, experienced fighters then serve as the judges.

It was the first fight for myself as well as my opponent. We train together, spar together, and have rolled in some jiu-jitsu and /or submission tournaments, but you can't prepare for the adrenalin rush you get the first time you face off with no pads. We were both so nervous, I don't think there was any way it could have lasted long.

Dally · Post by **Dally** » May 17, 2004 5:38 pm

Congrats John!!!!

:):):)