The aftermath.

Learning from the recent British selections, I arrived early today to beat the line up at weigh in and started padding up immediately afterwards. I was aiming to have a good half an hour warm up and stretch and all went to plan.
Shortly after 9am we were on the mat and ready to go. I have been practicing hard two particular kicks which I had hoped to use during this competition, turning back kick and a clinch axe kick.
In previous years I have often felt extremely nervous and had an excess of adrenalin before and during a fight (which causes me to tire too quickly). But since the world championships, having to travel alone and deal with this high level of stress, I've felt calm and relaxed before and during my fights.
As the referee started the fight, I had good pressure with my foot work and motioning. I attacked a number of times and my opponent would slide out and counter instantly. I found it difficult to set up the kicks I'd been working on because he was a back foot specialist and was reluctant to attack.
Midway through the last round points were tied at 6 all. I rushed an attack and made an error, my opponent capitalized and scored. Now I was down one point I felt I had to initiate another attack quickly and of course he knew this so was ready for his counter. I lost by two points.
Looking back on the fight I think my only real error was I felt I had to attack before round three finished. In hind sight it would have been better for me to maintain my pressure and force him to attack or take the match to golden goal.
Its another learning lesson, Im not used to that situation and because of it made a mistake. Now I have a few things I can take from this fight and work on before nationals.
Im taking this week off to rejuvenate a bit, catch up with friends and do things a little differently. I've had a pretty full on training program since March and really feel I need the rest.
Dinner last night and tonight with friends, a little socializing and maybe one or two drinks over the weekend which Im looking forward to.