This is Coach Wilsons account of the fight ( Coach Wilson also won gold at the event, an RMAX double victory)
Last Saturday night I was honored to fight along side Coach Sonnon on Saturday night at the U.S. International San Shou Championship. This was the first time that Coach Sonnon and I have ever fought San Shou. San Shou is full-contact Chinese Kickboxing in which you can punch, kick and throw your opponent. You can win by knockout or by points. Each round is scored individually so that if you win two rounds in a row there is no third round. However, if you win a round and your opponent wins a round there is a third round to decide the fight. That is, of course, unless you knock your opponent out.
Like I said before Nether Coach Sonnon nor I had ever fought like this before. They put Coach Sonnon up against a very experienced fighter who had 12 professional fights, he was 28 years old and out weighed Coach by about 10lbs (and he was a SOLID dude), and his sparring partner was another pro named Perry who fights K1 consistently!
Prior to a fight most fighters are moving around shadow boxing with nervous energy. Coach Sonnon was sitting back on a weight bench with his feet propped up looking half-asleep. Another tid bit was that prior to the fights we were all check out by a doctor to make sure our blood pressure and heart rate was OK. The doctor made the comment that Coach Sonnons blood pressure and heart rate were the lowest of everyone (a testament to Breath Mastery). Coach was fighting a heavier, younger fighter with 12 Professional fights, for his first time in the ring!
As the first round began Coach Sonnon was cool and in control of himself. The younger, more experienced fighter came out blasting. Coach showed great defense and gave as good as he got. It was a great give and take battle. Coach was, in my opinion, holding back a bit, probably because of first time jitters. He looked like a seasoned kick boxer in there exchanging with this guy. The gong sounded and the first round was awarded to the other fighter. It was a fair call, the other fighter was a bit more active than Coach Sonnon. What this meant was that Coach Sonnon would either have to win the next two rounds on points or knock the bigger, younger fighter out.
At the beginning of the second round Coach came out a different fighter. He was no longer nervous or apprehensive at all. He started working the combinations that we had trained. He used tactical kicking to get into hand range and INCREDIBLE boxing to close in to throw. The first time he threw landing his opponent on his head in the second round, Coachs opponent was knocked out (at least that is what he told us after the fight). He recovered in the 8 count and continued.
Coach was a picture of calm intensity. He worked his plan over and over. He would kick to punch to throw (just like we had been training him), and was landing his shots over and over. His opponent would not relent. He kept coming with great kick to punch combinations, but could not deal with the precision and force that Coach was dishing out.
At one point in the second round the ref stopped it to check on Coachs opponent and re-do his head gear (which had been turned a bit by the repeated blows to the face). At the end of the second round Coach Sonnon looked as fresh as he did when we began. Coach Sonnon won the second round.
As the third round began, Coach Sonnon went out with fierce combinations leading into beautiful throws. Each time he was thrown his opponent took longer and longer to get up. About one minute into the third round Coach came out of a clinch with a text book hook (thanks to Brandon Jones' coaching) that put his man down. His opponent was on the mat for about 2 minutes before he got up. Coach Sonnon was awarded the Victory via Knockout in the third round. Thats right! This international champ grappler won this fight with a hook to head, knocking his opponent out! It was the main event of the night and it was hands down the most exciting fight of the night! It was awesome, I have never been prouder!
After the fight Coach Sonnons opponent was bruised up pretty good with some blood and a good strawberry on his cheek. Coach looked like he did when he got off the plane the day before. He really wasn't even breathing heavy after this three round battle. It was amazing to watch.
For those who have not let it soak in yet, out Head Coach Scott Sonnon, is now an International Champion in a Striking Art as well as an International Champion (several times) in Grappling arts. He put it all on the line in a competition that he had never done before with only 6 weeks to prepare and a full schedule of other projects (including a MOVIE) and yet he brought RMAX home the GOLD! That is a Leader. That is a man that Leads by Example. He is a man that walks his talk. He told me once that those who can fight, fight, those who cant fight, coach, and those that do both
innovate. My friends he can do both. I was honored to complete along side him.
Thank you to Coach Jones and Coach Murdock for your help in our ppreparation. We could not have done it with out you guys. Brandon: he knocked the guy out with the exact hook combination that you taught us in Philly! Thank you to everyone on the forum for your continued support! Thank you Coach for allowing me to work, compete and teach with you.
We'll post videos and photos of the fights soon!
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Joseph Wilson,
CST Head Coach
