hephaestion2014's blog

So the idea was floated. I agreed and then came the hassle of comparing diaries and calendars. Admittedly heat did stop play on one day. I don't do especially well in the heat. I'm built for Nordic countries, seeing off viking jobber hoards whilst shirtless in the snow. And I'll still be complaining about the heat.

But finally a time was agreed upon and sorted. It's a strange feeling I get in my stomach when a match is arranged. At first it's just a distant event that I need to get ready for but as it gets closer it intensifies. Remember at school when you'd get that challenge to fight after school. "Playing fields at half three" and how that would sit with you all day. I guess how you felt probably says a bit about your character. I'm guessing a lot of you are confident enough in your fighting skills to be excited about such a challenge. Others would be more scared. I sat in between. Not scared. More nervous. Let me do not that badly. Let me at least get a few good hits in. Let me not be too embarrassed. Or injured. Especially this beautiful face lol

That feeling had been sitting in my gut all day before this fight. I was also nervous/excited because I didn't know what I was facing. Now I know when I meet anyone from here that they are strangers too.

But there are a lot of cues you can take from the profile even just from the photo of the body type, the recommendations and even the profile itself. Oh. A jobber who fights back? A heel who likes chokeholds? Etc etc.

So now im sat on the bus going to my mates house trying to imagine all possibilities. And I'm looking around the bus.

If you go to the group meets in this country, I'm thinking of both the High Barnet and Pippa ones, you'll often be meeting new people there. Strangers. I'm not saying both locations are that out of the way, but I often play a game with myself when I'm sat on the tube or tram ... can you spot another wrestler?

The Northern Line tube tends to empty round Highgate so it gets easier. Sometimes. The same with Holt Town, if they are getting off there and carrying a sports bag ... maybe just maybe.

So it crosses my mind, maybe the guy is on the bus? Looking around I try to work out if there is anyone on that I wouldn't want to lock up with. There is a bodybuilder type at the back sweating in a muscle tee and tapout shorts manspreading on the back seat. I'm not a huge fan of the over muscled type so he'd be the worst option but I still wouldn't say no to a match. My eye passes over a few other guys on the bus. There was a guy getting on a stop after me who had a similar if not better build then me. Let's say dadbod prime . Bit younger than me but very nice square shoulders. That would be a good match. My mind wanders till I see the church which means I need to get off. (Trivia note- the church used in the tv series Keeping Up Appearances, people!)

So off I get. Bodybuilder gets off. Square shoulders gets off too. It's a busy bus stop. It means nothing.
I then walk towards my mates.

I get there. No square shoulders behind me. No bodybuilder too.

I'm greeted by my mate who tells me that my opponent is here already and getting ready in the other room. So do I want to meet him now or get changed in the bathroom and see him for the first time on the mats? I choose the later. In for a penny in for a pound. Turns out I do like surprises.

So square cuts on. Let's go meet my opponent.

I see immediately why my friend chose this guy for me. Same height. Probably a little heavierr and a bit more toned. What I would look like if I could wrestle everyday rather than be depressed by the boredom of the gym and avoiding it. We shake hands. Not even sure that we've exchanged names at this point.

My mate says, "And wrestle? Ding ding!"

So off we go. And it was great.

We are learning about each other as we are wrestling. Both of us cautious at first. Not sure how hard to go on the other. I don't want to break him and vice versa. There's a smile when I gently apply an armlock which broadens as I apply more and more force to it. One point he headbutts my gut to try to break a hold. He apologies as he's not sure if he's crossed a line. I said it's okay and we both relax a bit more and get a lot rougher. Its a great match. I don't feel as free as I thought I would. I can't escape who I am and turn into a really rough yob, but being freed from expectations and assumptions means I can see a new part of myself on the mats.

It was a great match. We're going to have a rematch again. Think my mate enjoyed watching the two of us fight as well. If only because he says he learnt what not to do when watching us lol

I'm glad I said yes.