📅 TIME & PLACE
Date: August 1-7, 2021
Day: Sunday to Saturday
Location: Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
The plane touched down at Shanghai Pudong International Airport just after sunrise, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. Ji-Ho looked out the window at the sprawling city below – towering skyscrapers reaching toward the clouds, highways weaving like silver ribbons through the urban landscape. It was his first time in China, and he felt a mix of excitement and nervous energy coursing through him.
A familiar face was waiting at the arrival gate – Chen Ling, wearing her national team tracksuit and holding a sign that read "WELCOME JI-HO – FUTURE CHAMPION" in both Chinese and Korean. She waved enthusiastically as he walked through the doors, and they embraced like old friends who hadn't seen each other in far too long.
"Look at you – full pro fighter now!" she said, grinning as she helped him with his bags. "I watched your knockout against Tanaka – that high kick was insane. The whole team has been talking about it."
"Couldn't have done it without what you taught me," Ji-Ho replied, following her to the parking lot where a van from the national training center was waiting. "I'm really excited to train with all of you – I know I'll learn so much."
🏋️ THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
The Chinese National Submission Grappling and MMA Training Center was located in the heart of Shanghai – a massive facility that looked more like a sports palace than a gym. As they walked through the doors, Ji-Ho's eyes widened in awe – multiple training areas, an Olympic-sized swimming pool for recovery, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning wing, and walls lined with photos of Chinese champions who'd competed on the world stage.
"Welcome to your home for the next week," Chen Ling said proudly. "Our head coach – Master Zhang – has been waiting to meet you. He's one of the most respected grapplers in Asia – trained champions in both BJJ and traditional Chinese wrestling."
Master Zhang was waiting for them on the main mat area – a small, wiry man in his 50s with hands that looked like they'd been carved from stone. He watched Ji-Ho with keen eyes as Chen Ling made introductions, then nodded slowly.
"Kim Ji-Ho," he said in accented but clear English. "I have studied your fights. You are fast, you are smart – but you fight with only half your strength."
Ji-Ho tilted his head in confusion. "Half my strength, Master Zhang?"
"Your body is strong," the coach explained, walking over to the mat and gesturing for Ji-Ho to follow. "But you do not use your whole body when you move. In Chinese wrestling, we say 'the power comes from the feet, flows through the legs, gathers in the hips, and explodes from the hands.' You rely too much on your arms and legs alone."
He demonstrated by throwing a simple punch – it looked effortless, but when he tapped Ji-Ho's chest with his fist, the force made him take a step back.
"Feel that?" Master Zhang asked. "All from the ground up. Let me show you."
🥋 TRAINING WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM
DAY 1 – TRADITIONAL CHINESE WRESTLING
Master Zhang spent the morning teaching Ji-Ho the basics of Shuai Jiao – a style of wrestling that's been practiced in China for over 2,000 years. The focus was on using an opponent's momentum against them, shifting weight smoothly, and generating power from the core rather than brute strength.
"Watch how Chen Ling moves," Master Zhang said as his star student demonstrated a throw. "She doesn't fight against the force – she becomes part of it, then redirects it."
Ji-Ho struggled at first – his MMA training had taught him to defend against takedowns, not to flow with them. But by the end of the session, he'd managed to execute a perfect hip throw on one of the younger team members, earning a nod of approval from the coach.
DAY 2 – ADVANCED SUBMISSION SETUPS
Chen Ling took over for the day, teaching Ji-Ho submission combinations she'd developed with the national team. They focused on transitions between positions – moving from guard to mount to back control without giving up position, and setting up submissions that looked like one thing but were actually something else entirely.
"Against a champion like Lee Jae-Min, you can't let him see what you're planning," she explained as they drilled an armbar to triangle choke transition. "He'll have studied every move you've ever made – you need to give him something new."
Ji-Ho picked up the techniques quickly, his body remembering the movements from their previous training sessions together. By the end of the day, he could flow through three different submission setups without hesitation.
DAY 3 – STRENGTH & RECOVERY
The team's strength coach put Ji-Ho through a completely different kind of workout – focusing on functional strength using bodyweight exercises and traditional Chinese training tools like stone locks and wooden staffs. Instead of heavy weights, they worked on stability, balance, and controlled power.
"In MMA, you don't need to lift the most weight – you need to use your strength when you need it," the coach explained as Ji-Ho balanced on one leg while holding two stone locks. "This training will help you conserve energy during fights and explode when the moment is right."
In the afternoon, they used the pool for aquatic training – swimming laps and doing resistance exercises in the water to reduce stress on his joints while still building endurance. It was exactly what his body needed after months of intense training and fighting.
DAYS 4-5 – SPARRING & INTEGRATION
Ji-Ho sparred with members of the national team – fighters who specialized in everything from pure grappling to striking-heavy MMA styles. Each sparring session was a learning experience, as he tried to integrate the new techniques he'd learned into his existing game.
On Day 4, he sparred with Wang Lei – a grappler who'd won bronze at the World Submission Grappling Championships. Wang Lei took him down repeatedly at first, but Ji-Ho used his new Shuai Jiao skills to escape and even reverse positions a few times.
On Day 5, he faced Liu Yang – a striker who'd transitioned from kickboxing to MMA. They focused on stand-up fighting, and Ji-Ho discovered how his improved balance and core strength made his kicks more powerful and his punches more accurate.
"You move differently now," Liu Yang said after their spar. "More grounded, more controlled. It's like you're connected to the earth."
DAY 6 – SPECIAL CLINIC
The team hosted a clinic for young local fighters, and Ji-Ho was asked to teach alongside Chen Ling and Master Zhang. Over 100 kids showed up – all eager to learn from the Korean fighter who'd made headlines with his knockout win.
Ji-Ho taught them basic footwork and jab techniques, while Chen Ling showed them submission defenses and Master Zhang demonstrated wrestling throws. When the kids asked him how he'd become a fighter, he told them the same thing he'd told Min-Jung back in Seoul:
"Work hard, be respectful, and never forget why you started. Every champion was once a beginner who refused to give up."
After the clinic, a young girl named Mei – about 12 years old – approached him with a notebook and asked for an autograph. "I want to be a fighter too," she said shyly. "My parents say it's not for girls, but you and Chen Ling jie-jie show that we can do anything."
Ji-Ho knelt down to her level and wrote a message in her notebook: "Dream big – the cage doesn't care if you're a boy or a girl, only if you have the heart of a champion."
DAY 7 – FINAL TRAINING & FAREWELL
On his last day in Shanghai, Master Zhang called Ji-Ho to the center of the mat for a final lesson.
"You have learned much in one week," the coach said, holding out a small wooden box. "But the most important lesson is this – a true fighter is always learning. No matter how good you become, there is always someone who can teach you something new."
Inside the box was a pair of hand-carved wooden practice sticks – used in traditional Chinese martial arts to improve coordination and timing.
"For your championship fight," Master Zhang said. "When you hold these, remember that strength comes from more than just muscle – it comes from knowledge, from respect, and from the connections you make with other fighters around the world."
That evening, the team held a farewell dinner at a small restaurant that served traditional Shanghai cuisine. They shared stories, laughed, and toasted to future victories – both for Ji-Ho in his upcoming title fight and for Chen Ling and the national team in their next international competition.
"Come back anytime," Chen Ling said as they hugged goodbye at the airport later that night. "You're always part of our team too. And when you win that championship, I'll be cheering for you from China."
✈️ FLYING HOME WITH NEW SKILLS
As the plane lifted off from Shanghai, Ji-Ho held the wooden practice sticks in his lap and thought about everything he'd learned. His body felt different – stronger in ways he couldn't fully explain, more connected, more balanced. But more than that, his mind felt clearer, his vision for his fight more focused.
He pulled out his phone and watched footage of the upcoming title fight between Lee Jae-Min and Choi Dong-Won. This time, he saw things he hadn't noticed before – patterns in their movements, openings they left exposed, ways he could use his new skills to exploit their weaknesses.
The break was exactly what he needed. He'd rested his body, recharged his mind, and added new tools to his arsenal. In just over a month, he'd be back in the gym, preparing for the biggest fight of his life.
As the plane flew high above the clouds, heading back to Seoul, Ji-Ho closed his eyes and smiled. The road to the championship was still ahead – but now, more than ever, he was ready to take every step of the way.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]