Having spent the past month running around my local park and doing the odd
length up and down the Council swimming pool, I was ready to jump on the
plane . Having got to Cairo via Prague, at 2.30am, it was still 27C, and was
met by the normal madness and smells.

Some of the organisers drove us to the Cairotel Hotel, a posh place, with
pool, on the banks of the Nile. I met my room met, Oleg from Lithuania, a
bodyguard with a bag of stories.

Each day breakfast was served and it was the same every time. Eggs + salad
with very strong coffee.

The first day was free time, Oleg and I climbed up to the roof of the Hotel
and looked at the amazing views of Cairo and the Nile snaking its way
through the city. Not that many of the buildings seemed to be completed. There
seemed to be so much rubbish on every roof.

African time did play its part in just about everything that we did. For
example the tournament was only going to be one day in length. However, due
to no planning or management it did not finish until midnight on the second
day. Each day our bus was over 2 hours late.

Once at the National Stadium, we were met by 500 odd locals who made the
arrival feel like something out of a Rocky movie. Due to Kung Fu being the
main Marital art the locals never really understood the scoring of shidokan.
The crowd loved it when one of the fighters was thrown to the floor.

I was in the heavyweight section, which was going to start late on the first
day. This was soon moved to day 2.

Once back at the stadium (eggs+salad+coffee+long bus hang around) I went
through my warm up to find that I was the first to fight in the 85+s. I was
in the red corner, and when the doors opened the crowd went wild, to the
local man, nicknamed "The King". 6'5", 100KG MAN MOUNTAIN, THAT LOOKED LIKE HE
HAD A BAD CASE OF RABIES.

The first round went in seconds, king rabies, opened with both barrels,
punching me in the face 3/4 times. The 2nd round he did it again and without
knowing I got him up against the ropes with a hard jab to the Adam's apple.
Soon after that I took him down with a hard knee below the belt. The crowd
was out to get me, however the decision did go to the local lad.

The final was an all Hungarian affair, a 4 round show piece for the sport
which was great viewing.

During the next few days we enjoyed some of the tourist attractions, A
number churches, markets, museums and mosques were visited. The highlight
for me was by far the pyramids. The 3 at Giza are truly amazing and really
are a must. The size of the rocks, and how did they get them up there ? The
trip down the Nile was also memorable.

I have to say that what I did not achieve in the ring I did outside it. I
met a number of interesting people form a number of counties. The experience
of going to an International tournament has been a high learning curve,
motivational; and something that I look forward to doing in the very near
future.

A massive 'big up' goes to all at Shidokan Egypt for their friendship and
hospitality, especially Mr Egy and Family. Thanks also to JJ Burnel and all
within Shidokan UK who made it possible.

See ya in the ring.

Tim Higham
London
Nov 2002