damon's blog

Before I even unpack my gear or fully recover, I just wanted to say thank you. This weekend was something truly special.

As someone lucky enough to live in Berlin and regularly attend the Fight Club nights, I thought I had a solid idea of what to expect. But this? This was on a whole different level.
The energy over the past few days was something I haven’t experienced before, even in our most vibrant community gatherings.

Everything ran smoothly. The venue was full of warmth and support, with volunteers constantly present and ready to help. What stood out most was the atmosphere—it was electric, positive, and genuinely uplifting.
Even with the event being much larger than our usual meetings, it still felt personal. I came out of each session sweaty, sore, and sometimes totally worn out, but always recharged and smiling.

And for anyone thinking about coming next time: it’s not just about wrestling. It’s about connection.
This event created a space where people felt comfortable, welcomed, and supported. Conversations happened naturally, not just on the mats but off them too.
Over the course of what must have been more than a thousand matches, I didn’t see a single conflict or injury. Just sweat, camaraderie, and a lot of new friendships forming.

Personally, I wrestled many guys I probably would’ve overlooked online—and I’m so glad I did. Meeting in person shifts everything. Chemistry, presence, personality—these things don’t come across in a profile. This weekend helped me expand my boundaries in the best possible way.

To all the first-timers, huge respect.
Wrestling in front of others can be intimidating, especially for the first time. But so many of you did it, and from what I saw, more than 90% of you pushed through that barrier. That says a lot about the sense of trust and support this event fostered. You should be proud.

To SlovakLeo[1] , the founder of Berlin Fight Club and the driving force behind WrestleFest.EU[2] : a huge, heartfelt thank you.
You brought something amazing to life. Even in the middle of all the work and exhaustion, I hope you realize just how meaningful this was to so many of us. None of this would have happened without your vision and dedication.

And to the team of volunteers—thank you for your time, effort, and generosity. You helped everything flow so smoothly and made it easy for everyone to feel welcome and cared for.
Hopefully next time you’ll get more mat time yourselves. Some of you really shined out there. 🔥

This isn’t an official recap. Just a personal thank you—and a little encouragement to anyone on the fence about coming next time:
**Go for it. You won’t regret it.**

See you next year.
And until then, see you on the mats in Berlin.