On M.m.a #2

Two entries ago, I began talking about why I enjoy mixed martial arts (more commonly and unfortunately known as “cage fighting”). The first two reasons dealt with nostalgia and self-defense, but these alone hardly justify a hobby that involves being punched in the stomach, kicked in the head, and choked unconscious. I will attempt to complete the list.

Competition:

I am, in general, a competitive person. Usually, this quality emerges during useless challenges, such as racquet ball, trivia, arm wrestling, running, monopoly, basketball, connect four, etc (it’s a shame such competitiveness is lacking in regards to actual challenges such as eating well, bettering myself, or life in general). And then, there is fighting, a unique form. Fighting is what other competitions are compared to in order to symbolize drama, importance, and high stakes. With actual fighting, there is no need to use metaphor. Each fight risks serious physical and psychological injury (although, if officiated correctly, far less than many sports).

Fight enough times and eventually you will lose. This principle is tried and true (just ask Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson). In training, the aim is to tilt the probability that the next fight will end in victory. Fights may be won entirely on physicality, but in order to have any lasting success one has to rely equally, if not more so, on one’s mind (simply compare the careers of the three hundred and fifty pound muscles mass, Bob Sapp, 11-6-1, with the overweight couch potato, Fedor Emelianenko, 31-1-0). Fighting is chess with one’s body instead of the board or pieces: matching the strength, conditioning, skill set, etc. You have to know when to attack with full force so as to not cost oneself the victory, reserve your energy so as to not become defenselessly exhausted, know the counter to the moves of your opponent so as to not take damage, know the counters of your own moves so as to not be countered, remember to breathe, et cetera.