[Caution: This
article is intended for those 17 and up as it contains content that may be
unsuitable for youngins, but if you are an 8-year-old in the fight game, you
done seen more than most, so just ask your Mommy and Daddy.]
 |
| getting my amateur MMA license |
Tonight the smiles were grinning
at me as I were running through a slew of congratulations, pats on the back,
conversations about my maneuvers and laughter was high and repeated, and my
opponent even thanked me for the match and asked me for help with stand-up. A
couple dozen spectators in the bleachers, fighters on the card and promoters and
officials on the floor they all heaped praise; that for a minute, I thought that
I had actually won. Mofo fake illusionists. Architects of pure fantasy. It was
all believable. Even my cornermen failed to instruct me I had lost once I
exited the cage. Not a “next time, Champ! There are more fights out there.”
Had I not put these developments in
black and white I might wake up wondering in the morning “Who stole my mofo
trophy??” Nonetheless, I had been in the ring, I had been on the mat, I had
lost here before. I know the script. The Champ is not so inundated with wins
that I might embarrass myself reaching for my opponent’s trophy. I know the instinctive
actions of one who lost. “Champ, pick your head up, congratulate your opponent’s
cornermen, salute your opponent, exit the ring stage left, and for fighter’s
sake leave the damn trophy.” This is how you lose.
My amazing lost, so believable I
had not stopped smiling until I got home. Then, it truly set-in, I did great in
MMA for a boxer. I’m in physical pain
AND I lost. When you lose, you replay everything back what you could have done
right. I hate this process. But, I know the importance of losing. Yes, there is
such a thing. But, no one ever asks me what to do if I should lose. Everyone’s always
asking how to win, and yeah, that’s how it should be. But, there’s a lesson in
the roughest of all losses.
If a young fighter ever asked me
how you should feel and what you should do: Shine. You came in the arena confident,
you leave the arena confident. Everything everyone told you about your amazing loss,
believe it. You were quite awesome. But, do yourself a favor, at that juncture
of feeling awful after you lost ascend your fight game to victory: Train hard,
eat right, study yourself, study your opponent, talk with your coach and team, revisit
your lost, and make amends for the lack of experience, skill, talent, timing, strength
and/or speed. But, even if you should have no W’s in your win column, answer to
your name, “Champ”. You are of the tiniest minorities to go into that Lion’s
Den. And never forget what I tell you, youngin’.
But, me, I’m not doing any of
that shit. I’ll nurse these physical injuries and that’s about it. I got too
many W’s and too few losses…I’m going to stop at “Shine”. And then, I’ll hop
back in the ring, cage, wherever. But, you, shit, you got to work yourself
through all the various stages and win, Champion. There are no shortcuts for
those who haven’t learned the long way first or think like losers. For all practical
and non-political purposes, fighter, you are the 1%. It takes a profound mental
state to get in the ring or cage, otherwise, mofos would be doing it. But,
young fighter, it will raise your confidence level more and more in everything
that you do if applied properly. Oh, and please don’t ask me how I’m doing. Ask
me, “How much are you shining today, Champ?” “Optimal. I’m still at optimal
level”. [video soon to follow]
