Sunday, August 25, 2013

SHINE



[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]