Cooler than a polar bear's toenails.
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Cooler than a polar bear's toenails.
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Most of us are no strangers to conflict. Whether it be verbal, mental, emotional or even physical, there's a large chance that we have to deal with some in our lives on a daily basis. It's understood that this world we live in isn't anything close to fair or easy.
How you handle it, however, varies from person to person. You get some people who blow up at the world, criticizing others and never taking the blame. Others assume a cynical sense of humor, distancing themselves from their surroundings in a futile attempt to hide from their problems. It's easy to do either of those things. It takes no effort to put up a facade, to hide from conflict, to pretend it's not there. It's a little more difficult when you can't hide from it. You can't run. You can't do anything but face it head on, and you especially can't blame it on anyone but yourself. To me, that's what Brazilian jiu-jitsu is. Some people use it purely as sport, others as a social activity, and some as a means of self defense. I fit into all of those categories - I started it for its self defense benefits, the sport aspect keeps me motivated, and the social part builds up many of my friendships, but when you really get down to it, I view it as a form of self-improvement. On the mats, your grades don't matter. You're not focused on your family, your relationship, your popularity. One thing matters, and it is the task at hand. You're grappling with the person in front of you, and nothing more. Everything is irrelevant, except your opponent. Your anxiety is gone, your problems solved, if only for a moment. All that is on your mind is the goal of taking them down, of passing their guard, of taking their back, of submitting them. One thing at a time, and so it goes. Walking into the stadium, you look out at the mats laid out and the referees scrambling to put the brackets in order. Your music playing through your headphones, the emotion leaves your face. You become stone cold. You know what you have to do, and you're just waiting until they call you up. You're shaking a little as they call you up, but damned if you're going to let anyone see it. Under the eyes of everyone in the crowds, you're a different person. Nothing matters but the fight. You don't smile, you don't frown. There will be time for that after the match. And no matter the outcome, you know you can't make any excuses, because out there, in combat, it's all you. You take off your shoes, shake a bit of the energy out, and step on the mats. Look your opponent in the eyes. Slap hands. Bump fists. "Combat!" and it's on. rick
1 Comment
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how do you doI write for the people who read. enjoy! |