Hey guys! Fresh off the Boca Raton IBJJF International open and looking forward to May 31st and my fighters getting a shot at glory. Loving life right now!! So this post isn't really mine. I did a little contest for some of my students and asked them to write their thoughts about LMT or training, or fighting..etc. I just wanted to hear from them. They all won a t-shirt just for participating. I am blessed to have them. That being said I'll shut up and let you read for yourselves.
#1 Caroline Roa
To challenge ourselves to the extremes is in my opinion one of the most extraordinary things in life. I believe that we should all test our every ability whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual. If we do not test these abilities, we throw away what mostly every single human being is gifted with. In the last several months I have been blessed to experience an art of beauty and ultimate challenge. Muay Thai has changed me in many ways that no other sport has. It has made me realize how special and powerful the human form is. Practicing this martial art has also humbled me in ways that I could never have imagined. It's made me conscious of the fact that you never know what others are capable of and that there is always someone bigger, better, stronger, and more willing to fight for what they believe in. But never has this conscious thought discouraged me, because now I am better, stronger, and more willing to fight for what I believe in. Thank you for the beginning of an endless journey Lucky! (And of course to your magnificent apprentices as well)
#2 Erick Rodriguez
Unity from conflict
The aroma of sweat and worn leather consumes the ring on this warm spring evening. The sun has almost completely set, only a glimmer of the remaining sunlight peers threw the single window that dawns upon the ring. In the squared circle are two opponents, bitter rivals are facing off unleashing havoc upon one another with surgical precision. A head kick whips just past his face narrowly missing his brow followed by multitude of punching combinations. The strikes that have been drilled over and over to near perfection force him to the corner. Even though the strikes are so vicious, so calculated they are only meant to instill doubt into the fighter putting him on the defensive. Finally forced into a corner slipping and parrying as many strikes he could excepting the ones he could not defend his inner lion has been unleashed.
Dazed he makes himself a silent promise: he will not be the prey any longer and begins to push forward. He begins his assault throwing a thundering leg kick which is checked just as expected. The leg kick was only to distract; to close the distance then an overhand right immediately follows which connects to the chin. The two modern day gladiators tired and battered are now clinched up in the center of the ring. While adrenaline courses through their veins they try to keep their composure. Heavy breathing commences between the two while they clasp striking knee for knee elbow for elbow. Groans of pain and determination are now echoing throughout the gym neither refusing to yield. Each time bone meets bruised flesh the groans go louder; the determination grows stronger. It has now become a battle of will, of heart, two lions refusing to fall to their adversary. Thirty seconds left signifies the bell, just outside the ring stands their mentor stands. His arms are neatly folded against his barreled chest standing strong, still and silent. He is laser locked on the war going on just inches away from him; but he is not alone. As his gladiators play out the brutal chess match inside the ring, outside the ring is just as Relentless. People from all walks of life, all creeds, all nations all sexes are busy at works some in search of peace through regimen and others for prestige through combat.
Some of the stable watch along next to the experienced sensei studying every technique, cheering every blow some in awe knowing they have the honor of viewing the controlled chaos. Just a little further away are others shadow boxing, playing out fight scenarios deep within their own minds. They enjoy the cerebral madness of concocting up new combination to out Witt the imaginary adversary. More in the far corner of the gym striking the heavy bags and double end bags. Working on the timing and speed of their favorite techniques. Timing is everything in combat one must know when to be tenacious and when to recover. As the heavy bags are being struck furiously others battle their limitations. Gloves and shin pads replaced with barbells and jump ropes. Some need to tend to the cardiovascular aspect of combat, for their is no excuse to do battle out of shape. At the same time some need the cold iron pressed against there skin as they rigorously repeat the same lift until the muscles feels like they
!will rip through the skin.
The bell sounds again the round is over, after six straight grueling rounds of fury the coach finally speaks. " Everyone circle up", he shouts. in that instant the separate sects run in unison to their caller and you can start to see the bigger picture. The weights are put back on the racks quickly. The jump ropes stop whipping against the air. The heavy bags are left to sway in peace. For hours all the commotion that cluttered the gym has stopped and all is deathly quiet. All these separate entities are now all united and listening to the well thought out words that are being spoken. During the choice words the two warriors that had been battling for so long just stare at each other. The day has finally come to an end as the unthinkable happens. The battered rivals do what few people outside this very misunderstood world can grasp, they bow and embrace each other as brothers. Their is no blood relation between them once so ever, except for the blood they caused each other during the sparring session.
In many ways this family though is stronger then your conventional family; for its forged threw the fires of combat. So many different individuals of race, beliefs, personalities put away all their social and economical differences aside and replace it for blood and sweat and tears for one common goal. The goal is nothing more then to better themselves threw martial arts. Regardless of who you are or where your from for those few hours your only concern is to leave your gym/dojo a better person then once you came in. Every day is a new lesson be it: physical, emotional or spiritual martial arts regardless of style sends you down a journey of self-discovery. And this same journey has a way of uniting individuals who would probably never even speak an avenue to broaden their spectrum of family and friendships. In a time where the world is constantly at war because of its differences. Martial arts has taken the act of war and taken those same differences to unify people. That's the bigger picture, take smaller entities/countries and create unity and forge a better team/world. That's martial arts.
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