Sunday, June 29, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
The idea of Enson
What's up people?!! It's been a bit since I last wrote but it's been a bit busy getting the team ready to fight. We came back with a win, a loss, and an opponent no show. Congrats to all three of my guys Felipe, Chris, and Hugo for all their hard work. A good weekend overall, so proud of my team. That being said, this was going to be a blog about fighting and a fighter that I like and the phrase that was used to define him but I think it is more than that. This blog is about Enson Inoue and "Yamato Damashii".
Simply put Yamato Damashii means "the spirit of Japan". Now I can't pretend that I comprehend the term in the way it is meant in it's entirety. I ,as you might know, am not Japanese. Enson received this nickname from the press when he fought in Pride fighting championships in the golden age of MMA. With a ten minute first round, soccer kicks and face stomps, and an entire roster of destroyers, Pride set the tone for the future of MMA. Though he accepted the nickname it wasn't until living with it for a while that he actually understood it. It stands for integrity, honesty and pride, it stands for respect and belief, and it stands for facing challenges head on no matter what the outcome. It embodies the Bushido lifestyle and it was the perfect nickname for the fighter who cared little about the money and more about conquering his fears, this same man would write letters to his family before he fought just in case something tragic happened. He just simply understood the warriors code as it is meant to be, you either are or you aren't, there really isn't a middle ground. There can't be doubt if you expect to compete in combat with another human being. I tell my fighters before fights that the win or the loss doesn't matter, what matters to me is that they give everything and express themselves fully. I believe that if they do that then they will find what they are looking for not only in the ring but also in life.
As it goes, Enson is retired and does seminars and trains fighters etc. but when the earthquake struck Japan everything changed as he went to see some friends that didn't live near the damage he found that they had all `gone North in the direction of the catastrophe. He felt in his soul that he had to do something and he too headed towards the destruction levied by a powerful earthquake and compounded by a damaged nuclear power plant. The radiation didn't matter, nor did the fear of the unknown, what Enson Inoue had found was a clear path to having something better than money. The feeling you only get when you give of yourself for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. He began bringing food and clothes to those displaced and games and toys for the kids. This is where that nickname really shines through, "Yamato Damashii", is a phrase but the idea behind it can only be created by actions. As we fight forward and bite down on our mouthpieces and swing, when everything is against us and we stare adversity in the face and moreover when we take the time to help those of us who have fallen we are showing our spirit. In this I hope you look to find your own version of "Yamato Damashii", as I am in constant search of mine.
I hope you guys enjoy my writing, if you do please subscribe to the blog or the youtube channel "Lucky's Muay Thai", or catch me on instagram and twitter @Luckysmuaythai. I also attached the first part of a documentary on Enson's work in Japan. You should also check out his highlights and keep a look out for the LMT: The Journey podcast coming soon! Peace and Blessings!
Simply put Yamato Damashii means "the spirit of Japan". Now I can't pretend that I comprehend the term in the way it is meant in it's entirety. I ,as you might know, am not Japanese. Enson received this nickname from the press when he fought in Pride fighting championships in the golden age of MMA. With a ten minute first round, soccer kicks and face stomps, and an entire roster of destroyers, Pride set the tone for the future of MMA. Though he accepted the nickname it wasn't until living with it for a while that he actually understood it. It stands for integrity, honesty and pride, it stands for respect and belief, and it stands for facing challenges head on no matter what the outcome. It embodies the Bushido lifestyle and it was the perfect nickname for the fighter who cared little about the money and more about conquering his fears, this same man would write letters to his family before he fought just in case something tragic happened. He just simply understood the warriors code as it is meant to be, you either are or you aren't, there really isn't a middle ground. There can't be doubt if you expect to compete in combat with another human being. I tell my fighters before fights that the win or the loss doesn't matter, what matters to me is that they give everything and express themselves fully. I believe that if they do that then they will find what they are looking for not only in the ring but also in life.As it goes, Enson is retired and does seminars and trains fighters etc. but when the earthquake struck Japan everything changed as he went to see some friends that didn't live near the damage he found that they had all `gone North in the direction of the catastrophe. He felt in his soul that he had to do something and he too headed towards the destruction levied by a powerful earthquake and compounded by a damaged nuclear power plant. The radiation didn't matter, nor did the fear of the unknown, what Enson Inoue had found was a clear path to having something better than money. The feeling you only get when you give of yourself for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. He began bringing food and clothes to those displaced and games and toys for the kids. This is where that nickname really shines through, "Yamato Damashii", is a phrase but the idea behind it can only be created by actions. As we fight forward and bite down on our mouthpieces and swing, when everything is against us and we stare adversity in the face and moreover when we take the time to help those of us who have fallen we are showing our spirit. In this I hope you look to find your own version of "Yamato Damashii", as I am in constant search of mine.
I hope you guys enjoy my writing, if you do please subscribe to the blog or the youtube channel "Lucky's Muay Thai", or catch me on instagram and twitter @Luckysmuaythai. I also attached the first part of a documentary on Enson's work in Japan. You should also check out his highlights and keep a look out for the LMT: The Journey podcast coming soon! Peace and Blessings!
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