Getting beat up does not make you a better fighter
In most of my experiences, if there's clear focus and deeper reason for doing something, any harm experienced should become a minor if not negligible concern. When I focus on what I genuinely wish or strive to do, the fears that hint to potential injuries from failure tend to get outweighed by the experience.
At the same time, courage doesn't always remind you which direction actually brings you closer to living your own life on a better path--whatever "better" means to you. Which is where it can be easy to commit yourself to terrible situations for the sake of trying to withstand whatever you can because you think you're doing the "right" thing.
I benefited from growing up in circumstances where "Tighten up your defense, stay relaxed, and avoid as many shots as you can until the fight is over." was the only realistic way for operating intact around people who were two to seven times your age or size. I sometimes used the "go out like a warrior and die on your shield" approach from time to time. Regardless of the approach however, it was really challenging to realize the situation was always a losing one.
Johnny's articles on boxing interest me because he takes an insightful approach with very intentional and intensive experiences. He applies wisdom garnered from ballroom dance to boxing rings. He looks deeply into fight strategy and tactics, and like the below excerpt, there's typically something worth learning about life outside of boxing.
I'm not sure where I stand on how Johnny looks at self-esteem in this case--I suspect that recovering that might be possible even if it takes a lot more work and time.
One thing I'm sure about is that I wish I learned this earlier in my life--it applies beyond fighting in a ring. It certainly would have spared me a lot of pain and confusion.
Odd ironies for reducing unnecessary injury:
Today (I'm finishing this post on May 11th/12th), Chayn Labs published a "How to build your own domestic violence case without a lawyer" guide I helped develop. The intent is to help people (the organization was focused especially on women, but it applies to anyone) put themselves into healthier situations.
Here I am contemplating Johnny Nguyen's boxing advice about skillfully losing fights and overcoming punches that upholds the importance of smart self-preservation.
To an extent, some physical injuries are a bit easier to deal with: with good fortune, you can assess and understand what needs to be done to heal or adjust accordingly.
It's not about feeling hurt that matters, anyone willing to face life will know that happens. What matters is when someone doesn't know what to do about the pain, doesn't know whom to look to for help, or not knowing why something's wrong that keeps people in a world of hurt.
Emotional injuries, the deep kinds that darken your outlook on life and the world for years when left unchecked, needs honest perspective from wherever you can find it.
Getting beat up does not make you a better fighter.
Don't get beat up anymore than what's necessary for doing what you need to do.
Get up, get out and [figuratively or if necessary, literally] kick ass in the world.
Resources cited
How to build your own domestic violence case without a lawyer via Chayn Labs and friends (myself included--you're welcome to reach me if you have questions and I'll try to direct you to support as feasible):
http://chayn.co/how-to-build-your-own-case/
How to lose a fight skillfully:
http://www.expertboxing.com/boxing-strategy/boxing-defense/how-to-lose-a-fight-skillfully
Johnny's perspective on overcoming the fear of getting punched:
http://www.expertboxing.com/boxing-training/mental-training/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-getting-punched
Johnny Nguyen: http://www.expertboxing.com/about-johnny-nguyen
In a way, I sort of regard him as a big brother even though we've never met. Perhaps it's because he grew up in a similar part of California where I was briefly raised (before memory), I can easily imagine how boxing might have become my primary art rather than music had I grown up in the area longer.
In most of my experiences, if there's clear focus and deeper reason for doing something, any harm experienced should become a minor if not negligible concern. When I focus on what I genuinely wish or strive to do, the fears that hint to potential injuries from failure tend to get outweighed by the experience.
At the same time, courage doesn't always remind you which direction actually brings you closer to living your own life on a better path--whatever "better" means to you. Which is where it can be easy to commit yourself to terrible situations for the sake of trying to withstand whatever you can because you think you're doing the "right" thing.
I benefited from growing up in circumstances where "Tighten up your defense, stay relaxed, and avoid as many shots as you can until the fight is over." was the only realistic way for operating intact around people who were two to seven times your age or size. I sometimes used the "go out like a warrior and die on your shield" approach from time to time. Regardless of the approach however, it was really challenging to realize the situation was always a losing one.
Johnny's articles on boxing interest me because he takes an insightful approach with very intentional and intensive experiences. He applies wisdom garnered from ballroom dance to boxing rings. He looks deeply into fight strategy and tactics, and like the below excerpt, there's typically something worth learning about life outside of boxing.
Getting beat up does not make you a better fighter-Johnny Nguyen
Sure, it MIGHT make you tougher. But it also MIGHT make you a more psychologically damaged fighter. Your ego can only take so much abuse before your self-esteem is damaged. I can bet you right now that the most confident fighters you see in the gyms are probably not going to be the most beat-up ones.
Often, the reason why fighters are scared of getting hit is because they’ve subjected themselves to getting hit hard. They’ve somehow made up in their mind that they need to get hit hard in order to learn how to fight.
I'm not sure where I stand on how Johnny looks at self-esteem in this case--I suspect that recovering that might be possible even if it takes a lot more work and time.
One thing I'm sure about is that I wish I learned this earlier in my life--it applies beyond fighting in a ring. It certainly would have spared me a lot of pain and confusion.
Odd ironies for reducing unnecessary injury:
Today (I'm finishing this post on May 11th/12th), Chayn Labs published a "How to build your own domestic violence case without a lawyer" guide I helped develop. The intent is to help people (the organization was focused especially on women, but it applies to anyone) put themselves into healthier situations.
Here I am contemplating Johnny Nguyen's boxing advice about skillfully losing fights and overcoming punches that upholds the importance of smart self-preservation.
To an extent, some physical injuries are a bit easier to deal with: with good fortune, you can assess and understand what needs to be done to heal or adjust accordingly.
It's not about feeling hurt that matters, anyone willing to face life will know that happens. What matters is when someone doesn't know what to do about the pain, doesn't know whom to look to for help, or not knowing why something's wrong that keeps people in a world of hurt.
Emotional injuries, the deep kinds that darken your outlook on life and the world for years when left unchecked, needs honest perspective from wherever you can find it.
Getting beat up does not make you a better fighter.
Don't get beat up anymore than what's necessary for doing what you need to do.
Get up, get out and [figuratively or if necessary, literally] kick ass in the world.
 |
| FYI, no photographers were harmed in the making of this picture. The photo was taken in good fun--a roommate intended the wood for windchimes, I couldn't resist using them for a Bruce Lee-esque moment. |
Resources cited
How to build your own domestic violence case without a lawyer via Chayn Labs and friends (myself included--you're welcome to reach me if you have questions and I'll try to direct you to support as feasible):
http://chayn.co/how-to-build-your-own-case/
How to lose a fight skillfully:
http://www.expertboxing.com/boxing-strategy/boxing-defense/how-to-lose-a-fight-skillfully
Johnny's perspective on overcoming the fear of getting punched:
http://www.expertboxing.com/boxing-training/mental-training/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-getting-punched
Johnny Nguyen: http://www.expertboxing.com/about-johnny-nguyen
In a way, I sort of regard him as a big brother even though we've never met. Perhaps it's because he grew up in a similar part of California where I was briefly raised (before memory), I can easily imagine how boxing might have become my primary art rather than music had I grown up in the area longer.
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