DreMalone’s BodyBlog

The other day at MMA class, I got injured. I was put into a basic arm submission, and that was cool. I was gonna tap. But then, my opponent decided to stretch my arm above my head while my arm was still in the submission hold. Everyone around heard SNAP-CRACKLE-POP literally! Nothing was broke, but it stretched my arm and ligament tissues beyond their elasticity, and yes, it hurt like hell!

Now I’ll be out for about 4-6 weeks, and right before a small tournament that I was gonna enter. It sucks, as I was really making good progress. But such is life, and such is that class. I’m actually gonna take the doc’s advice and rest and heal up, so I can go back to class with no problems, as I’m the most hardheaded person you’ll ever meet. But I want to compete, and the next tournament is in Vegas, February 09.

As the title says, fighting=honesty. Fighting will expose every single weakness you have and will do one of two things: either improve or keep being weak. Over the past few weeks, I’ve practiced with some very good BJJ stylists, and they’ve worked the shit out of me. After not seeing a dojo for a few years, it’s expected. Knowing me, I went in thinking I know what I know, and I’ll get them a few times.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I was stretched and done like a pretzel a few times, and yes, it was very humiliating. And humbling. It let me know what I need to work on, which is a LOT! It made me get my focus back, that’s for sure. That’s been lacking for quite a while, and it’s showed in so many things in my life, lately. But I wouldn’t change any of this for the world.

Now I understand why the Japanese have martial arts as part of their school curriculum. It teaches focus and discipline, something very lacking in Western society. It also teaches them the value of taking a hit and getting back up. Many of us take the hits and move forward. Some of us take hits and stay down, getting the "pity me" syndrome. **** that, I’ve always gotten up from hits, cause life hits harder.

Back to the subject. Fighting = honesty = character. Again, fighting exposes your weaknesses. Then, you have to be honest with those weaknesses and work on them. Out of all that, you build your character. I know I have a strong character, and I try to let it shine in everything I do, but it can always improve. I’m still human, even if my son says, otherwise. I still have faults, but I work on them, but I don’t apologize for them.

So what am I getting at? Everyone should fight. Even old folks. Everyone should step into a ring and fight to see exactly what they’re made of. There’s lots of shittalkers out there who talk good, but can’t swing worth shit. Fighting will let you know what you do and don’t stand for, what you will and won’t tolerate, and help make you the person you want to be. An asswhippin’ in humbling, but I’m glad it’s making me become a better person.

Peace.