Espn.com has a new MMA section, and a good article on Chuck Liddell. Chuck is an eminently like able guy who happens to beat people up for a living. Chuck is very good at his job. I am intrigued by MMA. For several reasons. The first being that combat sports are the most basic measure of athleticism. You have to be a balanced athlete to win a fight/grappling/wrestling match. The second being that the skill levels in MMA (UFC and P.R.I.D.E. in particular) are impressive to say the least. Third and finally, maybe it's because of the nature of the sport, or the newness of professionalism most fighters are fairly humble. There is no need to talk, because you can fight, or you can't. You can take a punch, or not. The proof is on the mat, and they know they could get beat at any point by nearly anyone, and that keeps the showboating to a minimum.That is very refreshing in a sporting world inhabited by Bonds, Moss, and T.O.
However, that does not mean that the MMA is easy to watch. I have seen some horrific injuries the few times I have watched MMA on Espn and Spike. Spectacularly broken collarbones, Kimura locks applied with vigor (and shoulders destroyed). Sometimes I feel like the rise of MMA is a return to true masculinity (see the Liddell story) or maybe it is "human cockfighting." My opinion waxes and wanes. I guess it really depends on what develops from it. Time will tell.
Have a great long weekend, probably no blogging till tuesday.
Mahalo.
2 comments:
Yikes, I'm not going to get the image of a slice in a big toe so deep that you can lose change in it out of my head for a long time. Even more, I hate thinking that the essence of masculinity is physical brutality. Actually, I also dislike the notion that there is a fundamental, natural, universal, true masculinity at all, and not just because it implies that there is some kind of essential femininity as a counterpart. Oh, and dog fighting. I can't work it into my argument right now, but I had to mention it.
I can understand balking at the idea that there is a proper way to "be a man" or "be a woman" So let me clarify. I am talking about being a grown human with innate confidence, but without arrogance. It is really the same characteristics in both genders. It has less to do with physical brutality and more to do with the understanding the physical and mental limits of one's self and of other people.
Dog fighting is deplorable, but a different discussion.
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