Warrior for life

By Mike Reilly
                http://bisons.net

This article was written shortly after watching Brandon Foxworth a good friend and student win the toughest fight of his career.  It reminded me why this is such a great sport.

The second round went about as badly as it could have gone and still seen time run out.   A missed takedown and an ill advised leg lock attempt lead to hard raining shots with his head pinned on the mat.  Those deep thumping shots that flash the brain and spatter blood.  For most fighters one shot like that is enough to end a fight.  After 6 I had the towel in my hand – Poised to throw.  But Brandon was still reacting and defending and time was running short.  The bell rang and we jumped in to rebuild the damage done. 

            The damage assessment was quick.  Bleeding from the nose, mouth and a few nice mice had moved in under the eyes.  But a ‘no swell’, some swaps and the like would address that.  Brandon is use to bruises, cuts and blood.  No effect there.  The problem lay deeper; damage to his heart.  This was his second fight of the night.  The his first match being a five minute barn burner that also saw him take damage and spill some blood.  He had nothing in the tank.  Mean while his opponent looked ready for the kill; I knew he was hurt but dammed if the he looked it.  I positioned myself were Brandon couldn’t see him.  He looked at me and said “I don’t think I can do it Mike.”  Fatigue was speaking, pain was speaking, fear was speaking. They had control of his mouth, but the eyes said something different.  That look told me “I don’t think I can do it” was not a statement; it was a question; do you think I can do it?  I smiled; “I think you can.”  Seconds out! The bell rang starting the third; the crowd roared for Caleb to finished his bloody opponent.  20 seconds later the fight was over; Caleb choked out and the kid who didn’t think he could do it now knows about himself what I knew about him; What his team knew; he can do anything.

            All sport is as simple as man verses man and every bit as complicated.  Taken in it’s simplest surface level it is just two guys pounding on one another.  The world’s oldest sport, debating methodology and entertainment.  It speaks to most of us on a primal level.  I’ve meet people who will derive the violence; call it human cock fighting and what ever other asinine thoughts bounce about in their self righteous heads; but sit any of them cage side and before the night is over they will scream “KILL HIM.”  Embrace your reptile brain before it embraces you.

            But it goes far beyond that for the individual.  Fighters learn technique but they also grow as people, as human beings.  People generally break down into two groups; those who run from and those who run to the sound of the trumpets.  Most people I know are the run to the trumpets types.  When something goes down they are looking to get in the mix, to lend a hand and have little thought to their ass on the line.  They are the types who run into the burning building or who say “lets roll” when all looks lost.  Many people who would gladly do the hero’s deed have to await on happenstance to give them the opportunity.  But fighters go looking for it.  They do more then act; they study it; measure them selves against it.  They learn the trumpet’s tune.

            As a coach my job is to help those that want to hear it; hear it.  If I’m at all successful they will not only run to the call; but they will know what to do when they get there.  And incompetent hero is just a dead man.  Each night in practice we push to the sound.  We run the tanks dry and try to find a little more to spill out on the mat.  The end result is that even when fatigue grips you; fear haunts you, pain racks you faith will save you.  Faith in your self, your team’s faith, your coach’s faith.  Done well it pulls through the last round.  Done very well it pulls you through the real tests in life.  If all you learn from fighting is fighting when you fighting days are over you may find yourself very poorly equipped to deal with far tougher tests the world will have for you.  Illness, losing loved ones, financial struggles, crisis of faith will all tax you more then that other guy in the ring.  Pulling someone out of flipped vehicle with dripping gas is far scarier then a sneaky armbar.  Hell just honestly admitting and paying for your mistakes is harder then most people can measure up to.

            The deeper lessons of the ring is that you can answer the call.  Take that knowledge to booster your self faith and answer the call in all areas of your life.  That is the true nature of martial arts.  So often lost in the quest for belts, broken boards and short term glory.  If what you learn about discipline, heart, courage, faith can not translate beyond the ring if has no value.  Combat sports history is littered with tragic champions who after the last bell failed every test thrown their way.  On May 24^th I got to look into the face of a bloodied, skinny kid who I have faith will take what he learned in this test and apply it across the expanse of his life.  At least I know when the chips are down I want him on my side.  As sure as the sun rises every soul will be tested.  The difference between the fighters who have learned their lessons well and the rest is they have been there before.  They know how they will respond; they know they will raise up and answer the call.  Brandon answered the call and what looked like a sliver of hope was a sure thing for him; that’s a warrior.