I got to speak with Samuel Sheridan a few months ago. I’ve been working relentlessly on my documentary on MMA. To anyone out there, you should read this book; it’s a piece of Sam’s soul and has personally changed the way I train and live.
Training is getting more and more difficult, not easier as I had figured it would. It hurts more to get puched. It burns more to breath. My shins hurt longer. I always wonder if other fighters feel this way, and I sort of probe the other guys at the gym about it. They don’t think about it; I do.
There are 3 types of people in the fighting world.
First, there are those who have the Killer Instinct. There are those who just go in and swing, and like getting hit and like hitting others. They relish the submission and the victory, the pomp and circumstance. They want to be the best for that reason alone. These people are rare and terrifying. (all of these people are rugged explorer certified, for sure.)
Second, there are those who just don’t have it. That’s where your humble writer falls into place. I may take a muay thai fight or do some grappeling compeitions if Kru ever thinks I’m ready, but really, I couldn’t fight in mma. I don’t put it together, and I don’t have the mental abilitiy. This is the first I’ve admitted it publicly, but it’s simply true.
Third, there are those who don’t have it, but pretend they do. The talk a big game, they pretend. They are fakes and truly don’t know themselves, because they are scared, weak, and have no place in a fight. I have come to be disgusted by these people because they can’t be honest with themselves. Know thyself…know thyself. I tell myself this a million times a day. “Know thyself”
Damien and Nick are two different characters which I will be introducing into the documentary. They live together and compliment each other beautifully. Once again, I don’t write anything truly personal on this blog out of respect for them.
Nick has his daughters name tattooed on his hand. Like him, the tattoo is worn and a bit beaten. Nick is upbeat and really fun to be around. Rarely do I catch him in a serious moment. Nick has become my main teacher at Wai Kru. He works very hard to push me. I find myself constantly being dissappointed that I am not doing well enough for him; it’s very frustrating. He is a roofer during the day, but has big fighting dreams. I really don’t know enough about this sport to say, but I think he can make it.
Damien is a confusing man. Damien has a son, and that is his heart. He fights to make money for his boy so that his son can have a better life. I feel humbled by his motivations. I don’t know what it is to really sacrifice. I’m a 22 year old kid working in a very good job with a college degree.
I thought about scrapping the MMA project. I felt that I was profiting off of these men’s struggles. I spoke with Nick about it briefly, and he told me how this documentary could move them ahead in their careers.
On a similiar note, check out a blog by a fellow fiestamovement agent, http://mssinglemama.com/. It’s a touching and sobering thing. I feel almost voyeueristic reading it, especially being a man. Its an unfiltered look into a life I cannot begin to conceptualize.
I don’t think any of the above mentioned see what I see when they look in a mirror. Giving your life to your child is one of the noblist persuits.
It is deeply humbling.
Keep on reading!
