Finding peace of mind in the complexities of a fight. photo by @peterpgains on Instagram
As the well known saying goes “violence is never the answer,” but under some circumstances, it is; fighting may seem scary, but the sport is actually fun and peaceful.
Fighting is an exceptionally overlooked sport that provides a resource for individuals who are troubled and/or going through hard life events. In my life and personal experience, the sport of fighting has brought me peace and joy. Fighting in a controlled space relieves a lot of the stress I had felt from a cumulation of school, work, and participation in multiple sports. Many people see a fighter as violent, scary, mean, or simply someone they would not approach. All of these negative implications from stereotypes make fighters appear to be very bad people, but these ideas are untrue and very hurtful assumptions.
Fighting is a very fun sport that I have been participating in, the sport is not about hurting others, becoming the best, or even being intimidating. Instead, it is actually about stress relief, hard training sessions, and the days you learn something new. Personally, I want to have a career in fighting, which obviously is the aspect that keeps me going. However, there are many other adults, teens, and elders who come into my gym and train daily, not only to learn self defense, but to find relaxation.
From the outside, fighting looks only to be violent, but if you dive deeper, fighting is an escape. There is peace in the chaos, rest in the violence, and a relaxation that many people crave. In the future, I would love to see more people step into a boxing gym, Muay Thai gym, or Mixed Martial Arts gym so they can see the peace first hand that the sport can bring into the lives of individual situations. So, if you’re looking for an escape, or simply for something fun, go out and try a new form of fighting! Being able to release all of your stress in an organized way such as punching a bag or (safely) punching someone else can be really relaxing and easing to your heart because we all need time to unwind and let go. Through fighting, you are able to do that—many people come in to do the same things.
You may be worried that if you go in and fight against someone who is pursuing a fighting career, there is the potential they could beat you up, but that is not the case. You pick your training partners, and fighters are understanding of your fighting level and purpose—they won’t just crush you. This sport will assist you through your struggles, so step into the ring and give it a shot!
