So my script that I talked about the other day was actually chosen to be produced into a short film! To be honest I didn't expect it. There's nothing artsy about it, it's just a simple story about a boxer torn between his dream and a regular life. Now the window of opportunity has presented itself and suddenly a huge weight is put upon me. I'm not going to be doing this alone but I'm afraid of letting the rest of the crew down. I'll be wracking my brain over the weekend, thinking about the best shots to put in and how to make it work within 5 minutes. Not an easy task but a challenge is always welcome. Thanks to their gracious support of the project, we'll be filming scenes at the Gracie Barra in Perth. Heading a project like this is going to be tough but nothing worth doing in life is easy.
Speaking of the Gracie Barra, I'll be competing in the Australian Champions Cup 2010 in September in the Gi and No-Gi grappling events. It doesn't happen very often that two opportunities for contrasting passions present themselves so readily. I'm going to make the best of this and I will definitely do my best. Both the writer and fightere in me are going to be working overtime.
TO THE MAX!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Reset
I've been training at the Gracie Barra in Perth for about two weeks now and I have to say the training is completely different from what I have gone through back home. It's not really a matter of the level of skill but more along the lines of the style. One thing I've noticed is that Gracie Barra students treat every roll seriously. It's the sort of no nonsense style that a new practitioner would feel intimidated by. In my first week I was submitted a total of four times by various chokes and armlocks. A new low for me seeing as how I managed to remain unsubmitted for months back home. Like the JiuJitsu, the sparring in kickboxing is full on and anyone who goes in without any striking expertise would likely go home with a headache and a bruised face. Perhaps I was slightly pampered in Singapore where rolling and sparring were kept to a minimal at the early levels. Though I feel that is a good way to transition between skill levels, I think that throwing someone in the deep end lets them develop in a totally different way. It feels as if my entire game has now been reset. I don't think of it as too much of a bad thing but it definitely is a change that will take a little getting used to. On the upside, my standup has improved a little seeing as how the sparring aspect really makes me think on my feet. I have been able to incorporate slips and weaves into my striking game though I am still relatively new to the concept of evasion in boxing. Now that I know a couple of nifty moves, I don't just block everytime someone punches. It's all about adaptation and evolution after all. Perhaps this reset is going to be great for me.
So college has begun and my brain is finally getting a chance to work. One part of my course I enjoy alot is film and television. We have been tasked to write a script for a short film as our assignment and I have been working on an idea about the life of a down and out boxer. Now I know you might be thinking that it's a cliche like "Rocky" but I am specifically going to focus on the vices and hopelessness within the life of the average bum. Our lecturer said that our scripts should focus on the things we know best. Well I can't think of anything I know better than writing and fighting, so put them together and there we go, a short film! Of course the writing process is going to be a killer. It's not going to be easy fitting a story like that within the timeframe of 3 to 5 minutes. Well, I expected a challenge and now I've got one. Let's see what this brain can come up with by the end of the week. It would be amazing to see my script come to life if it does get chosen to be produced. It's one thing for a writer to see his work published in text but for it to become a movie, that's a whole different level of accomplishment.
"With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece. With the same script, a mediocre director can produce a passable film. But with a bad script even a good director can't possibly make a good film. For truly cinematic expression, the camera and the microphone must be able to cross both fire and water. The script must be something that has the power to do this”
-Akira Kurosawa
Let's get that script going.
So college has begun and my brain is finally getting a chance to work. One part of my course I enjoy alot is film and television. We have been tasked to write a script for a short film as our assignment and I have been working on an idea about the life of a down and out boxer. Now I know you might be thinking that it's a cliche like "Rocky" but I am specifically going to focus on the vices and hopelessness within the life of the average bum. Our lecturer said that our scripts should focus on the things we know best. Well I can't think of anything I know better than writing and fighting, so put them together and there we go, a short film! Of course the writing process is going to be a killer. It's not going to be easy fitting a story like that within the timeframe of 3 to 5 minutes. Well, I expected a challenge and now I've got one. Let's see what this brain can come up with by the end of the week. It would be amazing to see my script come to life if it does get chosen to be produced. It's one thing for a writer to see his work published in text but for it to become a movie, that's a whole different level of accomplishment.
"With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece. With the same script, a mediocre director can produce a passable film. But with a bad script even a good director can't possibly make a good film. For truly cinematic expression, the camera and the microphone must be able to cross both fire and water. The script must be something that has the power to do this”
-Akira Kurosawa
Let's get that script going.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Chapter Begins
So I arrived in Perth, Australia the other day. I've been setting up the apartment with my parents for the past week and I am just about done. The school term doesn't start till July so I've got a little bit of time to chill out with my family before it all begins. My brother will be flying down from Singapore tomorrow and he'll be following me to check out the local fight gyms around the city. I've narrowed down my choices to two affordable and reputable gyms near my apartment. It's a hard decision though. One gym is well known for it's JiuJitsu training but doesn't have Muay Thai. The other one has Muay Thai but is a little thin on the grappling side. Ideally, I'd join both but without the moolah, it's going to be hard. I figured I'd head down next week to observe the training and pick what I feel suits me better. I doubt I am in any position to decide whether to be a striker or a grappler right now. Both my standup and ground game are currently on par but I've definitely had a little more experience as a grappler. I always thought that since Judo was my foundation, I'd instantly take to grappling. After training in Muay Thai for a bit though, I'm beginning develop a liking for the art of striking. (Rhyme not intended) It's definitely going to be a long time before I find and develop my own style.
I overheard a conversation between two of my coaches in the past. One of them said to the other that he felt he had reached a point in his game where he could not develop any further as a grappler. A plateau of sorts. I suppose if you've been doing something for so long in your life, you'll notice when you are not getting any better. The only thing I have ever done longer than martial arts is track and field. I was a discus thrower for about ten years and though I was no slouch, I never really made it to the national team. I think it was in my eigth or ninth year where I just couldn't throw past a certain distance. I'd hit the gym, do drills and go through power training day in and day out and still wouldn't throw past that point. I may have quit too early but I'm pretty sure that I had reached a point where I just couldn't progress anymore. I felt kind of discouraged of course, thinking that I might plateau with martial arts as well and become nothing more than a mediocre journeyman. Then again, MMA is a dynamic sport. You can only throw a discus a couple of ways. In MMA though, you adapt and change mid-round to whatever is coming at you. If someone outwrestles you, you can get back up and hit them hard. Conversely if someone is kicking the shit out of you on your feet you can take the fight down to the ground. Even if you plateau in your grappling, there are so many things for you to improve that your development of your game never ends. Takedown defense, strength, submission offense, speed and cardio conditioning. The list is endless. There are even things you can train in which are so specific that it brings in entirely new fight plans. (i.e. Off the cage foot sweeps) The other coach's reply to his lamenting was, "Then focus on your striking!".
I couldn't have said it any better myself. I'm not worried about going stagnant in terms of skill at the moment. So far, I have made improvements in all aspects of my game. I suppose I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it though.
In about a week, my college semester will begin. It's going to be tough I'm sure. It wouldn't be called higher learning if it was easy. The only thing I have to look forward to is that I'll be doing alot of writing. Time to put the rusty old pen and dog eared notebook to work again. Writing is similar to martial arts in that, you're really going to have to love it to do it because alot of the time, it's self torture. The creative mind is it's own greatest critic. I covered it in the last post that it's hell to complete something when your mind is screaming at you to give it up. No matter how good you get at it, the voice will always remain. People have different ways of blocking that voice out. Some have strange exercises, role playing and even meditation. As for me, I just keep reminding myself that the story has to be told. There's a special place in hell for a writer that lets a good idea go to waste. (Which probably means I've got a place reserved there already...) Whenever I come up with a story, I develop a certain connection with the world and it's characters. When I can't complete what I write, there is guilt. I'm sure that any writer would agree with me when I say that I feel like I'm letting that world disappear and everything with it. When I can't complete a story because of that critical voice, there's an equally powerful voice nagging me for letting that idea go down the drain. It's all a matter of drowning out the sound of the critic and finish what you started. It sounds alot easier than it really is though.
This internal strife within a writer's mind is definitely unhealthy. In fact many writers tiptoe across the tightrope of sanity. The names Ernest Hemmingway and Virginia Woolf come to mind. Two great authors who took their own lives when the voices very possibly became too loud to silence. Being a pure writer therefore can be dangerous. Reality is obscured every now and then and you slowly begin to slip away from the world. That's why I personally feel that every writer needs to take breaks. Writing a novel or even a short story is so mentally taxing that you can actually feel your brain heat up while you type. Every break you take is precious.
It's going to be different writing in college. I've mostly been writing on waves of inspiration and in between, I stagnate. In school there are going to be deadlines and professional requirements that I haven't the slightest clue about. It's hard enough writing with inspiration so imagine how bad it will be when there's nothing to work with and you have absolutely no interest in the topics you're given. I'm sure there are times where I'm just going to be like "Ugh...".
It will be a good test though and I look forward to it. I expect a hefty challenge and nothing less. So what should I expect? A fellow writer once said that there is no one more snobbish and self absorbed than a writer. As much as I hate to admit it, it's true. Imagine being in a classroom full of them. I can't wait.
So now begins a new chapter of my life. There's going to be alot of change in both the writer and fighter and me. Change, apparently, is always good. Let's hope so because I've been here five days and I already feel it coming on stronger than ever.
"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." - Karen Kaiser Clark
Time to grow.
I overheard a conversation between two of my coaches in the past. One of them said to the other that he felt he had reached a point in his game where he could not develop any further as a grappler. A plateau of sorts. I suppose if you've been doing something for so long in your life, you'll notice when you are not getting any better. The only thing I have ever done longer than martial arts is track and field. I was a discus thrower for about ten years and though I was no slouch, I never really made it to the national team. I think it was in my eigth or ninth year where I just couldn't throw past a certain distance. I'd hit the gym, do drills and go through power training day in and day out and still wouldn't throw past that point. I may have quit too early but I'm pretty sure that I had reached a point where I just couldn't progress anymore. I felt kind of discouraged of course, thinking that I might plateau with martial arts as well and become nothing more than a mediocre journeyman. Then again, MMA is a dynamic sport. You can only throw a discus a couple of ways. In MMA though, you adapt and change mid-round to whatever is coming at you. If someone outwrestles you, you can get back up and hit them hard. Conversely if someone is kicking the shit out of you on your feet you can take the fight down to the ground. Even if you plateau in your grappling, there are so many things for you to improve that your development of your game never ends. Takedown defense, strength, submission offense, speed and cardio conditioning. The list is endless. There are even things you can train in which are so specific that it brings in entirely new fight plans. (i.e. Off the cage foot sweeps) The other coach's reply to his lamenting was, "Then focus on your striking!".
I couldn't have said it any better myself. I'm not worried about going stagnant in terms of skill at the moment. So far, I have made improvements in all aspects of my game. I suppose I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it though.
In about a week, my college semester will begin. It's going to be tough I'm sure. It wouldn't be called higher learning if it was easy. The only thing I have to look forward to is that I'll be doing alot of writing. Time to put the rusty old pen and dog eared notebook to work again. Writing is similar to martial arts in that, you're really going to have to love it to do it because alot of the time, it's self torture. The creative mind is it's own greatest critic. I covered it in the last post that it's hell to complete something when your mind is screaming at you to give it up. No matter how good you get at it, the voice will always remain. People have different ways of blocking that voice out. Some have strange exercises, role playing and even meditation. As for me, I just keep reminding myself that the story has to be told. There's a special place in hell for a writer that lets a good idea go to waste. (Which probably means I've got a place reserved there already...) Whenever I come up with a story, I develop a certain connection with the world and it's characters. When I can't complete what I write, there is guilt. I'm sure that any writer would agree with me when I say that I feel like I'm letting that world disappear and everything with it. When I can't complete a story because of that critical voice, there's an equally powerful voice nagging me for letting that idea go down the drain. It's all a matter of drowning out the sound of the critic and finish what you started. It sounds alot easier than it really is though.
This internal strife within a writer's mind is definitely unhealthy. In fact many writers tiptoe across the tightrope of sanity. The names Ernest Hemmingway and Virginia Woolf come to mind. Two great authors who took their own lives when the voices very possibly became too loud to silence. Being a pure writer therefore can be dangerous. Reality is obscured every now and then and you slowly begin to slip away from the world. That's why I personally feel that every writer needs to take breaks. Writing a novel or even a short story is so mentally taxing that you can actually feel your brain heat up while you type. Every break you take is precious.
It's going to be different writing in college. I've mostly been writing on waves of inspiration and in between, I stagnate. In school there are going to be deadlines and professional requirements that I haven't the slightest clue about. It's hard enough writing with inspiration so imagine how bad it will be when there's nothing to work with and you have absolutely no interest in the topics you're given. I'm sure there are times where I'm just going to be like "Ugh...".
It will be a good test though and I look forward to it. I expect a hefty challenge and nothing less. So what should I expect? A fellow writer once said that there is no one more snobbish and self absorbed than a writer. As much as I hate to admit it, it's true. Imagine being in a classroom full of them. I can't wait.
So now begins a new chapter of my life. There's going to be alot of change in both the writer and fighter and me. Change, apparently, is always good. Let's hope so because I've been here five days and I already feel it coming on stronger than ever.
"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." - Karen Kaiser Clark
Time to grow.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Ringside / Writing fears
There comes a time in every martial artist's life where he witnesses something he wishes he never had to see. Two nights ago at Martial Combat, I saw my friend get knocked out in the cage. It happened so fast that I couldn't remember what he got hit with but when he fell, it replayed in my head about three or four times before I realised what had happened. It didn't help that it was one of the more brutal KO's I have seen live. It's a horrible feeling watching someone you train, joke and hang out with everyday, lying motionless on the mat. Besides fearing for his safety, I also feared for his state of mind after the fight. I was worried he wouldn't want to continue after losing or quit the martial arts scene altogether. Then again, those were fleeting worries of a concerned friend. I know that he will continue to train harder and return to the cage one day to fight again. It is definitely something that will scar you. This is why many fighters leave their loved ones at home on the night of an event. I can't imagine how hard it would be for a parent, child or spouse to watch their little boy, father or soulmate fall to the ground, bloodied up. It was difficult enough watching it as a buddy.
Though it is tough as hell to watch someone you love fall, it is incredible to see them succeed at what they love to do. I am confident he will return and we will celebrate when he leaves the cage, next time, with a big fat W.
This doesn't throw me off my dream of becoming a fighter one day. Sure, it does scare me a little but I think that anyone who enters that cage definitely has some fear in them. Whether it's the fear of getting hit, taken down or disappointing your team, it's always going to be within you no matter how much you deny it. In the end, we're all going to have to cope with our fears. It doesn't matter what your profession is. Everyone from a breakdancer to a french chef has their own private fears and concerns. To succeed we have to transcend those boundaries. It's not an easy task but it's one that isn't impossible.
This spills over to my writing as well. I have been stuck on my project for a few months now. My greatest challenge is overcoming the critic voice within, constantly reminding me that everything I type is nonsense. Also there is the fear of ridicule, being panned by the media and most of all, failing to get published altogether. It's not easy to write for the long haul because those voices are always going to be in your head. I'm currently grappling with them and trying to get myself back on track. I don't want to start anything new right now. I know if I do, the same thing will happen and I will end up with a half finished waste of data on my computer once again. I think it is time for me to actually commit and finish what I started five years ago. It's the only thing I can do now that will make me feel like I have a chance at becoming a full fledged writer.
The creative mind can sculpt the plot, the learned tongue can forge the words, the keen eye can spot the mistakes but a writer needs his heart most of all for it takes a strong one to complete a story that the brain has scorned so mercilessly.
Though it is tough as hell to watch someone you love fall, it is incredible to see them succeed at what they love to do. I am confident he will return and we will celebrate when he leaves the cage, next time, with a big fat W.
This doesn't throw me off my dream of becoming a fighter one day. Sure, it does scare me a little but I think that anyone who enters that cage definitely has some fear in them. Whether it's the fear of getting hit, taken down or disappointing your team, it's always going to be within you no matter how much you deny it. In the end, we're all going to have to cope with our fears. It doesn't matter what your profession is. Everyone from a breakdancer to a french chef has their own private fears and concerns. To succeed we have to transcend those boundaries. It's not an easy task but it's one that isn't impossible.
This spills over to my writing as well. I have been stuck on my project for a few months now. My greatest challenge is overcoming the critic voice within, constantly reminding me that everything I type is nonsense. Also there is the fear of ridicule, being panned by the media and most of all, failing to get published altogether. It's not easy to write for the long haul because those voices are always going to be in your head. I'm currently grappling with them and trying to get myself back on track. I don't want to start anything new right now. I know if I do, the same thing will happen and I will end up with a half finished waste of data on my computer once again. I think it is time for me to actually commit and finish what I started five years ago. It's the only thing I can do now that will make me feel like I have a chance at becoming a full fledged writer.
The creative mind can sculpt the plot, the learned tongue can forge the words, the keen eye can spot the mistakes but a writer needs his heart most of all for it takes a strong one to complete a story that the brain has scorned so mercilessly.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Adaptation
So, I went for my regular training at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts today. Did an hour of Muay Thai and an hour of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I've noticed that when you get tired in a fight or during pad and bagwork, it's not the same as tiring out during a run or any other cardio activity for that matter. When runners tire out they call it "hitting the wall". So they've got to grind and push through it to complete the race. I've done some running before and hitting the wall is a terrible feeling where you just want to stop and go home. In martial arts however, it's quite different. Especially in a real fight where backing out is not usually an option. When you get tired out on the heavy bag or the pads, your chest gets tighter and tighter and your muscles just seem to burn. Each breath gets harder and less substantial until the timer goes out. It's a feeling that is unique to someone training in martial arts. Runners and other athletes have their name for the physical barrier but for martial arts, I'd like to personally call it "The Swamp". A place where the air is fetid, the water is thick and muddy, making it hard to wade through and the fog is dense. That's the only way I can describe the feeling you get when you're gassed during training because it is very similar to being in such a taxing environment. Cardio has been a problem for me for as long as I can remember and I have been working alot on it recently. Though someone with top notch cardio conditioning definitely has an advantage over someone like me, I am pretty sure that everyone gets tired in a fight at some point but the outcome really depends on who can run at their limit for longer. That is, to survive in the swamp until you find your way out of it. I'm not going to be cliche and post a quote from Bruce Lee and his philosophies on human limitations (although those are truly awesome) but instead, I will give you a little quote from my secondary school track and field coach.
"It's all about adaptation" he said. Whether it's getting the technique of a discus throw right or training to endure a long distance race, the more you practice, the more you adapt to the conditions of the environment (physical or mental) you put yourself in. Human beings are dynamic and we will adapt to survive or even excel in most environments.
Though I didn't exactly agree that we'd be able to survive in most environments (I mean come on it's not like we're going to photosynthesize if we can't find food) his words really do make sense and I think they apply to martial arts as well. The more we practice the more we get used to it and find it less difficult in time. So while I currently find it terribly hard to keep my guard up when I gas my arms on the heavy bag, over time I'm sure I'll be able to survive and push on when I feel the burn. It's all about adaptation.
"It's all about adaptation" he said. Whether it's getting the technique of a discus throw right or training to endure a long distance race, the more you practice, the more you adapt to the conditions of the environment (physical or mental) you put yourself in. Human beings are dynamic and we will adapt to survive or even excel in most environments.
Though I didn't exactly agree that we'd be able to survive in most environments (I mean come on it's not like we're going to photosynthesize if we can't find food) his words really do make sense and I think they apply to martial arts as well. The more we practice the more we get used to it and find it less difficult in time. So while I currently find it terribly hard to keep my guard up when I gas my arms on the heavy bag, over time I'm sure I'll be able to survive and push on when I feel the burn. It's all about adaptation.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Journey Begins
It has been a long time since I've written on a blog of any kind. Most of the previous blogs I kept were whiny little diaries of my teen years. A marvelous read if you like cheesy hateful vignettes. Well, to cut straight into the turkey, my name is Kyle but I'm sure most of you reading this already know that. I have reached the so called peak of my youth and am just about to step into the "real world". There are a bunch of approaches one can adopt to grapple with the onset of adulthood. There's the down to earth method of actually taking responsibility and toeing the line as you try to build yourself to be an acceptable human, then there's the artsy fartsy John Mayer fan school of thought in which the person believes that "there's no such thing as the real world" and proceeds to chill out for the rest of his or her life. Which one is better you ask? Neither because you'll either become a tight wad or a lazy bum who is too laid back to even get off his couch to take a dump. (And so the toilet recliner was invented.) I suppose that's a little harsh quoting the extremes. Then again most people don't just follow one method. Which is what I plan to do. A little bit of both never hurt anyone. To survive in the world you have to do two things, or rather not do two things. 1) Don't do anything stupid. 2) Don't lose your grip on who you are.
"Oh Kyle that's stupid! I could have paid a hobo to tell me that."
Yeah well you just saved yourself a couple of dollars. Damn...he probably would've needed that. Remind me to drop by the train station tomorrow. Anyway, as simple as those two things might seem, they can be incredibly hard to do throughout the entire course of our lives. If you think about it, following those two rules will keep you on a good course and that is what I plan to do. Bold words huh?
So on the peak of the mountain I find a fork in the road. Two paths to two passions.
I've always loved writing. I've been coming up with ideas for novels for as long as I can remember. Though most of them are far fetched and downright ridiculous, I am sure I have at least one good idea in the rough. The art of storytelling is a rewarding one. There's a certain feeling you get knowing your words have made someone laugh, cry or scoff in disgust. It is a powerful force to be able to wield the pen well. So as you might, just might, have guessed, one path ahead of me leads to my dream of being an author. Or at least I hope it does. I have so many stories and characters to unleash onto paper and writing each one of them is a thrill. I doubt I'd ever be able to live comfortably without being able to write. So whether or not I choose to go down that road, it will always be a huge part of my life. I am off to college in a month and am going to be working towards my degree in Journalism. It's going to be a true test but I'm going in wil all guns blazing. And when I run out of ammo I am going to start slugging it out with my bare hands! Which of course brings me to my next path.
The other path can't be more different. I've always loved martial arts. When I was in primary school I wanted to join the Taekwando club but my parents were against it. And that sucked ass. It wasn't until 10 years later when I started my first martial art. Jujutsu. It all seemed to come naturally to me. As if I was built for it. A few years later I joined a Judo club in school and instantly fell in love with it. The gentle way as it is called, can often be quite ungentle. If that even is a word. Getting thrown around the room by your seniors hurts pretty bad. The rewards though are huge. It develops both the mind and the body and spills over to everyday life as well. "The philosophies are not confined just to the art." was what my sensei once said. If you don't believe him or me then check out the book "Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion". Manipulating balance. An ability i have learned and am eternally grateful for. Today, the grandest stage for any martial artist lies in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. MMA shot to fame in the 90's and though it has been rehashed and beaten down heavily throughout the years, it is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world. "If you build it, they will come." said the voice in Costner's Field of Dreams. Well, when the Ultimate Fighting Championship held it's inaugral tournament in 1993, the field was built and the players came. Fighters of different styles from all over the world came together to do battle on the momentous occasion. From the moment I discovered the world of MMA, I wanted to jump right in. Thankfully I didn't as it would have been a short life for me. This path in the fork leads to my other dream. To be a professional MMA fighter. Ludicrous? Probably. I have started training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and so far it has been going well. It is going to take alot of work but I am sure that it will be worth it.
So as I continue down the road of life I find myself not exactly choosing a path as of yet. Instead, I am walking right down the middle of that fork, turning my head both ways at every moment.
If you think about it though, is it really impossible to do both? To beat your own path down the other side of the mountain? I'm not going to say nothing is impossible because we all know that's a filthy lie. I mean look at the poor guy that tried to fly off the eifel tower in his large flight jacket. I do think that there is a glimmer of hope for both of my dreams, even if it is just a tiny glint. I am going to do my best in both fields till I succeed in both or one tears me from the other.
So I'm 21, on the outskirts of the real world with 2 rules to follow and 2 paths to walk.
Thus begins my journey. The journey of the writer fighter.
Join me if you like but you'd better be putting in for the pizzas and gas!
"Oh Kyle that's stupid! I could have paid a hobo to tell me that."
Yeah well you just saved yourself a couple of dollars. Damn...he probably would've needed that. Remind me to drop by the train station tomorrow. Anyway, as simple as those two things might seem, they can be incredibly hard to do throughout the entire course of our lives. If you think about it, following those two rules will keep you on a good course and that is what I plan to do. Bold words huh?
So on the peak of the mountain I find a fork in the road. Two paths to two passions.
I've always loved writing. I've been coming up with ideas for novels for as long as I can remember. Though most of them are far fetched and downright ridiculous, I am sure I have at least one good idea in the rough. The art of storytelling is a rewarding one. There's a certain feeling you get knowing your words have made someone laugh, cry or scoff in disgust. It is a powerful force to be able to wield the pen well. So as you might, just might, have guessed, one path ahead of me leads to my dream of being an author. Or at least I hope it does. I have so many stories and characters to unleash onto paper and writing each one of them is a thrill. I doubt I'd ever be able to live comfortably without being able to write. So whether or not I choose to go down that road, it will always be a huge part of my life. I am off to college in a month and am going to be working towards my degree in Journalism. It's going to be a true test but I'm going in wil all guns blazing. And when I run out of ammo I am going to start slugging it out with my bare hands! Which of course brings me to my next path.
The other path can't be more different. I've always loved martial arts. When I was in primary school I wanted to join the Taekwando club but my parents were against it. And that sucked ass. It wasn't until 10 years later when I started my first martial art. Jujutsu. It all seemed to come naturally to me. As if I was built for it. A few years later I joined a Judo club in school and instantly fell in love with it. The gentle way as it is called, can often be quite ungentle. If that even is a word. Getting thrown around the room by your seniors hurts pretty bad. The rewards though are huge. It develops both the mind and the body and spills over to everyday life as well. "The philosophies are not confined just to the art." was what my sensei once said. If you don't believe him or me then check out the book "Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion". Manipulating balance. An ability i have learned and am eternally grateful for. Today, the grandest stage for any martial artist lies in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. MMA shot to fame in the 90's and though it has been rehashed and beaten down heavily throughout the years, it is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world. "If you build it, they will come." said the voice in Costner's Field of Dreams. Well, when the Ultimate Fighting Championship held it's inaugral tournament in 1993, the field was built and the players came. Fighters of different styles from all over the world came together to do battle on the momentous occasion. From the moment I discovered the world of MMA, I wanted to jump right in. Thankfully I didn't as it would have been a short life for me. This path in the fork leads to my other dream. To be a professional MMA fighter. Ludicrous? Probably. I have started training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and so far it has been going well. It is going to take alot of work but I am sure that it will be worth it.
So as I continue down the road of life I find myself not exactly choosing a path as of yet. Instead, I am walking right down the middle of that fork, turning my head both ways at every moment.
If you think about it though, is it really impossible to do both? To beat your own path down the other side of the mountain? I'm not going to say nothing is impossible because we all know that's a filthy lie. I mean look at the poor guy that tried to fly off the eifel tower in his large flight jacket. I do think that there is a glimmer of hope for both of my dreams, even if it is just a tiny glint. I am going to do my best in both fields till I succeed in both or one tears me from the other.
So I'm 21, on the outskirts of the real world with 2 rules to follow and 2 paths to walk.
Thus begins my journey. The journey of the writer fighter.
Join me if you like but you'd better be putting in for the pizzas and gas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)