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Jorgefighter's blog
Why do we do that?
I bet that most of us have had matches that left us injured for days. I can remember at least two fights where the guys nearly destroyed my shoulder and, the very next day, stupid me went to play racketball (my other fav sport).
Also, last time I went to London, one year ago, I had a fight everyone of the six days I stood there (and some days, more than one fight). Just as the shuttle was bringing me from the plane to the airport, I took out my cell and began to search and write my contacts. By the fourth day, my hands were shaking frantically and without control because (I guess) the pain that my arms had been enduring. That same day I went to a mat room hidden in and car factory (wow!) and had a two hours fight. Last day the great John took me to his fight team and I met some very experienced wrestlers. I failed at being a decent rival for them, but still tried my best. Back home, when the plane landed, I was SO tired I thought that I could no get home. The same happened last time I went to Madrid, and, you know? I would do the same. I dont know about you, but one of the things I consider when I am planning a travel is: "Will I find fighters there?" Is not necessary, but if I travel, I like to capitalize on it to meet people who, because of the distance, can meet easily.
It's a hard life for us fighters. After those five years of private matches (since 2005) I am still surprised when someone says "A fight with no pain". Sorry, what does it mean? Pain is not the goal, but its necessary if you want to harden yourself, and if you want the other to submit. That's not ballet which, by the way, is much harder than wrestling (have you seen dancer's bodies, their strenght, their power, their flexibility and the MANY injuries most of them have?).
It's a hard life for us because often we have to be careful. We have to be careful who we choose to tell about our meetings: often, because they wont' understand; in other occasions, because friends will keep on worryng and saying: "Be careful, call me when you finish, you should stop doing that, some day you will regret, blah blah blah". Then you come home with a scratch on your skin, or obvious pain. And, like a child, you often have to create an excuse. Between: "Oh, that mark here? I was training and felt to the floor" or "I went to a hotel room to meet a man whom I knew nothing, and once we were there we began to kick each other's butt", what dou you prefer to tell your mum when she asks what's that bloodied stain on your elbow? (Perhaps cold seasons like winter are the best for covering these scars but, then, who travels in january?).
It's a hard life because sometimes (me, often) suffer bitter, unexpected beatings, or we feel that we are no good fighters and that we should quit. That hurts more than the body pain. I've been there often, battered, and thinking that I was such an easy rival undeserving of any challenge. (I've to say that as time goes by, I feel less like that, thanks to the good friends and their/your support). But then, after thinking and putting things in a scale, I've always returned. I call it "the comeback to where the pleasure hurts".
Because even loses are a pleasure. Perhaps it is the return to our primal instincts, banned by laws and society; perhaps because its a chance of leaving free all the anger and adrenaline that we have retained due to the lack of emotions and very standarized lifes. But there are many pleasure on fighting. The one of a good workout. The one of meeting someone with whom you develop a friendship. The one of working a good sweat and then going for a beer. The one of giving your best, even if you don't success. The pleasure of having enough confidence in someone that he can choke without you suffering for your life. The one of fighting someone in equal terms and conditions, but without having nothing against him. I'll never understand why is that, but I feel closer to boys that I have met just once or twice than to people I have known for years, like workmates,my cousins or my friends' partners. The pleasure of beating a cocky hunk who thinks that muscles are enough (they aren't, sweetie).
What about you? Why do you like this?
wresto (39)
9/29/2010 3:49 PMI have to say that is one of the bes post I read here on this site and in a way expres my feelings about the wrestling. Great.
Wrestleboyjoey (135)
9/30/2010 7:55 PMHmm why didn't you offer me a beer after we wrestled? :)
I believe it's the same feeling with other sports or hobbies, particularly other contact sports. If you love what you do, then you will endure the pains and difficulties. It's just that wrestling is not a mainstream sport, so that feeling seems strange and inexplicable to other people. Now if you talk about your experiences in the context of basketball or football, then it might not be the case.
I will share what one of my wrestler friends in Hawaii told me, because it stuck to my head. As a background, we met late at night on a weeknight. He lived more than an hour away from my hotel, and I could not host in my room. So if he took me to his place, wrestled, took me back to my hotel, before returning home, then he would not have been able to work the next day. However, he said to me that even just to meet me was fine with him, because meeting someone who shares the same interest made him feel normal.
And that's probably why we easily get close to wrestlers whom we have met just once or a few times. I grew up thinking I was weird, that I was the only one with this interest. And then through the internet I discovered that there ARE people like me – and I am not so strange after all! That's also probably why it's ironic that even though it IS a violent sport, the guys in our community generally are not out there to seriously injure our opponents. In fact, we end up fostering camaraderie as in a fraternity, because we share the same hardships together.
So I would like to raise my glass to our community. Thanks to all the nice guys I had wrestled for your friendship – and for making me feel normal.
P.S. - Jorge, I am ALMOST like you when I travel, except that for expensive long-distance trips I have learned to put sightseeing first, and wrestling second, hehehe!
palmer (25 )
10/01/2010 4:40 PMWow, Jorge. Simply amazing text, congratulations.
splashmountain (0)
10/01/2010 6:45 PMClassy viewpoint and well-written about the issues involved in wrestling, and all the doubts and dangers we all face when meeting a new opponent. Top work mate. x
Davey716 (46)
11/07/2010 2:07 PMJust to echo what others have said...What a great post, Jorge! Speaking as someone who started wrestling less than a year ago at the age of 46, I walk away with pain from every single match (regardless of the opponent). I struggle with finding that line of giving my body enough time to heal and recover and wanting to hit the mats again. I just know that I love wrestling and want to keep doing it. And I really like the guys I have met through this site and others so far...gentlemen, all of them.
RasslerFTL (19)
7/02/2011 2:36 PMWow. Great expression of what it is like. I do have to say that as MMA has become more "mainstream" it has helped with being more open at work about the occasional visible injuries. Not everyone gets MMA, but at least it is a quick shortcut to say that you are training and occasionally will get injured. And I love the expressions on some people's faces when they hear that I am into it. Jorge you are right that while what we do is rough and "violent" we also are usually friendly and considerate of the mats–and I love expanding colleagues minds to try to see that both "natures" are quite compatible in one person. In short, amazing text and view point. I'd be honored to have a match or a beer, or both, with you anytime.
Olympic (25)
11/14/2013 6:09 PMI know very well what the author is trying to describe here, and I am not the first one to say this.
Why I do this? Well, it is not easy to give a short answer. The truth is very simple- this is part of us. And also, it is a great way of living our life.
There had and there will always have better, stronger or more muscular opponents than us. So what? Should it discourage us? Isn't it great to wrestle a person you could learn from? I think yes. So, giving up is not an option.
If hard times follow, then we have friends to talk about.
Let's many wrestling matches to follow!
Good luck.
The Beast (41 )
2/24/2016 8:02 PM"It's a hard life because sometimes (me, often) suffer bitter, unexpected beatings, or we feel that we are no good fighters and that we should quit. That hurts more than the body pain."
Exactly how i feel since i met you invincible Jorge!
Thank you for everything my friend and, trust me, i train very hard not to suffer this anymore!!! Please log in to view gallery photos.