Why Do You Fight?

fight4you · Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 432

Needless to say, fighting is not the stereotypical choice for most women. Of all the M.A. and combat sports, MMA, NHB etc, are the most extreme and dangerous forms one could choose.

So...why have you chosen to fight and why in the most extreme, most controversial forms available?

Is it because you have been in many competitive sports before and this is the only thing that offers you a buzz?

Is it because you followed a brother, a dad or a boyfriend into it and you just kind of slid into it?

Did you have some kind of violent experience earlier in life or suffered an abusive relationship with a male figure and this was the path to either learn self-defense or release inner demons?

Why do you fight?

Robert

gretamobetta · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:26 pm Post subject:

Its fun! :twisted I have days where training is miserable, but not miserable enough not to do it.
Do others agree its fun?

fight4you · Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 432

Nobody else has a story?

dl_angel · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 150 Location: Austin, Texas

I was doing martial arts to begin with, but my boyfriend did MMA so I decided to try it out. Really liked it because it was more realistic and the competition seemed more fun- I got frustrated with tkd because someone could miss my face by an inch and still get points, even when I moved out of the way to avoid their making contact. Got sick of all the rules and the gear in tkd.

Also, I like that I am one of many people at my gym who want to take this sport seriously- tkd was filled with children and some adults who were looking to lose weight or have fun. The instructor didn't encourage us to compete and competing just didn't seem as logical of a choice as it is in MMA. I like it that even though I may never earn lots of money competing, at least I might get travel expenses covered to do something that I love. And I LOVE the training and everyone's more relaxed, informal, and fun at the gym than people were at the tkd school. I like the flexibility of MMA also. You have so many more options than in other martial arts.

Doing this is partially to test myself in several ways- to see if I can attack back if I was attacked, to see if I can actually attack back well enough to defend myself, and to see whether I can take a hit. And if any of those things ever are a problem, I intend to train myself to actually be able to do it.

VooDooQueen · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 93 Location: colorado springs

I got into martial arts when my husband went to Iraq...put my boys into as well to keep them busy. They didnt want to do it, but I said..hey..I will do it with you. I found that it helps my stress levels and I found that I love to spar. I did grow up in a very abusive home, so maybe subconsiously I do it to let some of that out. I wanted to take up martial arts when I was a kid, but back home...lil ladies dont do that. I like the workouts I get as well, especially with the 21 yr old sensei who I would swear is overdosing on RedBull. (hehe)

Funny thing is ..when I am on the mat sparring..I dont really feel much pain until after it is over. Is anyone else like that? Or is it just me?

VooDooQueen

GODFATHEROFMMA · Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 11

Im with you VooDoo.....Wheres and what unit is your husband at??Im at Ft Hood and just got back from Iraq myself....

VooDooQueen · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 93 Location: colorado springs

Godfather,

My husband is with 3/3 ACR out of Ft Carson. Word is they are all going back to Iraq. We have orders to Germany, but I hear that 70,000 troops are being pulled out of there so I have no idea what is going to happen. I really wanted to go to Germany, too....mostly to be close enough to visit distance relatives of my husband's in Sicily.

My husband is 19k (for you non military types...that is a tanker..meaning he drives, loads, fires a really cool tank..the M1A2Abrams)

VooDoo

fight4you · Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 432

Our prayers are with him. I hope he kicks the butt that deserves it, helps those that need it and that the damned media reports both accurately.

robert

Rox21 · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:24 am Post subject:

For me, martial arts were just something that was fun and I wanted to get better at it and be acknowledged. I could work really hard and see results. Then the same time I started MMA, I got this drive to want to grow and become stronger. That's why, although I'm training to be the best fighter, I'll be kind of sad if there's no one to challenge me. Right now, there's plenty of challenges! Smile

(plus I have an underlying goal to bash the 'women are weak, men are strong' stereotype)

VooDooQueen · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 93 Location: colorado springs

Fight4you...thank you....but they need to hurry up and get our soldiers, sailors and marines outta there. Its messing up their heads.

Rox21....I feel ya on the no one to challenge ya thing. At the Rocky Mountain State Games...the women who were there only did forms and weapons. They all said they hated to spar, hated to get hit or were afraid of both. (UM..why ya in MA then?) Well, I had to fight this huge TKD guy...if I had punched straight forward..he would have gotten it in the groin. The guy was built like a mac truck. He also outranked me....I didnt know I was going to be put in the men's division..so..they call my name..I step up to the mat ..they call him and I was like..um..OOOKKKK. I bowed...put in my mouthguard and put on my gameface snarl that I am becoming known for. I dove in...gave him a run for his money. He kept retreating from me....I got in some really good hits, some kicks..but I got no points. I had a hell of a time getting in...see..I am only five two. But..the point is...I fought..didnt back down...gave it my all. The crowd was like..oh..hell no...that woman is NOT gonna fight him.! My son heard a man saying ...damn..she is kickin ass. So what I lost....I proved that women have courage and can be just as tough. He didnt seem to mind hitting me either..since I went home limping and pretty beat up. I was pissed though, because it was like the committee just said..lets let the lil lady fight since she paid to....ya know? This guy ended up winning gold in the men's division. But...this is funny...they called my name...for a gold medal in the women's division. I felt like an ass ..since I lost and was the only one. I look at it this way though...I went in..didnt back down...gave it my all and if it had been someone closer to my size and skill and my style..I would have won no doubt. One of the other opponents told me I deserved the medal though...since he lost to that guy too. I saw his match..he was a good fighter too.

Bottom line..this is my story and I am sticking to it: I fought in the men's division..and won a gold medal. Laughing

VooDoo (chick with kahunas...hahahaha)

Rox21 · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:07 am Post subject:

That's a really inspiring example. ^_^ I like you, voodoo. I remember when I went to Judo and jiu-jitsu tournaments 3 or 4 years ago and there were only like 2 or 3 women in the division. I took home a first place and thought "Man I didn't earn this.." and didn't even want to go get the trophy. Then my Judo sensei said (repeated by my jiujitsu sensei 3 years later) that I had the courage to go out onto the mat, so that entitles me. Bah...I thought, but that's because I took it for granted. Of COURSE I would go out there. It's really no huge deal. But then I fought in the men's division, beat another woman who had entered, and then lost to a guy....I got a trophy for 4th place mens feather weight. I thought...well, I have this trophy for mens...but I didn't beat a man. Sad

I beat a woman. :/ it's not the same but...

YAY! Very Happy

And your story is pretty cool, too. That sounds really intimidating, so just take the trophy as a symbol. That's what they are anyway, right? Wink

VooDooQueen · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 93 Location: colorado springs

Rox21...thanks! Yup..a symbol...like I said...I won gold in the men's division..that's my story and I am stickin to it...hahaha.

It does suck to train day after day to compete only to get to a tourney and there is no one to test your skills with. With the way I fight (super agressive..was told I should check out boxing...haha) I should just look for some underground crap. True...it may be a bit on the exploitation side...which i abhor..but...ya can make some money. I would at least be ready for that guy again. I kinda want a rematch. mwuahahahahaha

VooDoo

Executioner · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 445 Location: Netherlands

Fight for fun,exitement,adrenaline,everything!
It's a way of life!

GODFATHEROFMMA · Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 11

Voodoo i dont know about a really cool tank being an M1a1 Abrahms...when im in charge of a PALDIN HOWITZER M109A6..anyways tell your husband I said goodluck and about germany...I just got back from there.....I was in Giessen...DONT COUNT ON IT....

ThehoundofCulan · Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 17

First, off, I'm a male, so my story isn't as exciting as any of yours. Yes, I fight because I'm a guy and that's what we do, right? Well, I'm not one of those macho aggressive types, unless I'm being protective (which I'm known to do...I'm a guy, remember?). I fight because of how pure it is. It's two human beings in the most physically and mentally challenging competition there is. It takes so much more than brute strength to go out there and fight someone or roll with them. And I'm not out there for winning. In fact, forget winning and losing, that's for sports. I don't see what I do as sport. Athletes break a sweat, warriors spill blood. I go out there for battle, not a game. I'm not tryin' to kill another guy, but I never plan on anything ending by points or decision. If I'm down at the end of the fight, I want it to be clear that he prevailed against me. I hate fighting for points, that makes it just a game. I don't care if I get tapped out of knocked out, atleast I didn't lose by points. That was a little off track, but I think it helps to express how I feel about combat.