What is a Champion Pt. 1

We live in a world that is highly competitive. From the beginning our families hope only for happiness for us, but somehow later in life, sometimes what makes them proud are our achievements. My child started walking at this age, my child started talking at that age, perfect attendance, most popular, graduated with this honor, etc. Bragging rights that you are the best make the some of our training experiences worthwhile. But at all costs?

All I ever wanted since childhood was to be a worthwhile martial artist. Of course I dreamed of being the champion who saved the day like from a bully in a neighborhood (or save the world!). But did that mean winning using any means just to win> I use the word “champion” this way. You can “champion” your cause but does that mean you can steal and take that money and donate it? Or must you represent it in more ways than the goal or winning?

Many years ago I saw sparring heroes and they were like gods to me. These days martial arts champions have a forum that they are being represented by MMA champions. There are so many interviews and “day in the life” documentaries from these athletes, are they still representing my idea of a champion?

In an ideal world, all champions are kind and use their fame to spread the arts in a positive manner. They work hard and they are rewarded with recognition. In a recent UFC reunited Japanese fans with the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Joe Rogan commented “It was like a cage match held in a church”. There was so much respect by the crowd by the intricate work of the warrior in the cage you could hear a pin drop! If a fighter worked hard but lost, they still love him/her. I guess that is why they called it PRIDE.

Back at the ranch in America, there is booing, cursing, and lack of education in the live audience. I look at some of the fans are they seem to just want two guys to fight each other to a pulp. The social media  engines include “WAR”, meaning a toe to toe battle. Although exciting, it is not a Martial strategy that makes much sense. At the end of every fight they is a customary congratulations and shaking of hands. I would like to see the return of a “Bow” to let me know there is common respect. Some may say that handshakes are a sign of friendship and leave it at that. Trust me, I know lots of people who shake hands and they mean nothing behind it.

So back to the title “what is a champion”? To me, they should live and breathe the fact they represent an organization, the other fighters who compete to become that one day and the people who appreciate the magnificence.

There was an interview with current champion (at time of this blog) Meisha Tate vs Rhonda Rousey (upstart verbose challenger). Rousey stated that she doesn’t feel like she has to be respectful to previous champions or say “please” or thank you.

You can definitely be a champion for winning a fight in the eyes of judges but I do believe you need to be winning the respect of people as well through not just hard work on the mat, but with people and all the things that can be afforded with being a champion.

to be continued…