Mixed-Up Martial Artist

Jan 16, 2008 04:59

1800L, Friday, 11 January 2008: I pumped iron later than usual for a Friday. I watched as John, the attendant on duty, handed the chains for hanging the heavy bags to someone whom doesn’t attend the boxing class. Boxing students are permitted to check out gear at their convenience, others are not. Lately we’ve had a problem with damaged or stolen gear, and I know for a fact that at least two unauthorized users have hurt their wrists punching the heavy bags.

"Excuse me", I said to the young man. I recognized him as one of the Mixed Martial Artists. Years ago martial artist would often swap techniques with each other, "mixing" styles as it were. What Mixed Martial Arts refers to a blend of striking and grappling made popular by Ultimate Fighting Championship matches. When I studied Tae Kwon Do (striking) and Yool Sool (grappling) in the same dojang with the same students and same instructors on the same nights during the early 1970’s this was considered a Traditional Martial Art, not a Mixed Martial Art. Confused yet? It's marketing.

We’ve a few of Mixed Martial Artists training at the gym, half-a-dozen young males. Mostly they stay well clear of us. We try not to ridicule their training methods too much. You might be surprised that I’m the one whom normally sticks up for them.

My "Excuse me" went ignored, so I approached and stopped the young man. "You’re not with the boxing program," I said quietly. There was not need to shout, the fellow stopped.

"So?"

"It’s not your equipment, you shouldn’t use it."

"What?"

"You have to be a boxer to use the heavy bags."

"It’s your stuff?"

My simplest, truest answer was "Yes."

The MMA indicated the attendant, "He said I could use it."

"It’s not his to give."

"It belongs to the 'Y'."

"No, it belongs to the boxers. The dues we pay are used to purchase gear."

He handed over the chains reluctantly. "You’re welcome to join us, then you can use the gear", I told him. "We meet Saturday mornings, Tuesday and Thursday evenings", I added.

"I’m not going to join *your* class", he whined before stomping away. Why do so many Martial Artists act like twinkies?

1900L, Tuesday, 15 January 2008: I understand why he was upset: I’m a stranger telling him "No." I spotted him in the locker room as I readied for boxing class, and thought I’d patch things up.

I thrust a hand forward with "Hi, I’m ‘dozer." I was shocked at how soft and limp his hand was. I paused, but he didn’t give his name. "There’s no hard feelings, you’re welcome to join us tonight."

"I’m not joining *your* class."

His loss, though it’s not *my* class per se. I did give a list of students to the gym manager, so hopefully the attendants will stop handing out our gear to the wrong patrons.
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