Comments on: Violence begets violence https://didacticmind.com/2017/12/violence-begets-violence.html Strategic Defence of the Mantle of Responsibility Sat, 29 Aug 2020 12:45:07 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Didact https://didacticmind.com/2017/12/violence-begets-violence.html#comment-2400 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 18:35:03 +0000 #comment-2400 In reply to Zarathusra.

Yeah, I try to live by what I preach. Not always successfully, of course, but I think I do better than most.

Studying martial arts changed my life. I went from being a reasonably strong guy who had never thrown a real punch or kick in his life, to a man who loves nothing better than to go a few rounds with guys intent on hitting hard- and then go out with them for a beer afterwards.

In the process I have become far stronger, calmer, more mentally resilient, and self-aware. I have largely gotten over my old fear of weapons and combat, because I know what real fighting feels like and have some idea how to handle myself. It is just as I wrote a few years ago: men NEED to learn how to fight, in order to be men.

The men that I fight with are not my enemies. They are indeed my friends- my brothers. I would do anything for them, because they and I share the special respect and bond that only warriors can know.

]]> By: Zarathusra https://didacticmind.com/2017/12/violence-begets-violence.html#comment-2399 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 01:50:40 +0000 #comment-2399 You follow the thought to its noble end. Better than watching bloodsport is to participate, to throw down. I train in a boxing gym near Queens Plaza. I'm in my 40s, so I'm not about to compete in Golden Gloves. That's a younger man's game. (Master's League is a different story) But the training, the work I put in, giving as good as getting… MAN.

Because in the beginning stages, when one gets his first licks to the head, liver, etc., there's this social conditioning that has to be overcome. This person who just caught me good and hard is not my enemy. He does not hate me. He is my friend or is definitely friendly. We are working together helping ourself and each other to get better at the art. Yet each millimeter of respect is earned, it's not given for free at all. Strong friendships are forged in the ring. And ya don't have to say some nonsense like "No Homo".

Just imagine if young boys roll or spar instead of insipid watered-down BS gym activities. Who knows, maybe we wouldn't have to spy these white boy poofters walking around town.

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