Hi All

Why we Fight ?

I am working on what potentailly coould be, all going according to my master plan, a really major project of great significance to the Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Fight World in general, and probably beyond! and your answers tot he question as to WHY? you fight would be really appliciable and aid me getting this project up and going -

So Dig Deep, Be Real and True and in your own words, however you please tell us WHY? you fight. and please post a pic with your words too - that would be awesome -

I don't care if you are a novice or a pro fighter of Highest level, weather your a male or female, a young child fighter or near your retirement in the sport - or where you are from - all, ALL your responses I want and have validity and value to this project I am working on - So speak up -

If you don't want to answer me on here - buzz me an email - that would be cool too!

I want lots of responses and look forward to your posts on this - it matters and maybe you'll end up contributing to this project down the track a bit -

Cheers and Thanks from crazy Tokyo -

Image Girl

I havnt fought much, a few times when I was younger in thai rules kickboxing, I have just started fighting In thailand ( once or twice a year) against Thais. I do this because I want to gain experience first hand where it shud be gained.. In Thailand! Not because I want to win belts and major titles, but to improve my teaching and coaching for my gym!

Firstly - thanks already for the emails on this that I have got - 5 minutes of the thread up and my email already had several answers - so ta and keep them coming - really!

Hi Daggers - So you Fight now more in order to benefit technicially and pass that onto your students, yes interesting - but has this always been the casefor you? - your early fights - WHY did you want to fight ?- what was your motivation? the money? (lol)the self confidence aspects? the glory? WHY? WHY? why didn't you go and play rudgy or study to become a doctore instead?

keep them coming Axers -

Ta so mcuh!

Image Girl in Crazy Tokyo

LOL I started martial arts when I was 7 in taekwondo, I fought 5 fights in that mainly because my instructor made me! So martial arts has always been in my blood, I started muaythai when I was 18 and because I was trying to make it in a band, I never had the full commitment to train hard enough to fight properly, I competed to gain experience because I wanted to work for myself and used the only other talent I had ( tho I'm a qualified chef, I hated the industry) to open a gym , as I detested putting my talents into someone elses busnes! So I guess to sum up, I fought in order to gain experience at something I wanted to make my job of.. Teaching!

i fought because its the most pure and honest test of your self it tests you mental and physical strenths and weeknesses to the extreems.its a very loonly experience in the ring just you and your opponent (oh an a reff) and you will either sink or swim but you will have a greater understanding of who you are and how far you can push yourself, i dont think you can describe the felling you get because i belive everyone experiances it in a different way,but it is a lot of fun if it wasnt people wouldnt do it. but thats just my oppinion sorry cant post a pic as dont know how

I fought because i got a buzz from winning i wasent scared of anyone not scared of getting hurt just scared of losing cos if you lose the next day was very depressing and if you won the next day you feel like the best thing in the world

to test yourself

i started fighting cos i want to eventually run my own camp and train my own fighters. i just assumed the best way to do that would be to fight myself so as to gain the experience that can be passed on. after 4 fights though i've got the bug and now do it cos i really enjoy the preparation and fighting.

I fight for the challenge.
Pitting my skills up against an opponent.
Bringing to fruition the hours of hard work, sweat and lactic burn to give 100%.

It maybe a rocky road. There maybe slips and falls along the way, but having the mental tenacity to keep on going and reach your goal.

Its all about the journey rather than the destination.

Linking to the picture, some people may take the steep, hard route, others may take a cable-car to the top. Some people may have a solid guide, some people will find their own way.
Sometimes the mountain fog may descend and people will lose their way....
Some may fall into an abyss. Others may be steadfast and plough on to reach their goal.

Getting a bit artsy and philosophical, you have to ask yourself....
- Are you the walker?
- Are you the guide?
- Have you fallen in to an abyss?
- Are you still finding your way?
- Have you fallen?
- Have you got up again?

....

....

....

- Are you the fog? (Trolls/ negative influences)

Maybe I am getting too deep again..... :P

Hi All -

Thanks so much for your responses

dac - yes a absolute test of mental and physical strength - but for you where did that need to test yourself to that extreme come from? what was the reason for that and why did you choose fighting in a ring and all that goes with it to test yourself - many people test themselves to extremes but many do not choose to go in a ring to "bash and get bashed" as some would put it ( not me ) ?

and a question not particularly to you but many would come up with the anwser to testing" oneself - is it really that or are some fighters, and I suspect there are who are more accurately in there to proove themselves to others - would be good to hear form some of those honest' people and what is behind their need to proove themsselves and again why choose a ring as a platform or stage to do that?

Cheers again and keep it coming - tell me your story, the story behind your getting in the ring -

Image Girl -

Thanks for that aswell Noi - very interesting,

you say for you it is mroe about the journey than the destination? so more about the training, sweat, and all else that goes with it prior to the fight on the night right - Sure there must be though alot of fighters who's sole purpose of training and being a part of the sport was to get in the ring, champing at the bit just to climb through those ropes ( for whatever reason ) - that the training was simply the process to be able and capable enough to get in the ring - rather than getting in the ring ont he night being a result of the training -

Thesse are two very different types of people and motivations in my mind - so lets hear from them both - where do you sit - is it about the training and all that that encompases or is it about getting in the ring - and again what is the story behind the motivation to get in the ring to start with?

cheers again

Image Girl -

and don't forget I want photos too -

image girl i dont know if i can describe where the need to test myself came from it comes from within i think, when i started muay thai it wasnt to fight it was just for fun and to keep fit but the desire to fight came from within. and for me it wasnt to prove myself to anyone else im not the kind of person who is influenced bywhat other people do or dont think of me it was something i needed to prove to and for myself i wanted to see if i had the belife and conviction in myself to do it as anyone who has fought will tell you its bloody hard work and at times no fun at all it put strains on plutonic romantic and family relationships and envelops your hole life during the build up your sleeping eating and training patterns are all for that short time your in the ring but to the fighter it is all worth it for what you gain personally the knowledge that you can push you self to your limits and come out the other side stronger for it ( again this is my oppinion and other people will have different ones)

Started off looking like this in April 2005 when I first started training:


At my last interclub in March 2008 I looked like this:


After playing around in the boxing gyms in GTA San Andreas I decided I'd have a go at doing it for real so I did a search for boxing gyms in Leeds and Bad Company was top of the list. I decided to try it for 6 weeks and a couple of weeks in I realized the state I was in and decided to stick with it. After a couple of family health scares at the end of 2006 I knew I had to do something more so I decided to increase the intensity of my training. Through tweaking the circumstances slightly I've since lost somewhere between 35 - 40 kg, dropped my waist from 48" to 36" and become much fitter. From getting out of breath just walking up the stairs to the gym back in 2005 I managed a 42 mile bike ride yesterday and I would have gone further if it wasn't getting late. I want to fight before the end of the year but I'm biding my time so I don't have to fight in the super heavyweight class. There are lots of ways I could have improved my health and fitness but the combination of cycling and Thai boxing (and now Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well) seems to work for me. Having something to aim for rather than just losing weight gives it a bit more drive.

"Sure there must be though alot of fighters who's sole purpose of training and being a part of the sport was to get in the ring, champing at the bit just to climb through those ropes ( for whatever reason )"

I have always come from a competative background, in rugby league and other martial arts, so it was a given expectation that I would compete, rather than a sole purpose.

There is usually no single, one off reason for becoming a fighter.

Although Mohammed Ali said he started fighting cos someone stole his bike.Might be as simple as that... good luck with your project.

I fight for the challenge.
Pitting my skills up against an opponent.
Bringing to fruition the hours of hard work, sweat and lactic burn to give 100%.

It maybe a rocky road. There maybe slips and falls along the way, but having the mental tenacity to keep on going and reach your goal.

Its all about the journey rather than the destination.

Linking to the picture, some people may take the steep, hard route, others may take a cable-car to the top. Some people may have a solid guide, some people will find their own way.
Sometimes the mountain fog may descend and people will lose their way....
Some may fall into an abyss. Others may be steadfast and plough on to reach their goal.

Getting a bit artsy and philosophical, you have to ask yourself....
- Are you the walker?
- Are you the guide?
- Have you fallen in to an abyss?
- Are you still finding your way?
- Have you fallen?
- Have you got up again?

....

....

....

- Are you the fog? (Trolls/ negative influences)

what book was this copyed from?

dac didnt ever win a fight to know what its like to win and fight for that feeling but he is teacher of own gym now

I fight (or fought, it's been a while!) 'cause it gives my life a sense of purpose, belonging and direction. Life is very complicated and very often wihtout a clear sense of purpose. When you are preparing for a fight and training twice a day every day it's a nice uncomplicated life with a direct goal at the end. Not much is like that. I also enjoy the buzz of winning, the thrill of learning new techniques and the brotherhood I have made within the scene here in New Zealand and all the amazing fighters and traininers I have met training in other parts of the world from Thailand, to Australia, to America, to Argentina, to Chile, Muay Thai really is an international language that transcends lots of superficial boundries. In it's best form I think there is something very pure and beautiful about it. The discipline I have learnt from fighting transfers to other aspects of my life and has helped make me a successful person. I'd hate to think what I'd be lke if I hadn't started martial arts and then Thaiboxing as kid.

"what book was this copied from?"

Not copied, just one of my random ramblings and thinking too deeply. :P

well said Noi

If you ask Aaron Robinson - ££££££

i really dont like fighting at all, i only do it so that i have some sort of experience to pass back to others at our gym as i really want to teach someday. im not bothered at all whether its helping/teaching fighters or people who just train for fitness/self-defence etc, but at least there is some experience on my part just in case other girls decide to have a crack at it. i dont need to test myself in the ring, i've had more than enough tests in my life to know im a strong person and capable of standing up for myself/thinking positively etc but it does help me see where im at and it also helps my judgment of others in the ring-there strengths/weaker points etc etc. once im in the ring im fine but im not a natural fighter, i think to want to fight seriously you have to also be a kind of entertainer and play to the crowd as well and i would rather blend into the background lol, i just find it hard to cope with all eyes on me but like i said, i do it so i have knowledge and experience and thats it!!!

"If you ask Aaron Robinson - ££££££"

Same as Hitman Harrison

i fight because it make me happy! an im a bit daft!

Hiya I like to learn and test myself in different areas, not just the ring. I dont think humans were designed for this modern society where most people sit on their ass all day at desk jobs and relax by sitting on a couch. I prefer to be active both working and in time off and training/competing is part of this.

fighting to look tough

Hi All

first I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to get back on here been a hectic week but I really appreciate your feedback and answers to the question of why we fight

some really interesting points and reasons from the very practical benefits to health and weight issues in mh's case - that is awesome - !

i think Marianne your post is really interesting - i think so many outside the fight community simply would not be able to understand why you would put yourself through that"" pain, endurance and so in the ring - for the purpose and in cause to benefit the other girls under your instruction, few outside the community would get it' I think. Your post sounds like it is simply a (hard) part of your study' that you are obliged to do in order to pass adn further yoursself in that field - would this be right? - It must be fairly hard for you to fight when you don't really like to at all though? What about fighting' don't you like exactly, what aspects of it, mainly from the post that all eyes are on you, yes?? I think interesting that you point out aswell that you don't need to fight in order to test or proove yourself in any way - that life' has done that all by itself in other circumstances -

In truth to the comments about for the dollars adn punds - I think there would in truth be many, many pro fighters who fight for that reason and that reason alone - becuse they are skilled and trained in it, just as a doctor is skilled and trained in his field and this is their job, how they earn their living and maintain a lifestyle - be it the high life or just in survival terms -

Hi Jamie - your post that you want to live an active life, both in profession and in your time out - which is fighting - your profession or your time out? and I still ask the question why do you fight - you could have taken up endurance adventure racing instead - so why fighting -

Fighting to look tough - yeah sure there would be some - but there are many other sports and professional that you could take up in order to look tough! police force, military and any other professiosn you percieve as being taken up by tough men and woman' ? so why choose the ring as a platform to proove or test your toughness'?

Richie - How are you doing? hope you are well matey! your post is great - comes across beautifully that you have such a clear understanding of your reason and logic for being a part of this particualr sport and motivation to get in the ring - thanks

noi - "so it was a given expectation that you comptete" from yourself or those around you, be they family or trainers?

Thanks again all for your input - don't let it stop there! keep it going I want to hear from more of you on this -

dig deep, keep real adn tell me why you fight!

cheers everyone -

Image Girl - Tokyo -

why do you fight eoin???

"noi - "so it was a given expectation that you comptete" from yourself or those around you, be they family or trainers?"

Entirely my own pressure and expectation.
I played scrum-half when I played rugby so was in the middle of the pitch, against some big forwards, and I was used to getting bashed and bouncing back....getting over knocks and bruises.
I thought it was a bonus that I was against someone the same size and weight as me!!!

hey Image girl

yeah, first and foremost its just so i can pass back the experience one day and if anything i have found out through it can help others then thats what its all about for me.
there are some things i like about it, for eg, i love everyone pulling together at the gym during training for a fight, i love everyone wanting to help each other out and the team spirit and i dont mind actually getting in a ring whether its just a sparring session or a fight, i like getting stuck in and enjoy the actual fighting but its more the people watching, i think as well because alot of the crowd dont actually train. i get very self-concious beforehand and work myself into a stupid state so by the time i fight im just a total mess lol!!! i know its natural to be nervous as its your adrenalin preparing you but other people at my gym and other fighters i know, just seem to take it in their stride and while they are nervous, they enjoy the fight experience whereas i would rather be in the corner or warming people up as im much better at calming other people down than calming myself down.
its all part of training though, i'll probably have a few more but its certainly not my aim from training.

hope that helps!

Eoin Fights because he has to stop the que of men forming behind him getting penetration though he is only half heartedly fighting because he loves a big stiff one in him really the cock fiend

Peahead,if thats all you can say ,don't bother

tonga get stuffed how can any one have a civil conversation with this tit going on every thread and winding people up hes been on numerous threads trying to annoy people and every one is taking him seriously

anyone got anything else to add to this thread please - keep it going - alot more of you than has posted above fight obviously - so let's here it - why do you fight?

cheers again

Caitalin

the ring experience is what drives me in boxing: no other moment in life brings me more adrenaline.
I also enjoy training, sparring and the well being feeling from it. But there is nothing like those few minutes in the ring for a competitive fight.

ha ha good work pea!

Hello "the image girl" I kinda asked the same thing a few yrs back.The post was titled "Why Athletes Compete" It got some good post from people but they turned the tables on me and I ended up telling my story.It was great to hear from others.We talked mostly about why we fight though.I did a search and its still there but I can't open it. I may have a copy at home but it was kinda long so hopefully you will have better luck.