Blog Challenge: Wrestling/MMA

I’m up late all the time, as most know, and often take to watching any sort of documentary which zings my interest that’s available either on Netflix or TV.  These rots the brain much less than “Real Housewives of…” or anything of the same ilk.  Admittedly once in a while I’ll become absolutely captivated by an infomercial where my hand itches to purchase whatever nonsense is being offered but those are few and far in-between.  Otherwise I’ll opt to read or write.  I’m so evolved and mature, aren’t I?  Yea, right. 

And the best thing about watching documentaries?  You learn so bloody much!  Like for instance, last night on CNN, I watched a new show called “This is Life” with Lisa Ling.  She explores and delves into what one would call unconventional lifestyles and explores the inner workings, uncovers dark secrets and gets to the core of the life itself.  The one I caught sometime around 2am was about MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).  Let me preface the rest of this blog with this:  I’m not badass enough to say that I know anything about this sport or even follow it.  I watch it on occasion because I recognize pure skill as opposed to it’s predecessor, Wrestling Mania or the Wide World of Wrestling, which is a joke as we all know now.

Side bar:  I remember when I told P how wrestling was all acting and staged.  He staunchly refused to believe me until I showed him a documentary (see how that works) which basically busted the whole darn thing open and exposed wrestling for the fraud it really was.  That basically shut him up.  I admit I felt bad for like, a second, because the devastation ran so deep and then I thought, ‘suck it up, Buttercup’ and moved it along. 

But back to what I was saying…as I laid there stretched out on the sofa steadfastly ignoring my body screaming for beddy-bye in the wee hours of the morning, my epic laziness won over the need to change channels as I settled into watching the show referenced above.  Surprisingly enough, and hours later as I pretty much dragged myself to bed, I was thoughtfully pondering about what I had watched since initially I hadn’t found the topic all that appealing yet it had me wondering how myopic my world truly was in so many ways. 

This particular show was not simply highlighting the inside world of MMA fighters but specifically female fighters and a part of the segment was dedicated to girl fighters, as in children.  So apparently there are junior female MMA fighters (just to be redundant).  Color me shocked.  Yes, and there is blood and pain and in fact just watching the fight on the tube made me flinch something mad and as Lisa pondered, I too did the same speculating, as to who these parents were that allowed their child to get pummeled in such a brutal fashion.  And really I’m not exaggerating when I say brutal.  With every kick and jab my stomach clenched thinking, “I would never, ever allow my kid…”  First, don’t have a kid so that’s that but if I did…just saying.

But this is where I speak so freely of my myopic vision of the world even though I think I’m broadminded.  I was being so dang judge-y of these parents yet as I watched I realized that I didn’t and don’t know squat. 

There was a little girl who was being interviewed, she was…I don’t remember her age, but young, maybe 12?  She had bushy brown hair and thick glasses with a face full of pimples, awkward and soft spoken with a pretty yet unsure smile.  She reminded me of me when I was that age.  She elaborated about being bullied, about her insecurities and then about her world after it was exposed to MMA.  The transformation of this child was, well…gratifying.  No, this wasn’t some Molly Ringwald sorta moment because she still looked the same but without a doubt she was clearly empowered and confident, finding a passion and love for something that although far outside the norm of a girl her age, probably was teaching her focus and discipline.  Her parents, who stood on the sidelines indeed watching their daughter get thrashed (she lost the match that she was preparing for), spoke bravely of supporting her, worrying for her, fearing for her but still, supporting her regardless of what others thought and sometimes even what they thought.  I found them to be brave, to be honest, unable to imagine the demons they battled within themselves every time she got into the ring.

My take on this was that I have a long way to go in truly being non-judgmental.  And I mean a long way.  There I was, in a snap thinking how horrible these people were, what could possibly possess this kid to do that to herself and yada, yada but in reality, I was so hugely wrong.  If I have to be honest (and I try that every now and then) I was rather enveloped with a sense of awe at the parents’ unflagging support of their kid who was finding her own individual and unique self.  Ironically, I posted a blog earlier about finding just this, one’s true self even against the odds and others opinions but I didn’t make the connection (which shows you yet again how limited my vision can be) and glad that I did via this blog.  Oh, and I have to thank my girl S, once again, because I asked her for a blog topic and she immediately spat out “wrestling” and although this isn’t precisely what I’m writing about (hey, I mentioned it above) it made me recall the documentary from yesterday and started to piece my thoughts together.

And about that young little girl…she’s amazing.  Like I mentioned, she lost the fight but I feel like this little one is going to definitely win the battle in life. 

If you haven’t caught the show, I recommend that you do.  I can only say that it opened my eyes.  Now, I’m onto more enlightenment.  I believe this is gonna be a difficult road. 

*Sigh*