Imagine yourself punching, kicking and kneeing for an hour or two straight. The punches that were strong and straight are now weak and off balance. You are out of breath and you take punches and kicks yourself. There was nothing more clarifying than getting a punch in the head. When you get hurt it means you messed up badly.

This was most men’s lives thousands of years ago. When other men would come and take what they wanted if you didn’t fight back. There is something clarifying and cleansing about martial arts. Whatever aches and pains and how exhausted you feel, it is an amazing feeling of accomplishment. You sleep so well. You wake up clear headed. Any and all anger I’ve felt has been burned out. I’m more calm and focused than I’ve ever been. Nothing like the feeling that you left everything in the ring. I think only athletes, MMA fighters and soldiers truly understand this.