5 Gut-Wrenching Realizations From Getting Beat Up
I took the pain so you don’t have to.
This wasn’t some cafeteria sucker punch from high school.
No.
What I went through was the focused, methodical degradation of my pride. It sure had me wishing I was back in high school, I’ll tell you that.
On the drive there I had zero sense of what I was in for. I had no time to prepare until all of a sudden…
I got beat up.
Bad.
I signed up for it, but still.
I was simply not ready for the caliber of competition.
My partner was a wrestling coach and amateur fighter. Everybody else was just a giant ball of muscle.
I, on the other hand, five-foot-nine and 150 pounds, showed up for my first ever no-gi session at noon on a Tuesday.
My friend was supposed to be with me but he ended up as a no-show.
Looks like I’d have to face to room alone. While somehow managing to get out alive.
Gut-Wrenching Realization #1
You are nothing
The biggest — or at least most blaring — realization I received after getting beat up is that I am nothing.
There is always going to be somebody bigger, better, faster, or stronger than you. Maybe even some sort of mix between them all.
The only thing we can do for ourselves is work on improving our game. In this case, the game is to not get beat up.
It is a gentle art, I swear.
Even the guys who were similar to my size were still brutalizing me. It was like I could almost see the invisible black belt wrapped around their waist.
Of course, I have no chance against a black belt. For some reason though, when you cannot see for sure, it throws off the mind.
Makes me think I’m getting beat up by some punk, not a black belt veteran.
With that said, I recognized the fact that I’d have to improve my game.
Gut-Wrenching Realization #2
Be aware of your surroundings
This seems like a no-brainer but it’s true. In any situation, let alone a fight, you should constantly be aware of the surroundings.
It’s also important to read the room but that goes for any situation.
Don’t be the odd guy out.
In this case, in particular, I had no choice but to see where I was. It most definitely was not my comfort zone, that’s for sure.
Funny thing is, they were the very same walls. Just a wildly different crowd.
Inside of my comfort zone, I’d see a bunch of casuals and older adults looking to stay in shape. This time, I was surrounded by emphatic fighters who’ve risked it all in the cage.
I could feel the difference.
To improve my game as I mentioned earlier, I’d have to part ways with my beloved zone of comfort.
The moral of the story here: Read the room and act accordingly. I was no stranger to violence, but neither were they.
Gut-Wrenching Realization #3
There’s a new level
Have you ever been so winded that it seems like the next breath isn’t there?
Same.
It just happened to me, when I got beat up.
I couldn’t believe it because I thought I was in somewhat decent shape. Boy was I wrong.
As soon as your mind taste’s a drop of fear, the adrenaline ceases in masking fatigue. Just as I could feel the difference between these guys, I could feel how calm and fresh they were.
Probably because I had absolutely nothing for em’.
My endurance level was fading fast and in between rounds I only had seconds. Barely enough to take a sip of water.
These dudes were cold. “I need to get on this level,” I said to myself.
There’s always a new level.
Gut-Wrenching Realization #4
Being beaten is part of life (not physically)
This has been apparent to me since the start of my Jiu-Jitsu journey. It only became highlighted by getting tossed around like a rag-doll.
Let’s face it, it’s impossible to get through life without losing. Being beaten does not mean you are defeated though.
Here’s a secret: Losing can go on to guide you. Steer you in the right direction.
Plus, I love the feeling of getting right back to it after I get tapped (lose). You should see the look on people’s faces when I sit up with a smile.
The funny thing is, that can break people. The moment they realize they’ll never actually defeat you.
Being beaten is okay. That’s what makes the realization so gut-wrenching.
We always jump to think it’s not.
Gut-Wrenching Realization #5
You just have to train
I’m sure you don’t want to hear this and neither do I.
You just gotta train!
The more work you put in the better you get. For some reason, I understand this yet still make excuses to skip out.
Hopefully, someone else is with me on that.
Training is hard. Whether your “training” is grinding your job, taking care of the kids, or doing whatever you do that’s difficult, it’s a tough pill to swallow every each day.
I don’t want to get beat up like that again. But if I continue to go, I’ll get better and it won’t be as bad (I’d like to think).
All ya gotta do; is keep on keepin’ on.
Takeaway
The 5 gut-wrenching realizations from getting beat up are:
- You are nothing
- Be aware of your surroundings
- There’s a new level
- Being beaten is part of life
- You just have to train
I went through the pain so you don’t have to and I’m honestly glad. The realizations are good teachers of life that will improve my day-to-day.
If you can study them I think they’ll do the same for you.
Always stay outside the comfort zone because it’ll probably just help.
And remember, don’t go looking for a fight. Getting beat up sucks.
Don’t fight, stay tight!
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to read more, join Medium!
If you have a question leave a comment, I will respond!