Study pattern
“Pattern recognition is intelligence,” he would always tell me at end of a long and rambling thought, as I struggled to keep up with his walking and the speed of his thoughts.
To this statement I would nod, appreciatively and shyly, thinking too much, my feet moving briskly.
I didn't speak much, then.
The Ringside View
At first sight, a mixed martial arts (MMA) cage is intimidating. A black and red octagonal ring, about six-feet tall and enclosed by chain-link fencing. A group of people stand inside the cage, stretching out and warming up.
Looking closer, the chain-link is made of black plastic vinyl, the floors and cage bars are heavily matted, and an incredibly diverse group of people are standing inside, talking and laughing with one another.
Striking the right moves
Dim light bounces off the cement walls of Carleton’s combatives room. In the background, Brazilian music quietly hums, the sound of soft chanting and percussion reverberating at a steady pulse. This might not be the typical atmosphere of a fitness class but then again, this activity is not like any other.
Capoeira is an art form that is a hybrid of both martial arts and dance elements. It combines swift fighting movements with acrobatics to create a graceful, yet aggressive experience.
A girl to take them all
His grip around my throat tightened. The wedge in his elbow was jammed beneath my jaw, cutting off airflow and I struggled to keep from tapping out. I tucked my chin as close to my chest as I could. Seeing as my entire head was only marginally bigger than his bicep, this wasn’t too hard.
In a writhing, sweaty, tangle of limbs, we continued on as such until the whistle blew.
We detached and smiled as we shook hands before turning to look at our grappling instructor.
A punch of perspective on MMA
If you haven't heard of the Ultimate Fighting Challenge (UFC) or Carleton's Mixed Martial Arts classes, chances are you're at least aware of the buzz surrounding the now hugely popular sport that is MMA.
But is it a sport, or is it something deeper?
“It helps you to learn more about yourself, you're going to learn you're breaking points in MMA. It's tough, it's hard, and it's not for everybody," said Craig Brown, from Fit MMA Ottawa fresh from a fight.
