Comments on: Gameness – On Sam Sheridan’s “A Fighter’s Heart.” http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/ Piercing the Shield of Ignorance Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:38:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Arbitrary http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13652 Arbitrary Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:18:35 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13652 <blockquote> “Because without conflict, life has no compelling narrative, no passion, no peaks and valleys, no grand motifs.”………… And yet women are criticised for liking drama. </blockquote> When people say that, they're talking about the drama of relationships, not the drama of the human overcoming nature and/or his own limitations.

“Because without conflict, life has no compelling narrative, no passion, no peaks and valleys, no grand motifs.”…………

And yet women are criticised for liking drama.

When people say that, they’re talking about the drama of relationships, not the drama of the human overcoming nature and/or his own limitations.

]]> By: chris http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13567 chris Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:18:51 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13567 Jim: "And this smacks of Ernest Hemingway pseudo-masculinity. Nobody who can get into Harvard should join the Merchant Marine. It’s not romantic it’s just dumb. Nor should such a person be a crewmember on a yacht. Yacht crewmembers are servants. But being meat in a gladiatorial entertainment is way beyond dumb. All these things are OK choices for people who lack better opportunities but ridiculous for anyone holding a ticket to the upper class." Yeah, if he knew what was good for him, he would have settled into his role within the investor class, while occupying his time with phone calls, paper shuffling, number crunching, gossip and political maneuvering. That would have made for a much more satisfying life. As a person who has never derived much satisfaction from any job that I have ever had, I can honestly say that taking up Muay Thai is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Now I couldn't give two shits about how emasculating and soul-crushing my office jobs are. When you do Thai boxing, bullshit office politics and the meaningless drudgery of the work itself cease to matter. None of your bosses or coworkers can do Muay Thai or anything comparable, so fuck 'em! Jim:
“And this smacks of Ernest Hemingway pseudo-masculinity. Nobody who can get into Harvard should join the Merchant Marine. It’s not romantic it’s just dumb. Nor should such a person be a crewmember on a yacht. Yacht crewmembers are servants. But being meat in a gladiatorial entertainment is way beyond dumb. All these things are OK choices for people who lack better opportunities but ridiculous for anyone holding a ticket to the upper class.”

Yeah, if he knew what was good for him, he would have settled into his role within the investor class, while occupying his time with phone calls, paper shuffling, number crunching, gossip and political maneuvering. That would have made for a much more satisfying life.

As a person who has never derived much satisfaction from any job that I have ever had, I can honestly say that taking up Muay Thai is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Now I couldn’t give two shits about how emasculating and soul-crushing my office jobs are. When you do Thai boxing, bullshit office politics and the meaningless drudgery of the work itself cease to matter. None of your bosses or coworkers can do Muay Thai or anything comparable, so fuck ‘em!

]]> By: Ghost of Rihanna http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13513 Ghost of Rihanna Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:25:04 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13513 "Because without conflict, life has no compelling narrative, no passion, no peaks and valleys, no grand motifs."............ And yet women are criticised for liking drama. “Because without conflict, life has no compelling narrative, no passion, no peaks and valleys, no grand motifs.”…………

And yet women are criticised for liking drama.

]]> By: The Paradox of a Warrior’s Heart- Jack Donovan http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13508 The Paradox of a Warrior’s Heart- Jack Donovan Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:52:06 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13508 [...] I’d re-post it here so I can find it again. A fellow going by Abject Man posted this as a response to my review of Sam Sheridan’s A Fighter’s Heart on The Spearhead. Here’s the paradox of the Warrior’s [...] [...] I’d re-post it here so I can find it again. A fellow going by Abject Man posted this as a response to my review of Sam Sheridan’s A Fighter’s Heart on The Spearhead. Here’s the paradox of the Warrior’s [...]

]]> By: Jack Donovan http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13503 Jack Donovan Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:36:49 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13503 Beautiful example, sir. I like it. And based on my experience and observations, mostly true. The visual of sissies pecking each other to death is priceless. Beautiful example, sir. I like it.

And based on my experience and observations, mostly true.

The visual of sissies pecking each other to death is priceless.

]]> By: Abject Man http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-13502 Abject Man Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:32:37 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-13502 @Jack Here's the paradox of the Warrior's heart: I remember the remarkable reasoning of German biologist (of the '40s) regarding doves and wolves. He observes, when rival doves are confined into a small space, they peck at each other do death. That's because they have evolved to be timid, and normally fly away to avoid conflict. So, he infers, they have not developed a sense of "mercy." Wolves, on the other hand, are fierce warriors. And yet, when a wolf exposes its neck to its rival during a fight, the fighting stops. He concludes, only those who know how to fight, i.e. who face the bloody consequences of a ruthless fight, develop a sense of mercy. Kind hearts belong to warrior types, not sissies. Sissies are, paradoxically, the most sociopathic and narcissistic. @Jack

Here’s the paradox of the Warrior’s heart:

I remember the remarkable reasoning of German biologist (of the ’40s) regarding doves and wolves.

He observes, when rival doves are confined into a small space, they peck at each other do death. That’s because they have evolved to be timid, and normally fly away to avoid conflict. So, he infers, they have not developed a sense of “mercy.”

Wolves, on the other hand, are fierce warriors. And yet, when a wolf exposes its neck to its rival during a fight, the fighting stops. He concludes, only those who know how to fight, i.e. who face the bloody consequences of a ruthless fight, develop a sense of mercy.

Kind hearts belong to warrior types, not sissies. Sissies are, paradoxically, the most sociopathic and narcissistic.

]]> By: Thumos and Gameness – A Fighting Spirit- Jack Donovan http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-12023 Thumos and Gameness – A Fighting Spirit- Jack Donovan Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:22:00 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-12023 [...] When Plato (as Socrates) introduces the concept in Book II, he compares a noble dog with a noble young man in defining the necessary qualities of a good warrior or “auxiliary”–the class from which his “guardians”  should ideally chosen from. This characteristic of thymos or “spiritedness” is closely related to the dog fighting term “gameness” explored in Sam Sheridan’s A Fighter’s Heart which I recently reviewed for The Spearhead. [...] [...] When Plato (as Socrates) introduces the concept in Book II, he compares a noble dog with a noble young man in defining the necessary qualities of a good warrior or “auxiliary”–the class from which his “guardians”  should ideally chosen from. This characteristic of thymos or “spiritedness” is closely related to the dog fighting term “gameness” explored in Sam Sheridan’s A Fighter’s Heart which I recently reviewed for The Spearhead. [...]

]]> By: Marquis http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-8348 Marquis Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:53:58 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-8348 this book is must read material for men in the current landscape. i've reread portions of hit countless times. he very concisely articulates the need for man to prove himself through adversity, regardless of the chosen avenue this book is must read material for men in the current landscape. i’ve reread portions of hit countless times. he very concisely articulates the need for man to prove himself through adversity, regardless of the chosen avenue

]]> By: Sociopathic Revelation http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-8230 Sociopathic Revelation Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:09 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-8230 "MMA now is just too bulls running headfirst into each other. That’s why guys like Brock do so well." Apparently, you've never seen Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, Fedor, or BJ Penn fight. Otherwise you wouldn't have made just a gross assumption like that. As a MMA hobbyist myself, I can attest takes more of a global set of skills and attributes more than just "too bulls running headfirst" as a strategy, especially with Muay Thai and groundfighting/grappling. “MMA now is just too bulls running headfirst into each other. That’s why guys like Brock do so well.”

Apparently, you’ve never seen Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, Fedor, or BJ Penn fight. Otherwise you wouldn’t have made just a gross assumption like that.

As a MMA hobbyist myself, I can attest takes more of a global set of skills and attributes more than just “too bulls running headfirst” as a strategy, especially with Muay Thai and groundfighting/grappling.

]]> By: Expatriate http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/11/04/gameness-on-sam-sheridan%e2%80%99s-a-fighter%e2%80%99s-heart/#comment-8132 Expatriate Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:23:06 +0000 http://www.the-spearhead.com/?p=1404#comment-8132 Those decrying MMA often have no clue & just go by superficial appearances or are caught up too much in boxing only mentality. Also they are mistaken if they think that MMA is some new fad, its nothing but the rebirth of Pankration which along with Boxing & Wrestling were part of the Ancient Olympics in Greece. I watch all combat sports including Thaiboxing, K1, MMA & Boxing. MMA is probably more safe than the others, the reason for that is since ground strikes are allowed the fights get stopped far sooner whereas in Boxing the guy gets a 10 count everytime he goes down & if he gets up he continues to take more blows to the head resulting in greater chances of brain damage or death. Also you can end fights with submission moves in MMA not just by pummeling the other guy. As far as I know there have been at most 3 deaths in MMA & 2 of them in unsanctioned fights. I agree with others comments UFC & North American MMA in general favoring stand up brawling though to appease the casual fans. In Japan the fans appreciate the groundgame & Pride used to have rules much more closer to true unarmed combat unlike the unified rules which don't allow soccer kicks, head stomps, pile drivers (Bob Sapp pulled this off in that epic fight against Minotauro) & knees to the head of a downed opponent. I prefer MMA because its the closest to pure unarmed combat but I like Boxing as well (Roberto Duran, JCC, Arguello & Pacman are my favorite boxers). Those decrying MMA often have no clue & just go by superficial appearances or are caught up too much in boxing only mentality. Also they are mistaken if they think that MMA is some new fad, its nothing but the rebirth of Pankration which along with Boxing & Wrestling were part of the Ancient Olympics in Greece.

I watch all combat sports including Thaiboxing, K1, MMA & Boxing. MMA is probably more safe than the others, the reason for that is since ground strikes are allowed the fights get stopped far sooner whereas in Boxing the guy gets a 10 count everytime he goes down & if he gets up he continues to take more blows to the head resulting in greater chances of brain damage or death. Also you can end fights with submission moves in MMA not just by pummeling the other guy. As far as I know there have been at most 3 deaths in MMA & 2 of them in unsanctioned fights.

I agree with others comments UFC & North American MMA in general favoring stand up brawling though to appease the casual fans. In Japan the fans appreciate the groundgame & Pride used to have rules much more closer to true unarmed combat unlike the unified rules which don’t allow soccer kicks, head stomps, pile drivers (Bob Sapp pulled this off in that epic fight against Minotauro) & knees to the head of a downed opponent.

I prefer MMA because its the closest to pure unarmed combat but I like Boxing as well (Roberto Duran, JCC, Arguello & Pacman are my favorite boxers).

]]>