White Belt Pride

I’ve always been kind of proud of my clean, white, belt.  I guess it has something to do with my base in kickboxing, and the fact that people would introduce me as a “black belt” because that somehow held more valor than the fact that I was just a fighter.  That, in combination with a bunch of different systems, self promotions, and expensive belt tests led me to this:  My growth has never been marked with tape, a new color of belt, or any other kind of promotion.  It is mine.  I’ve discovered my personal milestones only as I’ve reached them.  My white belt represents my freedom from any specific discipline, yet I can learn from them all.  I proudly own this humble symbol of "one who has a lot to learn."

I took my first Jiu Jitsu class this week.  It was humbling to say the least.  No one expects much from a white belt with no stripes… except me…I’ve been grappling for years and I’m pretty comfortable with ground fighting.  This was very different.  Not only does the gi prevent 90% of my game from working, but took me to a level of discomfort resembling claustrophobia.  In truth, I was only going to support the new “women’s class” and because I’ve been nagging my husband to get back into his gi.  What I found was a new challenge, a new way to push myself, and a new milestone in humility.

My motivation has always been intrinsic and I’ve given little thought to belts, championship or colored.  I just want to learn and grow.  I can’t let my pride in my white belt get in the way of that.

www.KatieCasimir.com

Not exactly sure what Shannon & I are doing here... But here I am, in a gi! 

Mirrors

Be careful when you look at your reflection.  There are mirrors that make you look small.  They can motivate you to become bigger, but can inspire self-loathing if you look too long.  There are mirrors that can make you look big.  They show you what is possible, but can seduce you into complacency if you look too long.  A glimpse is good, but remember it is a reflection of possibilities, not an accurate representation of who  you are… because you are awesome, not perfect, and exactly where (and who) you are supposed to be right now.  

The Culture of the Weight Cut

French Fighter: “I’m a man, I don’t need to cut weight to compete!”

American Fighter: “Be a man and get your ass in the sauna!”

Cutting weight is one of the most controversial aspects of weight class based sports.  If you’re not familiar, cutting weight is a process of rapid dehydration to put your body at its lowest possible weight, while maintaining your body mass.  This allows you to be larger than you should be, and should give you an advantage in competition.  The fact that everyone generally does the same thing means that we actually do it to negate a disadvantage.

When I tell people that I lose 10lbs in one day, they look at me like I look at parents that give their toddlers soda.  “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?  WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT?” I guess the idea of being “healthy” is a matter of paradigm.  I know cutting weight is bad for me, as is taking head trauma, and depending on who you ask, the list doesn’t end there…

I’m not exactly sure why fighters cut weight in the U.S. while Europe and Japan tend to fight in their natural weight classes.  I suspect it stems from our wrestling culture, and body building culture which seems to be inexplicably linked to MMA.  I can only speak to the American mentality, but having a French husband has caused me to take a closer look at something I’ve always just accepted as the way things are.

I think we all start out, to some degree, thinking like the French fighter.  Dieting is not fun, and done improperly can seriously derail your training.  Dehydrating yourself is even less fun.  Then there are the tragic stories of guys dropping dead on the scale, and the ones that didn’t make it that far…  Everybody in the gym has an opinion and advice, some of it’s helpful, some of it is horribly wrong.  Most of us would prefer to avoid all of that… in the beginning.

However, at some point, our paradigms shift.  First, you become aware that if you want to be competitive, it’s part of the game.  Then, you start to look for your advantages too.  It becomes something like picking up an accent or a style of dress, the culture becomes a part of who you are.  Some commit to the process kicking and screaming, some learn to embrace it, but everyone gets there eventually.

 For me, it’s extremely spiritual, a purification before battle.  It is a test of my strength and will, unparalleled even by the fight.  It’s a time you spend with those closest to you on your journey to the cage… No one else would brave those hours in the sauna, steam room, or hotel bathroom.  It’s a time of meditation.  My focus on my breathing and relaxing keeps my mind above the discomfort of my body.  It also distracts me from the anxiety of the coming fight.  Making weight is a battle of its own.

It’s always easy to judge the strange practices of another culture, but until you have immersed yourself in that culture, there is no way for you to truly understand.  I don’t glorify the process. I don’t ignore the dangers.  I am an adult who is capable of assessing both, and making my own choices, based on my cultural paradigm.

www.KatieCasimir.com

Dear Mark Hunt

Dear Mark Hunt,

Let me begin by saying, please don’t judge Jesus by the actions of Christians.  We mean well, but we mess up a lot.  I’m sorry for any animosity you have received, that’s not God, it’s our own fear and insecurity.  God doesn’t need us to defend Him.  He is God.  That being said, I feel compelled to share my own experience, I guess I can’t help myself.

No, I’ve never seen God.  He has spoken to me, and I can tell you what He sounds like.  He sounds like undeniable truth.  Like a thought more clear than anything you can think or know for yourself.  Most of the time when I pray (and I hate to publicly admit this), it’s something like chit-chat, a nightly requirement, like the days I show up to the gym, but my hearts not in it.  It’s not that I don’t want to get better, but some days I’m just going through the motions.  But then, there are times when my mind and my heart are clear, and I know I have a direct line.  In these moments He has responded in the most amazing ways.  Maybe that’s not enough to answer your questions, but it’s what I have if you’re truly curious about His existence.

Regarding the authors and the whereabouts of the transcripts of the Bible, I have another way to look at that.  I believe it is impossible to live without faith on some level.  We buy food that is labeled on faith.  We believe that the consequences for lying are so great that companies wouldn’t dare mislead us… We watch the news and accept that there is truth in what we hear… Even the most devout believer in the theory of evolution has to take a leap of faith.  Nonliving matter had to become the first amoeba somehow for the whole idea to work.  Last I heard they still don't have any evidence on that one.

I think believing the scriptures is something like the faith we put in everything else.  You have to interpret information, understand its context, do your own research, and find your own truth.  Just like when I clear my heart and pray, God gives answers.

I don’t know if I’ve helped at all, but I deeply respect you for asking the hard questions.  I’m happy you found the truth.

God bless,

Katie Casimir

www.KatieCasimir.com