Issue 028
August 2007
Letter of the Month
Love your mag and really look forward to it each month. It’s great that there's a mag that not only covers the sport I love but the lifestyle that accompanies it. It gives your publication a depth that others lack.
Recently Grant Waterman’s articles on violence have particularly caught my attention. This is a criticism I have frequently heard levelled a both the sport and myself as an individual. I have found this criticism extremely frustrating, as I have always known that this isn’t the case, but have had difficulty articulating the true nature of what we do to those outside our circle.
A violent person as I see it, is an individual who attempts to force their own personal idea of the world onto others, be it psychologically, ideologically, verbally or physically. Sadly our world is full of them (although I have met very few in martial arts). That is the very reason that I, and many others I know started to train in the first place.
In life we are never in control of our environment but we are always in control of our reaction to it. We need to learn the skills to apply ourselves in violent situations, and combat sports are the ideal place to do it.
Inside the ring or the cage we can practice our skills and test ourselves in a controlled, respectful and positive manner, without losing the ability to distinguish “the knife from the wound”. No-one is forced. So where is the violence? The detractors of MMA don’t seem to be able to distinguish between a legitimate sporting contest, a pint pot in the face down the local or a brutal murder.
To these people I say; that if you have different methods of coping with the violence of life, then great if they work for you. However before you jump on your moral high horse and condemn my way of life, because it scares you. Think! Consider who the violent person really is in this situation. By attacking me (us) you are only contributing to the very same problem you claim to be addressing.
Regards,
Jonathan Santry, High Peak
I read Fighters Only Magazine every month and have it on order so I never miss a copy, It’s well written with very reliable sources and the photography is top class. Keep up the good work!
Ayresy, via email
Dear Fighters Only
I needed to write in to let you know that the greatest event in my life so far happened on a Monday night outside the White Hart pub in London. What was it? I was slapped across the face by none other than Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson!
The UFC champ tricked me and my friend into standing next to each other before slapping us both across the face like a sketch from the three stooges. Its not every day that you get a smackdown from a UFC champ while having a pint.
Keep up the good work, loving the magazine.
Paulie B, London
Hi there,
How good is the UFC getting? This year has been upset city, people getting knocked left right and centre! Belts swapping hands monthly, great viewing for the fans. My opinion is that Chuck should get his fight with Vanderlai Silver (not sure of the spelling), the fight that he has always wanted as his comeback fight, and then the winner of that gets a title shot against Rampage or Hollywood. I think this would be great viewing for the fans. What do you think?
Ollie, Middlesbrough
Hi Ollie,
We agree, things are getting very interesting in the UFC, and we have a feeling things are only going to get better.
From the forums
Godamn I just realised I sent George Foreman that e-mail without spellchecking, doh. Way to perpetuate the MMA’ers are thick myth!
Posted by the KeyboardGonzagaKick
Imagine Rickson Gracie, Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer in one person. Then make him bigger, blacker and hairier. That is Kimbooooooooooooo. . .
Posted by Jeff McFluffy
Not too long ago, long before the wave of degenerate XBOX playing teenagers called TUF fans, and 30 something year olds who ventured into MMA after their careers as highschool football players wained off (also called TUF fans/newbs), there was the concept of NHB, also known as NO HOLDS BARRED!
Posted by Timothy Hellfire
