At Elite we stress the importance of knowing the history of the martial arts that you’re studying. As varied as the individual histories are, the grandfather of sport martial arts is the Olympic Games. Boxing, wrestling, discus, and javelin were all directly related to methods of combat 2700 years ago, and the Olympics were a way to showcase athletes’ skills as well as to honor the gods.
Any martial arts fan or practitioner should have some appreciation and interest in the modern Olympic Games, and with streaming and the internet we’re now able to watch some of the less popular sports, when in the past they wouldn’t be televised at all (or if they were, they were on at three in the morning!). So be sure to check out wrestling, both Greco-Roman and Freestyle, Judo, Boxing, and Tae Kwon Do. Fencing, shooting, and archery are of course derived from combat as well. Pieces of wrestling, Judo, and boxing are represented at Elite in our kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Krav Maga and MMA programs.
Most Olympic athletes are examples of humans at their physical and mental best. They have enormous discipline for training their bodies and an ability to focus and handle pressure that is far above average. In America, the majority of people are fairly inactive after the age of 18. There aren’t as many opportunities to play team sports or to excel in physical endeavors like we did as children, so most give up, settling for the treadmill if anything. Martial arts gives us a chance to continue to find and surpass limits, physical as well as mental. We may not ever reach Olympic-level abilities, but we can use martial arts to find the best parts of ourselves.
On a personal level, I get goosebumps when I hear the Olympics’ theme music! For two weeks every four years people of all parts of the world come together to compete in a peaceful way and showcase the amazing physical abilities of the most gifted of our species. There are crushing defeats, soaring triumphs, and an awe-inspiring display of the human spirit. I tend to be cynical about the future of humanity, but for these two weeks I allow myself to be hopeful that we can overcome our nature, because the Games bring what’s best in people. Last night Jordyn Wieber rallied to lead the women’s gymnastics team to a dominating win only hours after the most crushing disappointment of her life. It would have been understandable if she had faltered in the team competition, but her teammates convinced her to come through for them and for her country. She did, and I admit I was misty-eyed just as those girls were as they proudly stood on the podium while our anthem played. Similarly, Michael Phelps was swimming for a record-breaking 19th medal in the 4×200 relay. His teammates were determined that Phelps, as the last one to swim, would have an easy time. They gave him an enormous lead, they won the gold, and Phelps made history. His teammates pushed beyond what they would do individually in order to help a teammate achieve greatness. These types of stories are seen throughout the games, and you can find a similar phenomenon at Elite; it’s present in everyday classes and tremendous at testing. The team unity, driving one another forward, picking each other up, encouraging everyone to do their best and then to push beyond what we thought were our limits…it’s truly amazing and inspiring to see. It’s why I love the Olympics and it’s one of the many reasons I love Elite.
Allow yourself to be inspired by the Olympic Games (choose to ignore the stories of the few athletes doping/cheating/tweeting!). Watch to discover the roots of martial arts and to witness a part of their legacy, and watch to gain inspiration to push yourself. They only come around once every four years, so make the most of it!
~Katie
Elite Training Center 1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net
