Punch-Kickery & Other Violent Urges

Mankind has a relentless appetite for violence.

We idolize action movie heroes and police dramas. We make television shows featuring violence, we have entire sports entertainment franchises which are built on the perpetuation of violence. There is something about it that we cannot get enough of. We are addicted to it. Real violence or fake violence, CGI, animation, first person, VR, The list of options for how you can consume your personal preference in you own genre of violence is seemingly endless.

I think Violence much like competition is something that is innately programed into our behavior as a species. We began competing before we could even speak real words or write real languages. In our most primitive stages we were competing with our environment for survival. Competition was engrained in our DNA. So too is this bloodlust engrained in our DNA. But is it truly a Lust for violence? Are we really addicts to violence?

Not Really. There are cases of individuals who have imbalances in their brains which make them crave acts of violence. Even disturbed or troubled people who use violence for no logical reason. These are not the people I’m referring too. I’m talking about the average person who randomly will have the urge to slap their coworker who wont just shut the hell up. Or the person who shouts and cusses about traffic even though there is nothing being angry will do to help the situation. These people aren’t slaves to violence, they’re human. Humans are violent animals.

I don’t mean that disparagingly, rather scientifically. As a species we evolved through using violence as tool for survival. As we evolved so did our ability to inflict violence. However Modern morality tells us that we should avoid violence. That we should curb our violent nature and seek out a more diplomatic and passive existence. But there is no reason to fight against your desire to fight. There is nothing wrong with looking for an an outlet for the violence. The modern wold has given us all of the tools we need to train our violent urges and use them to better ourselves.

Even if you have no equipment you always have your hands and your shadow. Every kid shadowboxes at some point, until they get made fun of, and then they never come back to it. Shadowboxing is the beginning of every fighters road. Learning the basics with nothing but yourself and your imagination is a great way to start. Picture an opponent who moves with you strikes at your speed and challenges you. Let your mind run wild with how you might slip your opponents shots or how you manage your third round knockout with a crafty combination. Be the star of you action movie. Once you’re more committed join a gym, buy a heavy bag, fill a duffel bag with clothes and hang it in your garage. Go punch something. Let the savage out.

Part of being human is being violent, and part of being a decent human is learning to control that violence. Discipline in combat sports, as in ALL things, is essential. Fighting is a survival instinct and it can be an amazing tool when used responsibly. When unchecked it can lead to ruin. But the road walked by warriors is rarely an easy one. If you strive to be strong then fighting is a skill which should be harnessed and mastered with discipline and humility.

Get after it.

God Bless.