The Combative Sports

I enjoy watching mixed martial arts. Of all the combative sports, that one holds my interest best. When I first started watching, I would look at both fighters and conclude the bigger guy was going to win. I noticed that I was often wrong. In the adrenaline-fueled world of mixed martial arts (MMA), victory often hinges on factors beyond size and strength. It was always interesting to watch a fighter get beat terribly, survive the round on sheer grit, go back to his corner and listen to his coaches. It was amazing and exciting to see him use that analysis, return to the fight and defeat his opponent. It’s often said that politics ain’t beanbag. And like the combative sports, if you want to stay in the ring, octagon, or legislature, you must adapt and overcome your setbacks.

In life, as in combat sports, the mantra “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” has permeated our society, from parents at children’s sports events to the political arena. While winning is undeniably important, the true test lies in how we handle defeat. In the MMA, politics, and life, losing with grace is not just about shaking hands with opponents; it’s about the internal process of accepting loss, analyzing mistakes, and initiating a path to success.

Don’t just tell me what I did wrong.  Tell me what I did right. And then tell me what I did wrong and give me examples of how I can improve to accomplish that task properly next time.  There’s a nuanced approach to analysis — it should focus on improvement rather than a beatdown.

Analyzing a defeat is essential, regardless of the context. Whether it’s a high school football team suffering a 42-0 loss or a surprising 42-0 victory, the importance of understanding the underlying factors are critical.  Was the other team really that bad? Are we really that good?  The winning team might want to think about that before their next game. They could be up for a terrible disappointment. Success or failure, a proper analysis provides valuable insights for future endeavors, preventing complacency in the face of victory and offering hope after a devastating loss.

In today’s society, the fear of failure seems pervasive. Like a superhero movie, every endeavor is treated as a battle to the death, with success deemed paramount – Earth is in the balance! Life,however, is much like a game of billiards.  All is never lost.  No, you just misplayed the eight ball and scratched.  Think about what you did wrong and rack’em for another game.  Life always goes on, and the ability to handle failure with resilience is a skill worth cultivating.

We’ve all seen the memes that circulate social media telling us of successful people who failed – sometimes repeatedly – before finding great success.  Numerous examples from history underscore the power of bouncing back from failure. Thomas Edison, initially dismissed as incapable of learning, went on to revolutionize the world with his inventions. Richard Nixon, after a humbling defeat in 1960, staged a remarkable comeback in 1968. J.K. Rowling, amidst personal struggles and multiple rejections, wrote the iconic Harry Potter series and became one of the wealthiest women in history.  

The aftermath of the 2020 election provides a political parallel.  The Republicans never really conducted a proper autopsy because of the distractions surrounding President Trump.  If they had, they might have realized that while they lost the Executive branch, they picked up seats in the House.  More than a few of the far-left Democrats got voted out.  This should’ve made them think.  And this same information should get the Democrat Party thinking about more than just defeating Trump.  Is there a potential problem brewing for the Democrats?  Are the Republicans missing a political opportunity?  Is ANYONE conducting a reasoned analysis of this??? From my perspective, it doesn’t look like it because they appear to be making the same mistakes again.  ​​

Yeah, like it’s often been said:  ‘politics ain’t beanbag’.  Politics is often likened to a no-holds-barred contest, but it’s also not the existential threat some perceive it to be. The “Flight 93” mentality, suggesting every election is a do-or-die moment, obscures the fact that there will always be another election.  Are they learning what they did wrong if they failed this past election?  

When you believe that winning is ‘the only thing’, what are you gonna do when you lose?