September column from the excellent Jonathan Blaustein. Enjoy!
As a kid, I grew up on the martial arts/action movies of the 1980’s, and then went down the Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee rabbit hole in the mid-90’s.
Kung Fu movies are cool, without question, which is why Quentin Tarantino fetishized them so well in Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2. (Of course there was plenty of Samurai-movie-porn going on there too.)
I never thought I was the kind of guy who’d learn martial arts, as I punked out of studying Aikido a couple of times because it was too slow to be functional, and I was just plain lazy.
Now that I’m in my 40’s, a sneaky-powerful time of life, (truth be told,) I’ve settled into a Wing Chun Kung Fu routine that makes me stronger, and as it’s based upon Qi Gong, or Chinese moving meditation, it also helps chill me out.
My main training partner is the equivalent of a black belt who weighs 220 lbs. He can bench press 400, also knows Aikido, and is a power-lifting security guard, so dealing with him is a challenge each time.
But other than getting thrown to the mats a lot, (as ours is an aggressive style of Wing Chun,) I never get punched. Or kicked. We practice in a collaborative way, and almost all of the violence is hypothetical.
I get to have my cake and eat it too, as the martial arts style is flowing and fun, and the skills would likely, hopefully, probably translate in a street fighting situation.
Possibly. Probably.
Yes, Wing Chun is designed to be vicious, as we aim for the throat and the eyes, but still. I sweat a tiny bit, and my kit stays clean, as the English say.
But a few months ago, I started occasionally training Brazilian Jiujitsu too, as it’s the predominant art at the dojo where I study. (Kung Fu has a tiny following there compared to the house specialty.)
Since then, and this is only in 6 classes mind you, I’ve scraped my foot so bloody that took two weeks to heal, cracked my head on a dude’s hip bone during a takedown and almost passed out, sweated through my underwear, t-shirt and gi each time, gotten kicked so hard in the shin it brought up a welt, been tossed up and over someone’s head so I landed on my neck, and then, this week, of course, I got kneed in the balls.
People have rubbed their sweaty bodies over mine, many times, and crushed my windpipe in a choke out, my head in a pincer, and my elbow in an armbar.
To say this shit is brutal is perhaps over-simplifying.
I’ll take my Kung Fu over this Japanese-Brazilian hodgepodge every day of the week, though. It’s graceful, cool, and stylish, and I think it will work. (Probably.)
But without question, the new training is toughening me up. These guys like to bleed, (they say so openly,) and I’ve seen a dude carted off for injury twice in six classes.
(How do you like those odds?)
What I’m getting at is that in sports, winners need grit. They have to be mentally and physically tough. They need to know how to win ugly, and these rules hold true in almost all cases.
From football to American Football to MMA to basketball to rugby to swimming to speed skating.
Arsenal Football Club are still in so many ways a product of the Late-Wenger rot. It culminated with winter capitations in two consecutive seasons, and that ghastly run of away defeats in the first half of ’18.
It was clear to any and all that Wenger’s teams lacked mental toughness at the least, and physical toughness in many cases too. Credit where it’s due on those FA Cups, (in particular the Man City>Chelsea double,) but over the course of the Premier League season, and in the Champions League, Wenger’s team was as brittle as a piece of salt water taffy that’s been left in a closet for 8 years.
(Editor’s note: I wrote this article BEFORE the Petr Cech story dropped on Monday.)
Unai Emery’s first job was to instill some spine, and some guts, into Wenger’s team. At any given time, Guendouzi/Torriera and Sokratis are the only players on the pitch that didn’t play under Wenger.
In most cases, a coach with 7 games under his belt, coming in after a dude who held court for 22 years, and we’d all be patient. Especially after five wins straight.
Each to his own opinion and all, but I very much like what I see with the Emery-era-Gunners.
Sure, the lack of fluency is not exactly fun. The first half of the Everton game being a great example of flat football, no passes strung together, no quickness of movement.
Nada. I get it.
And sure, Everton cut through Arsenal multiple times and should have scored. But how many times do we say that about lesser opponents: they should have scored?
The truth is that only the big teams have the kind of clinical strikers and forwards that can score when the pressure is on. Most of the small-to-middling teams miss most of these chances against bigger opposition.
Time and again.
Arsenal, on the other hand, now have two players who can summon a moment of magic to win a game. (RVP was the last to do it consistently over a season, and Alexis for months at a time, but rarely more.)
Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have proven that they can make something out of nothing, and they will finish most of the presentable chances as well.
There is front-line talent on this team, a few truly exciting midfield prospects, and a defense that needs more athleticism and cohesion. But rebuilds take years for a reason, and you can bet that Raul and Sven will spend on the backline in the coming windows.
To respond to the Man City pasting and the close Chelsea away loss, in which the opposition showed off that “winner’s mentality,” Emery’s team went out and won 5 consecutive matches, including away in the North of England, and dispatched all comers.
Remember, this coach expressly said he’d rather win games 5-3 or 3-2 instead of 1-0, which means he’s not going to park the bus. But he also tipped off that he knew he didn’t have the defensive talent to run through the EPL ripping off clean sheets like I discard bandaids from my sweaty, bloody hand.
I like the winner’s spirit, and think that if these guys often play halves in which it looks like they’ve barely played together, and that they have a new coach, it’s because they’ve barely played together and they have a new coach.
Great teams build culture over time, and develop cohesion by working together over seasons, not weeks.
Unai Emery has taken a team of Wenger’s guys, who weren’t winning when they should, and now they are.
That is a huge improvement, out of the gate. The fluency and free-flowing football will come with time, but only if the wins keep coming.
Winning breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success.
Let’s see where it all stands in a month, as I think we’ll know a lot more then.
Make sure to give Jonathan Blaustein a follow here.
Also, jump on the damn pod, it needs your ears on it right away.
A caveat. Muslim hating Jews that Corbyn seems to dig.
Not Muslims per se. Just the ones that hate Jews and the rich.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/17/oh-bother-chinese-censors-block-winnie-pooh-meme-comparing-xi/
That’s the photo that sparked the Pooh ban Marko is talking about, for those of you interested.
Enter the Dragon is in my top twenty-five films of all time.
Predator.
Alien.
ET.
Mississippi Burning.
Jaws.
The Pelican Brief.
The Life of Brian.
Shaun of the Dead.
Hot Fuzz.
Dances with wolves.
Rush Hour.
Lethal Weapon.
The Silence of the Lambs.
Fistful of Dollars.
Gran Torino.
My Cousin Vinny.
The Fly.
ET.
Get out.
Die Hard.
The Hitcher.
The Untouchables.
Me, Myself and Irene.
Toy Story.
I am taking issue with his vile outbursts at the “rich” for earning, probably less that he is!!!
I’m going to go out on a limb here but i imagine when people like him and Bernie Sanders criticize the rich I imagine they’re talking proper rich not someone who earns up to 69,000 for example. Now I may be wrong.
Not to mention that he would see every Jew or person done well, probably taxed higher so he and his Muslim brothers can run wild over the country…fuck that
Is now the time you should be taking seriously guns?
No Shawshank or Pulp Fiction?
Michael must have been in a coma for 1994.
You’re not wrong! The point is I won’t defend the downsides of this system because they don’t deserve defending But I also see the good sides for what they are – and there are some This is the perspective that China taught me. I came here full of angst that ‘this’ is right and everything else is wrong and that if you don’t agree you’re one of the bad guys. A few years out here and I thought actually life does contain shades of grey, rather than just black or white – and the tribalism people have towards politics in… Read more »
The pelican brief and Rush Hour… Michael you crack me up
Spending a few years abroad living among different cultures will certainly provide a wider perspective.
Either that or China has Stockholm syndrome. Starting with his name.
Make it twentyeight.
Add Taken, Terminator, See No Evil -Hear No Evil, High Noon and my wife’s favourite, Dirty Dancing and that just about does it.
I’m from Islington/Hackney corbyn is seen by many as a local hero. He wants a fairer society, a society where the youth and young adults get a decent shot at making a decent life and also has bold ideas to tackle the awful housing and renting crisis we have in London with rates well and truly a joke. I would support the tories but they don’t support my age bracket or people from my background. They only care about rich people not even middle class people. The problem is rich people actually make a very small fraction of population, so… Read more »
Thirty.
Unless your a top banker or ceo voting for tories is like the turkey voting for Christmas
Dissenter
I think that you will find that Arsenal’s wage bill is considerably larger than that of Juventus.
If you discount Ronaldo their players are paid less than ours. The main difference is that they are probably paying wages tax free.
Italian Clubs have a long history of avoiding tax bills.
China you’re lucky that you live in a country where the regime is run by an okay dictator as opposed to a bad one. Is there such a thing as a good dictator? I get what you’re saying in a way I personally believe disagreements and discourse in politics is a good thing it keeps (or should) things moving always looking for improvements but I absolutely detest this tribalism that has taken over so many of the world’s political scenes. It’s not helpful
Marko If you can find evidence to the contrary, now is the time to use it. JC is a political agitator with no goal except pitting rich against poor, black v white and the Jews v everyone else. He is a self confessed cunt. I regret actually posting this as my blood is boiling at the thought of this antisemite getting into 10. But you know what…he probably will because 99% of this illiterate country will vote for him because they think politics are like X factor. And that’s why fat old, chain smoking carol with 5 of her blended… Read more »
London, nothing wrong with wanting a fairer society.- totally agree with your post.
Polarisation of politics is unhelpful to all. Wish there was some middle way….not available at the moment.
and my wife’s favourite, Dirty Dancing and that just about does it.
Why does your wife’s favorite film make it onto YOUR list? Man you funny
Star Wars
Jaws
Blade runner
Alien
Aliens
Apocalypse now
Hot fuzz
The Harry Potter movies
Pirates of the Caribbean
Wonderful, magical.
Smith Rowe better start tonight, the lad deserves a chance to prove his abilities.
Guns….this is one of those moments when you can’t be taken seriously….
Self confessed cunt….really?
There is a difference between disagreeing with the state of Israel’s actions and being an anti-Semite but not sure why I’m bothering to reason with you because you appear too far gone…
London gunner
The kids who are stabbing people to death don’t give a fuck about a thing.
Do not use money or lack of “opportunities” as an excuse for these animals.
I came for a “broken home” and have made myself a very good life. It’s no excuse I’m afraid. The scum will always rise to the top…as will the cream. Shame I have to share it with those people.
If you can find evidence to the contrary, now is the time to use it. JC is a political agitator with no goal except pitting rich against poor, black v white and the Jews v everyone else.
Sounds like you’re the one who needs the evidence. Guns I still can’t tell if you want to be taken seriously or not. Give us a Wengemery there will ya
Dale
What the fuck do you think you’re up to, guy? I didn’t say that, and I would never say anything like that.
And yet you’ve presented it as though I did say that, as though you were quoting me. Are you trying to trick people into believing that I said something I never said?
If so — and I don’t see any other explanation for what you’ve done there — you’re a straight up cunt, guy.
Guns
I don’t think he is an anti semite because he thinks Palestine should be recognised as a state.
Its better than the dodgy tory party who are in bed with the Israelis who are pretty much guilty of war crimes
Yeah am I an antisemite for being appalled when everytime a Palestinian throws a rock at an Israeli soldier they get taken out by a sniper? Just wondering.
Bamford
Okay, we get it. You don’t make more money than Charlie.
Stop throwing your poverty in our faces.
There are a lot of anti semites on here.
“I came for a “broken home” and have made myself a very good life. It’s no excuse I’m afraid“
Right but, with due respect, because you have done well from a “broken home” doesn’t mean that’s then the norm.
There’s overwhelming correlatory data supporting the diminished likelihood of achieving from such a starting point.
I’m not your friend guy.
I’m not your guy buddy.
Marko
No you are not.
Never address a comment of mine. And I will never address yours.
This ends here.
Bamford
You really cracked the case there with your analysis of what Dale did, though. Good job, guy.
Guns I take it back I don’t think you’re funny you might be a bit of an idiot. I can’t tell though because you just can’t be taken seriously. Is he a bit of a ragamuffin or a bit of a racist twat ah I just can’t tell
Shame no Nketiah tonight. Would much rather see him start than Welbeck
Marko
It makes no difference now whether I am funny or not…we cannot under any circumstance converse. We are obviously from very different political backgrounds.
It’s my fault for bringing politics into a football discussion. This is on me.
Marko, the best thing to do is for us to never initiate conversation.
Lol Sancho, what’s up with Bam, guy?
Michael24,
‘Is @VicVic @ victorious?
I’m confused.’
You should be confused. There is a limited supply of energy in your creativity, otherwise you would see that it would be so shallow of a guy whose name is Victorious on a blog to now choose the name VicVic to hide behind on the same blog. Would he not have chosen a name totally different?
And what happens to thinking that two people who share the same name have different variations of expressing the same name on a particular blog?
Michael
What ,no fever pitch….shame on you.
CC
I dont stab or attack people…therefore I am superior to them.
Not to mention my intelligence or house, or money that I’ve made or family I’ve made.
They are animals. And I don’t eat them. Shame.
Some of my faves off the top of my head- not in order
1. Bruce lee films
2. Star wars series
3. Lord of the rings series
4. Godfather series- especially number 2
5. Nacho Libre-
6. Gods must be crazy pt1
Why do 90% of footballers have headphones in when entering the stadia?
Why not a paperback book? Oh yeah…silly question. Doh.
And no, it’s not an audiobook. Dumb bastards.
Dale
Lol. Cheers.
The folks on here are hilarious, truly.
Guns
Ok…
But….ok…
CC
…okay then?
Good.
Team for tonight:
Starting XI: Leno, Lichsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Monreal, Elneny, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Welbeck
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Ramsey, Lacazette, Torreira, Kolasinac, Nketiah
We have a game less than an hour and people are talking politics here.
Why don’t you all find another way of making yourselves sad?
Here is for soccer.
Happiness,pls.
Good to see Kolasinac back in the fold, Monreal needs him to step up and be a threat
Marko, the best thing to do is for us to never initiate conversation.
Jaysus what a fanny. I don’t agree with you on Corbyn or on Muslims so therefore we should never speak to each other ever again.
Welbeck over Nketiah, good decision?
Bob N16
Yea I think so, Welbeck needs minutes and Eddie is getting them in the lowers.
Marko
Don’t twist my words re Muslims. You know what I meant.
We do t agree. Ergo, we leave it there. Ergo x2 we can’t get into one.
Let’s ogle at a distance.
The first 14 paragraphs were utter tripe.
Guns come one chill dude Marko is harmless on here. Let’s just get into the game tonight and end this nonsense, before I release Bamford on you both.
Only really interested in watching Smith-Rowe tonight.
Welbz with the header 1-0
We need to clone Welbeck’s head twice and then remove his feet and then stitch a head on each leg. He’d become awesome.
Well worked goal and a good header.
any kind person got a link?
Crimson
Google “Reddit soccer streams “
Crimson
Go to sportek.com. There you will find multiple links (including mobile friendly)
Guns of Hackney
You’re a tory cunt lol
thanks Joe and Nep
Looked a penalty for Iwobi.
Really want to get Guns of H banned from this site, for being a complete loser. Fed up of his twisted unfunny comments.
How can that not be a penalty? Iwobi even tries to stay upright.
Crimson
Have a word with Banford
best links on reddit
Guendouzi has bags of talent. Always looking for an incisive pass.
Isn’t there VAR for tonight’s game. Dean you twat!
Mike Dean is comical
for wat
We’ll finish this game with 10
Licht is great
We should be back to spanking crap like that with second teams
Licht is a proper defender.
If you miss the ball, don’t miss the man.
Love Lichsteiner yelling at Elneny.
3 players like Licht and we would rarely loose to lower teams
Oh my Mustafi fell all over himself there.
Wonderful goal played out of the back.
Great goal Welbz
Terrific goal.
AKB feeling uneasy …
Like old times.
Welbz 2-0….
It’s only Brentford…..BUT remember mitts forest last season….
Emery is no Wenger….
Lets hope a desperate team coughs out some money for Welbz in January.
AKBs will never be forgotten!…. Indeed they will used as examples of delusional behaviour in psychology classes.
Now only for some genius to come up with the idea of giving Welbeck a new deal.
First time this season that we’ve started how we mean to finish
on 80 k I would give him new deal
I like DW… but he is short of close control and accuracy…..but sometimes footballers work on their strong points and become better players.
Lichtsteiner is better going forward than Bellerin
as third cf/Lw
Watching Lichtsteiner play RB is so refreshing. If only he and Bellerin could swap ages.
Not really much to the first half. Mkhi has played well and has showed some good movement. Smith Rowe did alright, nothing that really stood out. Iwobi has been decent on the ball.
The 2nd goal started with Leno so was very impressed. You could see the buildup the entire way.
“best links on reddit”
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams/
https://www.reddit.com/r/footballdownload/
https://www.reddit.com/r/footballhighlights/
yeah first time it went perfect
“If you miss the ball, don’t miss the man.”
Playing hockey we were taught to “play the man, not the puck”.
I’m starting to think that Ozil-Mhiki-Iwobi might be the way to go
rollenSeptember 26, 2018 20:38:11
on 80 k I would give him new deal
__
He’s not even worth half of that.
Woaaah
Cutter. What a tough guy!!!
There’s no way Ozil deserves a forward role ahead of Welbeck. If we sub Mkhi and Welbeck for Ramsey and Ozil respectively, we’ll look 10x better.
Red commie
…and?
Yes I am a Tory. Rich. Well off. Intelligent. Educated. Made good. What of it…you fucking peasant?
Red truth? You treasonous bastard. Go die cunt.
Marko
And drop Aubameyang or Lacazette?? Get real. Bin ozil