A culture built on grit

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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.

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Champagne charlie

Guns

What period did you father serve?

Marko

Dare I say I actually thought we defended well tonight. Reduced them to a couple pop shots from distance and not much could be done about the goal there was too much pace on it for Leno who the only real criticism I’d have was he was a step too many to the right. Midfield still an issue but improvements are happening

Guns of Hackney

CC

Why?

un na naai

London gunner It’s nit ridiculous because the Jews were displaced from their home land. Why shouldn’t they take it back? They weren’t safe in Europe. They weren’t safe in the Middle East. They went safe I. Egypt The Romans persecuted them Fuck me what do you want from the people? They’ve been attacked and persecuted since before the times of Jesus and you still can’t leave them alone Making up rules as we go along like the 7th century doesn’t count or holocaust denial or pretending that Palestinians are peaceful and just want to get along. It’s nonsese. Pick up… Read more »

Jay

Cmon watford!

VicVic

Are most guys here drunk tonight?

This place can be so wrong atimes.

un na naai

CA

I think it was Churchill who said if by the time a man is 18 he does not vote liberal he has no heart, if by the time he is 30 he does not vote conservative he has no brain.

One of my favourite quotes

rollen

lol dont be stupid I am Polish. Noone will ever prevent us from talking bollock. I lived in London 11 years. Know ppl of religion and races. Just adnit to being drunk and thick and go sleep.

azed

Watford on Saturday would be tough.

No passengers(Ozil and Ramsey)

rollen

London you are wrong. Most places going right wing hard.

Cesc Appeal

Guendouzi gave away a stupid foul that led to their goal but I thought he was tidy for the most part. He does seem to have an untidy spell though. That foul was at the end of a little period of time where he was sloppy. Arguably his age.

I would give Holding a little run now as well until he proves he cannot handle it.

Monreal was also great I thought, looked pacier tonight. Maybe Brentford were just slower?

Bamford10

Again, this Un na guy is so ignorant. It’s painful.

Guns of Hackney

CC

Late 60’s through 70’s. Served in Africa and Cyprus saving the Greeks from the Turks killing loads of turks. Northern Ireland. Mau mau in Africa.

Champagne charlie

Guns

I’m curious, you’re unashamed so you say, and happy to talk about crass events. Why wouldn’t you reveal when?

Marko

Lichtsteiner or Iwobi motm

un na naai

London

I agree that a two state solution should be the only way but only one side will come to the table.
Anyway
It’s nit my battle. I just feel the Jews and Israelis get an unnecessarily hard rap from comfy fat arsed westerners who wouldn’t know hardship if it bit them on the arse
Funny how it’s always the liberals who back the anti liberals of the Middle East though?!

rollen

good game few new faces. someone just make Stan give Emry some big $$$$$

Guns of Hackney

C C

I did. Late overlapping posts.

Marko

Again, this Un na guy is so ignorant. It’s painful.

It’s Don. Try as he might to be someone else the Don in him just shines through

un na naai

Again, this Un na guy is so ignorant. It’s painful

Care to teach me a lesson Bamford? Other wise shut up ya pansy

nepGunner

What a shitload of time wasters here talking politics when an Arsenal game is underway. I could understand if there was no game on. Tossers. Get a WhatsApp group and do your shit there 6 in the trot. But the clean sheet still eludes us. I personally think, Leno could have reacted a littler quicker but credit where its due, it was a great freekick. Just the right height and great pace behind it. All three goals we scored today were fantastic. First, a goal from a corner! In the past, it was merely a hoof into the opposition D.… Read more »

Cesc Appeal

I thought our tempo was better tonight as well, until we let Brentford back in the game. Passing it around faster, we pressed faster as well and were more direct.

nepGunner

What a shitload of time wasters here talking politics when an Arsenal game is underway. I could understand if there was no game on. Tossers. Get a WhatsApp group and do your shit there 6 in the trot. But the clean sheet still eludes us. I personally think, Leno could have reacted a littler quicker but credit where its due, it was a great freekick. Just the right height and great pace behind it. All three goals we scored today were fantastic. First, a goal from a corner! In the past, it was merely a hoof into the opposition D.… Read more »

Samesong

Un nai is Don the Wilshere lover.

crimson

#banGoh
he has nothing worthwhile to say

Cesc Appeal

———————Cech——————–
Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding, Monreal
—————–Guendouzi—————–
—–Torreira—————–Xhaka——-
Mkhitaryan————————–Iwobi
———-Lacazette/Aubameyang——–

That’s what I would go with this weekend.

Samesong

Watford expecting a difficult game but we will pull through.

Champagne charlie

Guns

I see that, why the apparent jubilation at killing loads of Turks? Comes across in incredibly poor taste.

Not a fan of the military clap back about “fighting for your rights” blah blah, borders aren’t real, countries are a societal invention, patriotism is often unevolved tribalism.

You’re English because your mums fanny happened to be here when you bounced off the tile. The rest is indoctrinated rubbish frankly

Marko

I believe Holding deserves a run at CB he’s done well he looks more comfortable than Mustafi

Jamie

Don –

“Care to teach me a lesson Bamford? Other wise shut up ya pansy”

Lesson #1: ‘Otherwise’ is all one word.

Probably went to school in Hackney before dropping out like everyone from Hackney does. Absolute shithole.

crimson

couldnt agree more nep…
is welbz worth another deal?

rollen

sign him on cheap

Marko

You’re English because your mums fanny happened to be here when you bounced off the tile

Not really one to lol at someone but that’s a good un right there

un na naai

I have been saying to play welbz and iwobi more often. Along with Mkhitaryan.

Ozil and Ramsey being properly shown up by our subs.

Jay

Cesc I’d have iwobi in for ozil, but unfortunately i can see emery starting ozil again.
Enjoyed seeing licht having a proper go at the Brentford player for diving, haven’t seen too much of that from arsenal players over the last few years.

london gunner

un na naai Look both sides have done bad Israel and Palestinians have played the war criminal at various points. Cesc In the last general election, the youth voted for Corby in hordes. It’s a fact. I don’t know your situation, but coming from Surrey I wouldn’t be surprised if straight out of uni your parents cough up the dough for your deposit for your house. It’s alright for some, but most of us don’t have that kind of backing financially. Hence why we would prefer someone like Corbyn who would back more council housing, lower rent caps and impose… Read more »

Samesong

There’s been some classics tonight. That was CC and Jamie.

gnarleygeorge9

Have spurs moved to White Elephant Lane yet. Blimey, they didn’t take this long to finish the pyramids in Egypt!!

Jay

Brentford were up for this game, they kept going till the end

Cesc Appeal

Jay One of my big worries in the summer was that Ozil would just get played no matter what because of that f*****g stupid deal we gave him. I would imagine one of Emery’s targets is to get Ozil playing, or make the side work with him in it. Arsenal have no future with Ozil in the team, no top side would take him unless they are in a league they dominate. I could really only see PSG taking him out of the top teams. We have to improve our midfield going forward, that means getting rid of Ramsey and… Read more »

rollen

its funny , in Vancouver Surrey is a shithole area.

Guns of Hackney

CC

Well actually my mother’s ‘fanny’ is Jewish and fathers winkle is Irish and I was born in Hackney, east London.

Father was in the military killing loads of ‘enemy of the state’. Yes, even back then they hated us.

Mostly
(Silly)
Orible
Suck
At
Driving

Champagne charlie

Jay

Thought Brentford knocked it about lovely at times. Not quite got the quality in the end, but they’re doing things the right way and will have a good season I reckon

nepGunner

Crimson

Personally I don’t rate Weblz too much and think we can bring in a young talent in much lesser wage. He lacks a great first touch and most times his decision making leaves much to be desired. But currently he is fitting he bill of a good squad player doing the job in lesser cup competitions and maybe Unai can improve him over time. But his wage for me is a key issue IF we decide to give him a new deal.

Cesc Appeal

London You state you don’t know my situation, and then proceed to make a massive, and massively wrong I might add, assumption about me. I’m not from Surrey either. But obviously being left wing don’t let facts get in the way of your arguments. You didn’t answer my question anyway, like a left wing type you went straight for me and not the substantive issue. Students vote for Corbyn because they are idiots with no life worries and too much time on their hands. When life bites they drop all this illogical ideals and virtue signalling and become adults. That’s… Read more »

Guns of Hackney

Jamie

You’re a snivelling little runt. I will find you…and I will kill you. I have a particular set of skills.

un na naai

London gunner

The Jews had no home. No safe haven. They were displaced for 1400 years and in that time their people were continually and brutally massacred wherever they went.

I’m sorry but the history of the Jews and the Muslims are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

Jews are the most oppressed people in history along with the Africans. I just don’t understand how this escapes people.

un na naai

Goh

Fuck me mate, calm it down.

Champagne charlie

Guns

What’s with the shite acronyms for the Israeli intelligence agency? That your dads old stomping grounds? Literally….amirite

Marko

You’re a snivelling little runt. I will find you…and I will kill you. I have a particular set of skills

Guns is back to being the class clown it’s okay guys he’s not serious anymore.

Sancho Monzorla

I was pretty sure GOH was just taking the piss for the most of today but that last comment pretty much assured me of it. I commend him for sticking to the bit as long as he has.

Otherwise he has just threatened murder in a very silly way.

Guns of Hackney

Un

Oh, it escapes people because they are deniers. Amazingly, there are loads of people that think that 6,000,000 humans just vanished.

Don’t ever trust these people. Ever.

They will argue it. Deny it and excuse it but do not EVER trust them.

un na naai

You just sound bitter and resentful at other people’s success. I’m breathing, give me things. The war cry of the left.

Haha
It’s true. Don’t forget corbyn’s ace up the sleeve, “free” tuition. He bought votes and still lost. Turned up at Glastonbury preaching inclusion to middle class mummy’s boys about inclusion and class wars.
Do me a favour. The least diverse crowd in Great Britain

Marko

Jews are the most oppressed people in history along with the Africans. I just don’t understand how this escapes people.

Eh… are you for real… people know…the Holocaust saw to that.

Bamford10

“Palestine” is the historical name for the region that is today divided into Israel and the occupied territories (the West Bank, Gaza). “Palestine” is what the Greeks and Romans called the region, “Palestine” is what the British & western powers called the region when they created the “British Mandate for Palestine” after WWI, and “historical Palestine” is how historians refer to the region when talking about it. In short, “Palestine” and “Palestinians” have existed for millennia, even if there is no modern state at the moment called “Palestine”. To suggest that there is no Palestine or no Palestinian people is… Read more »

nepGunner

GOH

This is a wrong blog for your skill set. Please find a correct forum in the black web and do one.

crimson

Great mind thinks alike, He does a job for the team and seems to be happy with his role in the squad at the moment, but dont want to let him go for a free at the end of the season.

Nelson would take his place (or another signing – like Sarr, bailey etc)

Jay

Cesc yea that deal, when i heard about i couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t the slightest bit surprised though. Worst bit of business since selling rvp to manure. For me, ozil, ramsey, xhaka, mustafi and bellerin. Once they have been replaced, we can start challenging again.
Emery will need at least 3 windows to sort this squad out, how much money he’ll get is altogether another issue.

raptora

Liam Neeson would be proud.

In another story aren’t red cards given for the Carabooboo cup carried to the EPL games? If so, Watford have just lost Kabasele (I defender that has the quality to play for Arsenal) and that would be a massive loss for them.

Champagne charlie

Oh ffs Banfords had a butchers at Wikipedia and is now ready to drop knowledge bombs..

Guns of Hackney

Nep

It’s not my skill set, is it?

Jamie

Guns –

You got it. Dress smartly, try not to make it obvious you’re from Hackney or I’ll know it’s you. Best not say too much either.

I’d come find you, but Hackney.. No thanks.

un na naai

Crimson

Who’s that? Welbz?

crimson

ohhh and more racist views from guns on a arsenal forum?
fucking hell

Champagne charlie

Fuck me i was taking the piss…… the cunt really has just cited Wikipedia!? 😀

Hahahahaha Harvard my nutsack, maybe some special ed programme they had going for a summer. Do me a favour lol

Bamford10

No, Charlie, I’m posting that for the benefit of others. I read books. You should try it sometime. I do find Wikipedia helpful, though, as do most intellectually curious people these days.

Jay

Cc they played well, could have easily knocked out a lower prem side on that display.

un na naai

Oh ffs Banfords had a butchers at Wikipedia and is now ready to drop knowledge bombs..

Hahahah

Let me hit you with some knowledge
No one makes me bleed my own blood

Marko

They will argue it. Deny it and excuse it but do not EVER trust them.

I’ve only ever known far right wingers and neo Nazis to deny the Holocaust.

Guns of Hackney

Jamie

I’ve no idea what your talking about. I do not live there anymore. Nor does my father or my mother. You’re quite safe.

Jerk.

Sancho Monzorla

Bamford

It’s a good thing you’re an American teacher and not a police officer. You would have definitely shot someone by now with how itchy your trigger finger is.

un na naai

Hahahahaha Harvard my nutsack, maybe some special ed programme they had going for a summer. Do me a favour lol

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Cesc Appeal

Jay Completely agree. With the new Adidas deal he should have more, if we get UCL he will have more and the ability to tempt bigger names as well. Kroenke has never stopped us spending, and from my limited knowledge of US sports both The Rams and The Nuggets are two teams on the up so he might get the competition itch. The thing is we need to spend smarter, we spend £70 Million more a year on wages than Spurs and does it show? I think with Adidas and UCL this summer coming we should have about £140 Million… Read more »

Marko

Also am I understanding this properly guns your dad is Irish but also worked for Mosad?

Champagne charlie

“No, Charlie, I’m posting that for the benefit of others. I read books. You should try it sometime.“

Jeeeez.. Serious question for a change, do you genuinely think you’re smart enough to throw your weight around like that to strangers? I mean honestly speaking do you think you’re more intelligent than me?

un na naai

Marko

Muslims and lefties do too. And conspiracy theorists
And lots of French
You never heard of La quanelle?
Look it up
Anelka used to do it as a goal celebration. Was a sign to signify holocaust denial.

nepGunner

Crimson

Yes. We could promote a promising youngster (or buy a new outstanding young striker in lower wage) and buy that goal-scoring winger we desperately need using the fund from Welbz sale. I just don’t see Welbz cutting it in the highest level..so what’s the point of him?

crimson

not sure if hackney queen has a set of skills?
apart from trolling, uneducated views and his bigoted values.

but anyway PLease lets talk football and aresnal..?

Guns of Hackney

Marko

Read back on some of the comments. You’ll see a few people who are pro Palestine and also a few deniers.

Left wing socialist deniers.

Sancho Monzorla

Charlie

He has at least admitted he makes less money than you.

Champagne charlie

Jay

Yea they would have for sure, a couple clear cut chances and i think they could’ve summoned the nerve to topple us even. Tidy side

london gunner

Cesc It’s not rocket science we vote for the party that best represents our interests. It’s easy having your opinions because you’re from a privileged background. You are voting in your interest, by voting for May. The problem I have is that your ilk are the minority and no government should be elected to serve that basis. Any government place should be there to represent the majority of people, otherwise its not a true representative. I wouldn’t even class myself as left wing more middle wing. Lower taxes for the middle class, introduce rent caps and stop these foreign bastards… Read more »

Marko

Read back on some of the comments. You’ll see a few people who are pro Palestine and also a few deniers. Left wing socialist deniers.

I have seen no one on here tonight deny the Holocaust.

un na naai

London gunner

Agree wholeheartedly

DM

Gosh I’ve just had a look at comments and it’s not what I was expecting! I’m not going to comment much on this debate, but one thing I do want to clarity Bamford- I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood the information you looked at. You’re right that Palestine was the name given to the country now know as Israel. But now think about that. It was just its name, because it wasn’t called what it’s called now. Therefore, ANYONE who lived in that country before it was called Israel was a ‘Palestinian’. So all the Jews, Christians, etc – anyone who was… Read more »

Champagne charlie

London
Here here.

Guns
You just like Bond movies and such don’t you, dad probably owns a falafel stand called Mossad. Am i warm?

crimson

hmmm., but let him go for a free? seems crazy to me

Ramsey (who has been shite this season so far) ? there is another conundrum..
i know this debate has been discussed before but still

Guns of Hackney

Marko

My father is Irish and worked for the British. He was in the military. Lots of different military. Being Irish and fighting for the brits makes you a bit of a target do you go where people hate you the least and Israel was one place.

My mother is Jewish and by association, I am too. Her father was Jewish and fought against Franco in the cival war.

un na naai

Anyway

6 wins in a row
Up the arse!!!

Danny

Stick around DM, the fun is just starting……

nepGunner

GOH – You just threatened a murder on a football blog. Now it doesn’t matter whether it was in a jest or for real, it’s just not right. So yea, please go to a proper forum and hawk your skillset as loud as you wish to.

crimson

Blimey now the silly messiah of first posts is getting involved… this is arching into comedy.

stewart lee would be proud

Marko

Yeah I think you’re full of shit guns

mysticleaves

“GOH — tell us more about how many brown people your daddy killed.”

Says the idiot Alex Cunter who spends his lunch breaks stereotyping Africans. Cynthia

london gunner

I really shouldn’t have opened the Israel can of worms. We could argue all day about who is right and wrong out of the two parties. I try and take an impartial view. One that they have both wronged each other and both have a legitimate stake to that land. It a shame though, if Palestine and Israel actually agreed on a two-state solution it would lead to a huge economic boom in that area and a better standard of life for all, but people are too hung up on tribal prejudices and past beef to actually make the world… Read more »

Guns of Hackney

Nep

It wasn’t a threat.

Cesc Appeal

London Why do you keep making assumptions about me? Why do you think I’m from a privileged background? Does that not show how myopic your thought process is, do you not think? You are obsessed with the person arguing against you, that from your point of view they are character flawed and so there arguments are invalid due to having an erroneous perspective. You’re free to think what you want, it’s not my group that regulates thought and speech. Look closer to home for that. I’m just telling you, if you think the ‘future is left’ you’re probably going to… Read more »

Joe

Un

You’ll see in 41 days that trumptard was nothing but a mistake. He’s will be nothing but a comedy footnote in history.

As yesterday showed the whole world is laughing at trumptard

Hilary was the worst choice for the Democrats to run. Anyone else and trumptard would not have fun

The democrats lost that election( not by popular vote) trump didn’t win it

crimson

am i being silly? have i gone to the wrong forum?
This is an Arsenal blog?

mysticleaves

Ismailia Sarr,
Nicholas Pepe,
Leon Bailey,
Julian Draxler

Who would you all choose? I have to say apart from Julian Draxler, I haven’t consistently watched others in real time so k have used YouTube mostly and I would pick Nicholas Pepe