MMA Changed My Relationship With My Own Body
How I and my body became friends
To start this right, I never had problems with my body. I mean, as I teenager I enjoyed wearing big unisex T-shirts instead of tight clothes. But I never felt I am too thin or too fat or too anything.
In fact, did not think about my body at all. It was just there. I did not show much of it and I definitely did not think of it as something that would empower me. It was simply my body, my +1.
Chest to chest, crotch to crotch
When I started training in MMA, things changed rapidly. In very unexpected ways. If you don’t know, MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts. With my first MMA class, all taboos fell off.
I remember how I found myself kneeling in the middle of the crotch of my male partner, quite amused.
You see, in MMA the contact is very close, you can say even intimate. But for something so intimate, as opposite as what you would expect, nobody really cares! You are tall or small, fluffy or skinny, nobody cares.
“What is your weight?” is a very common question. It never happened to me that anyone would make fun of it. Instead, it is a needed practical knowledge: “OK, so you are lighter/heavier than me, so wrestling with you is (not) similar to my actual fight weight class.”
And that’s it! You are 90 kg? OK, so here, work with heavier people.
My mom’s secret dream came true
Another thing that comes hand in hand with close contact training is clothing: You need something tight, so your partners' fingers and feet don’t get caught. And suddenly, I started wearing leggings.
My mom was astonished!
“Finally you wear clothes like a girl!” She exclaimed while I was pinned under other people in the gym, who were hitting me in the face.
In fact, I own too many leggings now! And I love them. When I look back, I think I kind of felt too naked wearing them before, but didn’t think about that twice. Now, I just want to be comfortable in my clothes!
Feeling good in my skin
One day, I looked in the mirror and I realized I have muscles.
They just appeared overnight.
OK, maybe not that quickly, but as I did not have any specific positive relationship with my body, I did not have the need to examine myself. But now, I caught myself — I liked my body!
I know people are scared that they will become too masculine and big when they work out. I must assure you, that did not happen at all. But my body got firm, toned, and enabled me to do things.
I realize my body is amazing! It changed so that I can train, and it supported my training needs. I felt healthier, stronger, and more comfortable. I felt totally empowered.
MMA gave me a lot, aside from a purpose and happiness, it made me feel comfortable in my own skin! And that was just the beginning of the entire journey I am on now…
