What separates the great from the good?

 

Cus D'amato asked a young Mike Tyson what he thought it was that made Muhammad Ali great. It is true he had a great chin, was tall with fast hands, great footwork and a long reach, but this is true of many fighters and athletes. He was competitive he did not like to lose and would train very hard, again this also is not an uncommon trait among athletes. So what is it in a sport that puts the ultimate question to its combatants to fight or to flight that makes one rise up so high to surpass all his fellow competitive super athletes to be considered in his own league? D'amato said it was character, he told Tyson what separated Ali form the rest was his character.

What does this mean and how is is relevant to a casual enthusiast or a seasoned professional? Ali had the ability to dig down and come up with a way to win despite the obstacle in front of him, despite have major technical flaws and often facing fighters styles that were completely wrong for him. He could find a way to focus and adjust late in a fight, he was able to remain sharp and determined through any situation. What is it in his character that allowed him this determination to overcome adversity, to face challenges without and sign of self doubt, even if he may have felt it.
Buddha cautions us that thought will harden into character eventually, what was it in this young man’s upbringing that led him to be so oppositional, determined, irrepressible, stern self belief and such ingenuity against the odds? He never saw a man or an obstacle that he did not believe he was better or bigger than, and you would have to destroy every piece of him to prove him otherwise.

The practice of martial arts and boxing poses many questions that many men in our modern society may be more comfortable not facing. Cus D'amato told his students 50% of the battle was won simply by taking the long walk up to his boxing gym and facing these fears. The true benefit of this to someone is a greater understanding of themselves and how they manage there most basic cellular biology, the flight flight response. Next time you have the chance instead of looking at the fellow in front of you look within yourself and ask the questions of what is driving you, what or if anything is telling you to quit or making acceptable to slightly turn from fight to an all justified flight. As a final thought perhaps consider the  poetry that is; the boxer with the greatest elusive footwork with the ability to sail him out of harms way is in fact one of the most viscous and antagonistic fighters ever to lace up the gloves and is not rememberd for his amazing ability of flight, but his indominable ability to fight.