» A Trip to the Mixed Martial Arts Gallery By Mark Hatmaker

A Trip to the Mixed Martial Arts Gallery By Mark Hatmaker

Recently a person skilled in their given art chose the receiving of a gift ceremony to cast aspersions and wax philosophic regarding matters that had nothing to do with her given craft, the gift received, or even to offer advice to those aspiring to do what she does so well. Free people being free, she gets to do this.

What anyone thinks of any given subject lives or dies in the quality of thought espoused, not on their personal reputation. The wise can say foolish things at times, and occasionally a fool will mouth profundity.

I would like to quibble with the narrow definition of artistry and correct what seems to be a dismissive evaluation of folks in the Mixed Martial Arts world.

I will take one single bout, not even the best bout there is, but a damn good one all the same and put it to the artistry test.

Edson Barboza vs. Gilbert Melendez.
I have chosen a bout with no KO and no tap-out, a fight that goes the distance, it’s not even a championship bout, and expresses why in the eyes of this viewer I still witnessed art.

First, and foremost, I offer something that never makes the tale of the tape, these two men are stand-up guys, that is good men, good sportsmen, who had good regard for each other at the end of each round. That always does my heart good, it moves me, just as passages from Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” can.

These two warriors brought it every step of the way. Their conditioning was top-notch and neither gassed or attempted to hedge. They fought full-on with their hearts wide-open just as I seem to detect in the Essays of Montaigne, meaning full-throated honesty. Whether on the page or in the cage is either heartfelt expressed earnestness any less artful?

Edson Barboza landed spectacularly punishing leg kicks again and again and again and Gilbert Melendez received them with the aplomb of a master thespian. Even when the leg was literally swept from beneath him by sheer dint of power his face did not belie the pain we know he must have been experiencing. Is this bit of feigned nonchalance no less [if not more] impressive than any actor pretending to be in pain or mockly expressing Stoic resolve in countless Hollywood scenarios? Are they not both artful expressions of illusion?

We marvel at comedians, jazz musicians, and a scant handful of actors who are able to improvise on the fly, to create something out of the chaos or nothingness in the gap before them. Barboza and Melendez stepped into that ring with no script beyond the plot-line of “one you is destined to win, do what you will.” I fail to see how split-second reaction to what is in front of you is any less lauded than the skillful execution of what has been carefully scripted for you by someone else.

And lastly when it was time to honor the winner, neither the winner nor the loser used the opportunity to lash out anyone present or not present. Both Mixed Martial Artists displayed the same grace of character that they did under fire. Is not forging a noble character the most difficult job of all? Is not being the best human you can be an expression of the greatest artistry?

If we lack the art of constructing the self the less art we are able to recognize in the world around us. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I see beauty in the physical performance of these two men, as I have seen in the physical performance of the actress in question.

I also see beauty in grace of character, I saw it in these two men in that bout, I see no beauty in aspersions cast by anyone from any bully pulpit.

Elitism is never becoming. Smugness is no art.

One thought on “A Trip to the Mixed Martial Arts Gallery By Mark Hatmaker”

Carl Pope says:

February 14, 2017 at 4:04 pm

Amen_after a careful thought/thru, I totally agree w/outlook/relavent/reality. On point, great expression of point/view_ I admire your expression of the FACTS_stay safe, be blessed_Peace

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