The Soldier vs. The Fighter

THE SOLDIER vs. THE FIGHTER

The solider goes to war; he is prepared to enter death.  The solider is not there to entertain; he is engaged in real warfare.  The fighter is not engaging in real war, he is there to entertain; there is no risk of death.  The solider has a high risk of death.  The solider has real courage.  The fighter has false courage.  The solider is not playing a game; it is life or death on the battlefield.  The fighter is a toy solider, he is playing a game, and the game is inside a boxing ring or cage.  The fighter is a fake solider. 

The real solider may never come back from war.  The war is real.  The fighter will always be alive after the match; it is a fake war between him and just one other person.  The solider is not just fighting one person, the solider is fighting hundreds if not thousands of enemies in an uncontrolled spontaneous environment.  The fighter is just fighting one person in a controlled environment.  You cannot watch a solider engage in real war and be entertained like it is a Hollywood movie, all wars can only be told by stories.  You can watch a fighter in front row seats and be entertained while this fighter is engaging in a fake war. 

THE REAL MARTIAL ARTIST

The Martial Artist is more likened to a solider than a Fighter.  A Martial Artist prepares to engage in real war on the streets, he is prepared to enter death.  The Martial Artist is not there to entertain when fighting on the streets, he is engaged in the real war for survival, there is great risk of death.  The Martial Artist has real courage, he is not playing a game, it is life or death on the streets.  The Martial Artist may die a real death; like Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee, 2pac, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., the war is real.  The Martial Artist is not fighting just one person, the Martial Artist is fighting for the greater good, they are fighting against corruption in the Martial Arts, against corruption in the government, against racism, against the Nazi’s.  The Martial Artist is fighting hundreds if not thousands of enemies in an uncontrolled spontaneous environment.

Ten Thousand Ripples Project

If you checked out YouTube this week you’ll see that Sifu discovered the Buddha statue on Howard Street. Ironic, right? Well the statue looked familiar, so I was curious to do some reading…

The placement of these Buddha head statues is actually a movement called the “Ten Thousand Ripples Project,” in which public art's placed in high violence neighborhoods within Chicago to spark conversations of peace & violence. There should be about 10 more coming to Rogers Park, one closer to us that I’ve seen is our good ol’ after work out spot at Sol Café! (inside the entrance)

I was actually quite surprised to hear they've placed statues at my home neighborhood Albany Park. I never considered my neighborhood to be one of high crime, but when I think back to high school I remember the few friends I knew in gangs, and being exposed to their life. Thankfully I grew out of those people , and getting older I realize how blind I can be to feeling like it no longer exists in my neighborhood. It may no longer be part of my life now, but I can only imagine the many teens who haven't.

The next time you see another statue...Stop and be aware. There's a reason why the placement was made. Not all are placed on public streets as the one on Howard, but many are quite discrete. I have yet to encounter any in my neighborhood, so it looks like I’m keeping my eyes peeled so I can start my scavenger hunt! haha

Thanks to Sifu looks like word about the ripple is passing on. Now, thousands more to go?! :-)