by P.J. De Best
Throughout history, spectators have always aggregated together in arenas to witness battles taking place between gladiators. The sheer thrill of uncertainty found within combat sports has opened up an avenue for the cultivation of violence to take place and flourish into modern times. Whether an individual subscribes to the differing disciplines of Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Kung Fu or any other form of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), one thing is for certain; they are looking to be entertained by the success and failures of those sacrificing themselves on center stage.
Each fighter sets their sights for the grand prize, which is to attain world championship status and a place among the world’s best within their chosen discipline. However, maybe its Georges St-Pierre’s aka (GSP) subtle approach, which has enabled him to lead the way for MMA to find a prominent place within combat sports. His love for the sport is his ammunition and his desire is to be the best through attaining efficiency and precision. This desire can be reiterated with his quote stating that “I don’t do this for the fame” he says “I do this for the love”.
A look into the recent history of the fight game will uncover fascinating personalities that consume fans, which in-effect elevate the fighter’s status within society. From Bruce Lee to Muhammad Ali, fight fans find themselves with a smorgasbord of modern day gladiators to adore. The rapid rise of MMA throughout the globe serves to compliment the past whilst adding a vital shot in the arm for the current state of the prize fighting. Furthermore, as Pay-Per-View numbers continue to rise for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), MMA is destined to play a major role in the future of combat sports.
The characters associated with MMA have worked hard to fill the golden footprint left behind by boxing legends such as Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. Fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Rampage Jackson and BJ Penn have carved out their place in the infant history of MMA and have helped promote and glorify the sport by adding a proliferating fan base, which is a bi-product of exciting battles.
However, another name punching his way through shadows by dominating headlines with his record 21 wins and two losses is UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. This Canadian native has made his mark in MMA history by defeating some of the biggest known names in an exhilarating fashion. Wins against formidable foes such as Josh Koscheck, Matt Serra, Dan Hardy, Thiago Alves, BJ Penn, John Fitch and Matt Hughes has elevated GSP’s stature within the sport and gained him recognition as the fighter of the year on a series of publications and websites. His success may rest in the way he identifies and distinguishes himself from a fighter with his statement that “there is a difference between a fighter and a martial artist.
A fighter is training for a purpose: He has a fight. I’m a martial artist. I don’t train for a fight. I train for myself. I’m training all the time. My goal is perfection. But I will never reach perfection.” GSP’s goal in striving for perfection is something that he desires to continually develop. Therefore, his strategies toward his opponent will never become predictable, thus making it difficult for his foe to establish a routine in GSP’s approach. Such a technique may be utilized in GSP’s words to “Never interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake”. GSP’s attitude in combining philosophy and MMA may have contributed to his unforeseen success.
GSP’s fame doesn’t just rest in North America; his status as MMA king has spread throughout the fighting world which can be witnessed in his recent visit to the Philippines whereby he trained alongside boxing pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao. GSP stated that he felt like “the President of the United States”, in response to the overwhelming crowd that welcomed him to the fighting islands of the Philippines.
GSP appears to be the complete package and although he has already cemented his place within the ranks of current MMA elites, continuous success will certainly place him on the path to potentially becoming one of the greatest MMA fighters in history. Knowledge, skill, strength, mental tenacity, and discipline are all characteristics that make up this modern day gladiator. However, GSP embraces knowledge as the key to his success within the octagon with his following statement regarding MMA; “it’s like life, the more knowledge you get, the more questions you ask. The smarter you get, the more you realize that everything can be possible.” Therefore, these inspiring words said by GSP may encourage uprising stars to adopt his philosophy in embracing efficiency, precision and knowledge as the key to success in combat sports.
In his most recent interview with Men’s Health Magazine, GSP provides fight fans with some interesting insight into the mind of a true martial arts philosopher. Please click the link below to read his full interview with Men’s Health Magazine:
http://www.menshealth.com/celebrity-fitness/georges-st-pierre
GSP currently holds an 8 win, 2 loss record in UFC title fights and is scheduled to defend his crown against Jake Shields in Toronto where he headlines the UFC129 card on April 30. For more information on GSP please visit GSP Fight Club or UFC.com.
