As a fellow writer-fighter (though I got to use my feet as well!), I love this pairing you’ve explored so well here. I think these two things go so well together for so many reasons: the 180-degree physical difference is just wildly intense, but both things are a practice, and seem (in my experience anyway) to very much proceed as such: on that forward-back-forward-back path that can be so frustrating at times, especially if one fixates (as I tend to do) on the negative, or just be too myopic, unable or unwilling to take the longer view. But I also felt a connection between the two things, and felt that they complimented each other, learned from each other… how I focus (or don’t) was something that I learned not from writing but from karate—specifically from fighting, and it was a startling (and sometimes quite painful) lesson! I also found, personally, that it was the flood of fear that fed the freeze, for me, and I’m not entirely sure I ever bested it. Like anyone who dives into extremes like boxing or karate, you see that I could talk about this all. damned. day. Great stuff!
Laura, I appreciate your words here! I agree with you.
Thank you for your sage advice during my time as a Periplus Fellow. I am continuing to learn that one’s personal and professional responsibilities are likely to create their own manifestations of cruel San Francisco hills (in fact, an artist’s challenging crests could come from the writing itself) - but, as you stated, the quest is determined by whether a writer commits art and self entirely to the grind, despite the odds and discomfort (for me, it’s saying no to people and things I love and hold important to prioritize my time with the page).
As a fellow writer-fighter (though I got to use my feet as well!), I love this pairing you’ve explored so well here. I think these two things go so well together for so many reasons: the 180-degree physical difference is just wildly intense, but both things are a practice, and seem (in my experience anyway) to very much proceed as such: on that forward-back-forward-back path that can be so frustrating at times, especially if one fixates (as I tend to do) on the negative, or just be too myopic, unable or unwilling to take the longer view. But I also felt a connection between the two things, and felt that they complimented each other, learned from each other… how I focus (or don’t) was something that I learned not from writing but from karate—specifically from fighting, and it was a startling (and sometimes quite painful) lesson! I also found, personally, that it was the flood of fear that fed the freeze, for me, and I’m not entirely sure I ever bested it. Like anyone who dives into extremes like boxing or karate, you see that I could talk about this all. damned. day. Great stuff!
Laura, I appreciate your words here! I agree with you.
Thank you for your sage advice during my time as a Periplus Fellow. I am continuing to learn that one’s personal and professional responsibilities are likely to create their own manifestations of cruel San Francisco hills (in fact, an artist’s challenging crests could come from the writing itself) - but, as you stated, the quest is determined by whether a writer commits art and self entirely to the grind, despite the odds and discomfort (for me, it’s saying no to people and things I love and hold important to prioritize my time with the page).
I look forward to reading more from you!
And may victory be on your side! 🥊
Love that you're on substack now!! And I'm with you on the parallels between fighting and writing.