Among the loneliest forms of competition in the world, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) rank high up there. MMA is a cocktail of fighting sports like wrestling, boxing, ju-jitsu, kick-boxing and karate. MMA is not for the faint-hearted — and the women athletes who compete in them understand this all too well. The challenges they face are bigger than any one opponent, and anything that their male counterparts have endured. But a new breed of athletes is achieving success in combat sports on their own terms, this despite the resources, funding and media attention going to other sports. These rising breeds of athletes have remained absolute and unwavering in their dedication to their sport.
Anjali Gupta is the fearless woman whose drive and determination are redefining the rules of the fight and shattering glass ceilings for the next generation of female athletes by not shying away from the fight simply because society has been slow to accept them. She says, “After having two kids and putting on some weight, I didn’t want to do the conventional aerobics, zumba etc., to shed weight. With no clue on what to expect, I mustered courage and walked into a kick-boxing school to find only men training. Initially I could barely make it through 15 seconds of punching, but the people there were encouraging. Kick-boxing soon became my stress relief and my therapy. I started seeing and feeling the change in myself, both inside and out. Kick-boxing opened the doors to MMA and last month I made by debut with a victory at Yoddha Fighting Championship, Kohima.”
MMA has the parallels of the old gladiator days. It is taking two people, putting them at the centre of a surrounding crowd, and having them use all their mental and physical fortitude to come out the victor. So, why do some people choose to compete as fighters? What makes some people turn to fighting for their avenue of competition? For the average person, it’s tough to comprehend stepping into the cage and competing in MMA. While the sport is fun to watch from afar, there are few people in this world with an appetite for getting punched in the face.
On being an MMA fighter Anjali says, “Right from the start, grit was in my blood. I feel the biggest misconception about this sport is that it’s all about brutality. I wish people could see what we fighters see: the honour and respect. When I train, I’m not training to hurt someone. I’m training to be the strongest I can be. How much can my body take? How much willpower do I have? It’s a different feeling knowing another person has been preparing weeks in advance with the intention to hurt you. It’s a tough psychological battle that would overwhelm most athletes. There aren’t any teammates to offer help or place blame on. The onus falls completely on your shoulders. Accepting the inevitability of physical harm, you step into the cage. Sometimes we need a little bit of a fight just to be reminded that we’re still human and that we’re not living in bubble wrap.” MMA could be the connection to who you truly are. So, you want to be a fighter?
