Wrestling Beast's blog

I look forward to meeting just about any opponent, but there is one in particular whom I esteem above all others. It is not because he has mad MMA-inspired submission skills. Nor because he is so strong that his adversaries shrink from the act of him flexing. Instead, its his character I admire. Two years ago or so, he came very tentatively and somewhat later in life to our sport. When I met him for the first time some six months later, I soon realized I had met a man dedicated to wrestling. I wish I could be so dedicated.

He hosts in his basement and is honest with his family about what he does. He has his boundaries, discloses them and respect for them is implicit. When it comes to spaces, size doesn't matter, its what the wrestlers bring to it. Boy does he bring it on!

He has wrestled many, many people. Sometimes he will have two matches in a day and five matches in a week. When I get to his age, I'd love to have the staying power to have anywhere near that number. He wrestles practically all-comers, including many dudes I wouldn't touch. He takes chances on craigslist personals, and the quality of the opponents from that source is sketchy, to be kind. The number of contacts he has made during his comparatively short wrestling career is astounding. This is a guy that if you live in the New England area and haven't wrestled with him, you really, really should.

He learns from his repeat opponents. He knows what I like well and is happy to give me everything I want from a match. When I am with him, I can enjoy myself for hours. I give back but I don't feel compelled to do something simply because the other guy wants it.

As a wrestler, he is strong, has good stamina, a tolerance for pain and a mean headlock. He will make me work for a submission and he can punch hard. Yes, I kick his butt, but I never feel like I have allowed to dominate.

While I can list all his good qualities, the most important ones are that this person is a friendly, down-to-earth, genuine guy whom I can call friend. I can hang out with him and have a conversation on a subject other than wrestling, even if we are in our underwear. He is willing to bond and give of himself.

We are meeting again today and I can't wait to wrestle and embrace my special friend.