Jul 26 2007
Profile of a Nerdcore Warrior - Lawyerboxer.com
One thing I want to do with this blog is profile individuals in combat sports that typify the scholarly warrior. This is a distinctly old school character, often going unnoticed in modern society. I’m talking about the gentlemen dualist, the educated samurai class, the men that once made boxing the sport of gentlemen.
Today’s society often contrasts intellectuals with thugs. Tough men are stereotyped as uneducated thugs, while the highly educated are often cast as weaklings. But as you’ll see from my new blog feature, this distinction doesn’t often hold true.
I want to profile my first Nerdcore Warrior by pointing you to a very interesting fellow by the name of Steve, author of Lawyerboxer.com. Steve has a Law degree, was a former IT manager/analyst and is currently a writer, prolific web publisher, businessman and serious amateur boxer. I can’t think of a better way to cover Steve than sending my readers to this excellent post, Pledging the Fistic Fraternity: A Brief Boxing Story.
Hey Nerd of Steel,
Thanks for the kind words and for naming me as an official Nerdcore Warrior! I appreciate your mentioning my site, too.
Regarding the “boxer as thug” stereotype, I wrote the following text after an event I boxed in last year:
“Most boxers don’t fit the negative “thug” stereotype that much of society puts on them. From time to time, one meets someone he doesn’t get along very well with, but by and large boxers have been some of the most cool, likeable people I’ve known.”
Everyone wants to be happy and I think just about everyone wants to have a lot of life experiences that are meaningful to them, enjoy some interesting variety, and make the most of the interests and abilities they have. I do that, in part, by pursuing my interest in a sport that, on the surface, seems incongruous with some of my other interests.
In truth, we are live, living beings, not some caricatures of humanity. I participate in boxing not to “fight” per se, but to delight in the experience of it. It’s fun and it’s a thrill. I get similar fun and thrills from learning something new and interesting, from writing, and from representing one of my law clients well. In a world where many people have to struggle very hard every day just to have the most basic food, clothing, and shelter, I know I am really blessed to be able to enjoy my favorite sport. I’m grateful for that.
Thanks again. I’ll live up to my new honor as a Nerdcore Warrior.
Have a great weekend!