Family. (Please take the time to read.)

[Mu Ryuk]

It's 11:30 P.M., and I find myself suddenly wanting to buy some t-shirts from Attackmode.tv, a website I had never heard of until just now. I want to buy these shirts because someone on Sherdog, someone I have never met, posted that one of his friends and fellow fighters, Santino DeFranco, a talented young fighter and good man who I have never heard of, had two aneurysms discovered in his brain during a medical check for "The Ultimate Fighter: Season Two". Attackmode.tv is sending all proceeds from the clothing they have in stock to help pay for Santino's bills.

Why is this? I've never met this guy, and plenty of people have problems, some not as bad as his, some much worse. What is it that makes me want to help this guy?

Somehow I don't think it would be the same if Santino wasn't a martial artist. I don't think it would be the same if I haven't known some of the struggles and joys he has gone through...the relentless training, the triumphant victories and the bitter defeats. Questioning of your own skill and always wondering how good you really are. Dealing with the bumps and bruises, the pain of having the wind knocked out of you, the feeling of having your legs kicked into numbness.

All these things may seem insignificant to an "outsider". But the fact is, it draws us together. It's like a football team...the players are usually friends. They suffer together, and they triumph together. They sweat and bleed together, and sometimes it pays off. And other times they lose together, and somehow that brings them even closer.

When you train with people, you develop a certain trust. You are trusting them not to hurt you. You are putting your safety and well-being in their hands. And at the same time, they are trusting you, and this creates a bond that not many can match.

I have never trained with Santino DeFranco. I have never had to deal with the intensity of the training he goes through, the pain of the hits he deals with, the triumph of victory or bitterness of defeat that he has felt...at least not on the same level. But on some level, I know this man. On some level, I am this man. In some minute way, I am friends with this man, and want to help him.

My fellow martial artists, I implore you; Cherish your training partners, your instructors, your students. Cherish those you do not know personally. Do your best to make them a part of your family. Because you never know when someone, somewhere might need you. Or when you might need them.

Here is a link to the thread that inspired this:

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=261196

[Mr. Mike]

Very well stated...I'm afraid that if I were to add to that, I would only end up detracting from it.

[ninjanurse]

I agree.

[Sam]

Thanks; i agree also - well said

[Mu Ryuk]

Thanks for your replies, and if anyone has anything to add, thoughts, stories, etc, please do.

[Infrazael]

Ryuk, nice to see you here too.

[Kaminari]

Wow. Well said. I don't know what else to say besides, very well put.

[Goju 4 Life]

that was deep

[italian_guy]

that was deep

I agree.