Why We Fight

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This engaging exploration delves into the complex reasons behind our attraction to fighting, both physically and philosophically. The author, a lifelong pacifist with a disdain for violence and exercise, discovers a latent desire to fight at the age of thirty-three. After years of avoiding physical confrontation, he immerses himself in various martial arts, ultimately deciding to participate in his first mixed martial arts match at forty. This journey serves as a means to confront his fears and gain deeper insights into the nature of fighting. Through his training, the author examines how fighting reveals fundamental human impulses, drawing on cultural history, biology, and anthropology. He reflects on the psychological aspects of fear and the physiological responses to pain, while weaving in narratives from diverse contexts, including Ukrainian shtetls and Brooklyn boxing gyms. His journey from spectator to participant provides a unique lens on the enduring appeal of combat sports. The narrative is a thought-provoking inquiry into our most conflicted fascination with violence, framed by the author's personal experiences in the ring and the profound meanings he uncovers along the way.