A profound lesson can be learnt from anything at all around us and one of my fav activities actually taught me a lesson that may not seem valuable to others but nonetheless to me.
The annual ritual or contest that I would put on with my fellow high school friend is an arm wrestling match. I have always liked arm wrestling. It not only involves brute strength but techniques and some science in it. Probably I love it because it is a masculine game and the victorious one is perceived as the ‘Alpha male’.
This fellow school mate of mine whose nick Iron man used to be an athlete who plays almost all kinds of sports. My friend once asked me: "Why do you wanna challenge him?" Well, I guess I just want to assert my male prerogative and be the dominant male. I self proclaimed as Titanium man, which did not get the recognition of some. Last year, however, I beat Iron man hollow when contending in three consecutive rounds of arm wrestling. With his enormous right arm whose palm wrapped around mine, I hit him down. Then, people who always seemed to criticize and underestimate me became speechless.
This year, we had another round. The 1st round, he got me. Then, for the 2nd and 3rd, I slammed him over. I went another round with my other friend, which means I did not get any rest. For the final round with Iron man again, because of muscles fatigue, I got rolled over. After the 2nd and 3rd, I actually told Iron man that it is all about the mental strength. He precisely adopted that technique and got me rolled over, just as I was exhausted. Of course, I admit that I lost. There should not be any justification made. I, however, learnt a lesson.
Lesson no. 1: Do not reveal to your contestant about your techniques until you get him pinned. From now on, I may not be revealing any technique anymore. For Monash ball, I actually revealed some vocal technique which might have endangered my position but well, I guess I am just like my dad. Previously, my dad played mahjong leisurely with his friends. He would actually guide his friends how to play and later on, his friends became better and he had a real competition. I guess my dad thought that what was so fun if your competitors remain at the same standard all the time. He wanted to guide them so that they would become intelligent enough to create competition. My mom opposed the idea. She said that my dad was silly because by doing that, he would make himself lose. I would borrow both of their ideas. I would reveal to others about my techniques if necessary. Necessary means when I want to create some competition in an innocent ‘game’. But I will not for some serious competitions. I will definitely give honest feedback to other contestants let’s say if I take part in Astro Talent Quest but I would not reveal my techniques. Techniques that I disclose would not destabilize my position.
The 2nd lesson that I learnt is that whenever I am too tired, do not fight. Fighting while being exhausted is suicidal and it may cost me dearly in real life. Yesterday, I had an arm wrestling match with another friend whose weight is 78kg where as I only weight 63kg. For 4 or 5 rounds, we had a draw. By right, with his weight adding to his momentum, he should have got me. Then later, with my right arm totally sore and struck with pain, I immediately got into another match with a 53kg guy. He pressed me over and I lost. I lost not because I am weaker nor is he stronger. I was simply exhausted. I made the same mistake again. I should never fight when I am tired.
But for these three contestants- Iron man, 78kg and 53kg. They all share the same similarity. Their left hand is weak. This year’s arm wrestling match with Iron man, our right hand got a draw but my left rolled his over. The 78kg guy refused to use his left hand, well, don’t know for what reason. Scared lose? The 53kg also refused at first but did later when I insisted. In 1 second, I rolled him over.
