By Kur Wël Kur, Adelaide, Australia
Sunday, October 20, 2019 (PW) — Wrestling is an art that needs mastery. Mastery is difficult. Robert Greene, the great writer of 48 Laws of Power and Mastery (two books), asserts that 10,000 hours, 3 hours a day to attain mastery, equate to 9 or 10 years of endless and boring practices. So, only handfuls become real masters with exotic styles in their fingertips. These styles mesmerise many when they’re applied.
Gongic Achiek Nai—dubbed as a GRADUATE has attained mastery in wrestling. He has pulled off technical styles of wrestling, peppered with entertaining rituals, and defeating his opponents artistically and with ease to the point of sending spectators on a journey of searching for explanations. This is the essence of the art—WRESTLING. It’s peaceful. Entertaining. Educational. Anything less or more is heartbreaking.
Gongic who was initiated in 2001, nearly at the age of 17, has wrestled all his life since he was a small boy. So, I feel sorry for his opponents who haven’t wrestled even ten times in front of taunting spectators. In three minutes, his opponents are looking for a quick fame by aiming to erase two decades worth of drudgery to attain mastery in three minutes.
Gongic, The wrestling Graduate, has qualified with high distinction to be awarded with the tittle of Professorship. So, be surprised not, hearing him being addressed as Prof. Gongic Achiek Nai.
Back to the Saturday wrestling, Gongic defeated Deng-Muoradong Dau with ease, thus exposing Deng’s innocence and inexperience in wrestling. Deng’s defeat is undeniable mistake to Wut Ayuaal in particular and to Twic East in general. Lead wrestlers aren’t rushed to the top of the game. They’re guided and introduced to it (game) in steps. Deng would have taken on other rising stars of his time and age before attempting the LEGENDS and MASTERS.
Some critics would turn their eyes to other legends and masters like But Apuor or Dengic, but there’s a real and a glaring difference between the masters or legends in the decline with those (masters and legends) at the heights of their mastery.
Tangible Pieces of Advice
- My advice to Twic East’s youth be exposed to different tribes that have internalised wrestling, tribes like Mundari, and parts of Dinka tribe such as Ciec, Atuot, and Aliab. As mentioned above, wrestling is an art, and with art, practicing is a key to mastery. Magot Khot is a wrestling missile, his explosive speed and style didn’t come naturally or from nowhere, but through exposure to the wrestling gods (Ciec, his maternal uncles).
- Wrestling, like other sports, is an entertaining sport so spattering jokes and funs are parts and parcels of the game. However, when some misplaced words that reflect pride are uttered without cautions, thus belittling opponents, wrestling results become heartbreaking. So, in support of your wrestlers, be on the alert that wrestling could go either way. Saying things with absolute is dangerous.
- Wrestling is a part of cattle rearing. The dairy diets, small quantities of meat and fish are standard diets for wrestlers. This means, that wrestling should be left to those immersed in cattle rearing. For Twic East to attain their original place in wrestling, wrestlers like Marordit and Anyuoon-malieljhok were unbeatable because they internalised the cattle camp life. So, this notion of recruiting cities’ dwellers into wrestling squads at last minutes must cease.
- Use wrestling tactics than wrestling order (hierarchy). Wrestlers specialise. Some specialise in defeating short wrestlers, some destroy tall wrestlers and some are multi-talents. So, Twic east wrestling coaches must study top wrestlers, one by one intensively and extensively before they (coaches) allow their rising stars to challenge one of the legends (masters).
Otherwise, my people, our bonds are strengthened every time we entertained, challenged ourselves in a social event like Wrestling. So, be gracious in your defeats and victories.
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