[Blarg]

Whenever I think striking art, I admit I think of more than boxing. And I tend to think of boxing arguments in terms of a fuller range of striking possibilities. To me it's hard not to imagine an elbow, etc., in there. And it's hard not to remember the power of some people in southern gung fu styles, who can launch a man through the air with a one-inch or even non-inch punch(I've both seen and felt it numerous times). So when I think of a "puncher's chance," I think of two things -- for some people, a punch can have astonishing power, and second, one punch can set up any number of other things even if it doesn't result in a knock-out. I admit, though, that I don't think every boxer or gung fu man can do this. But since we are talking about really good guys, my thoughts naturally gravitate toward that.

I don't think fighting is as free of chance as you say. Quite the contrary. I have gotten through and landed on much better fighters, and gotten them in locks, too. Lucky me! Was I better than them? Oh hell no. But every dog has his day. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Likewise, in sparring sessions, I've had guys get through on me. Sometimes someone just moves a little weird and it throws you, or you're just mentally unfocussed that day, or he's the lucky dog that has his day.

Superior skill wins in the long term, but short term results don't reflect long term trends, just like in poker. In the short term, all kinds of things can happen. And they really do, all the time. I've seen countless guys get in on better guys sometimes. That's just life. Nobody out there is a superhero or some kind of flawless machine.