The Jockey’s Illusion it is a mistaken belief that muscular strength is omnipotent in self-defense, competitive, or hostile engagement. A concept often held and promoted by naive, selfish, testosterone-charged and clueless young men who lack any understanding of combat, battle or war, the jockdom illusion It usually affects men in their late teens, twenties, and thirties, but it can affect anyone of any age. Unfortunately, The Jockey’s Illusion it is a recipe for harm, even death.
History is full of examples of great wars, battles, one-on-one confrontations, and hand-to-hand confrontations in which a smaller and less ostensible force or person destroys a larger and seemingly more powerful one. The story of David and Goliath is a good start for those who think otherwise. If more research is needed, the battles of the ancient warlord, Sun Tzu, the Roman defeat of the English at the Battle of Watling Street in AD 60. C. or the Greek battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. C. are worth studying.
On a personal note, having studied and taught martial arts professionally for decades, I can honestly say that an average person who is well trained, determined, and knowledgeable in the fighting arts will beat a person suffering from the pain of athletics. Muscular power alone is no match for the power of the warrior. Furthermore, for a well-trained martial artist, the size of the opponent is not an impediment.
Fighting is an art and a science. It engages the body, mind, and spirit and imbues the individual with knowledge of warfare, tactics, and strategy. The fight is more mental than physical. In his famous treatise The Art of WarSun Tzu states: War is a serious concern of the state; you have to study it thoroughly. Note that Sun Tzu does not simply say that war must be studied (a mental function) but that it must be thoroughly study. If war was only physical, why do nations have war schools? Why does the US have West Point, Annapolis, Air Force and Coast Guard military academies? Academies exist to teach the art of war, not the size of the biceps.
True story. A middle-aged man was acting very strangely outside a local gym. The only trainer in the gym was notified of the man’s presence and told him to be wary. When he found out about the situation, the coach flexed his right bicep, then his left and commented that if the man caused trouble, his (the coach’s) bicep would protect everyone. Actually? Are biceps bulletproof? Can they stop knives, clubs or other weapons? Can they neutralize an individual with superior fighting knowledge? The trainer was about 6’3″, a college graduate, good physique but unfortunately still blinded by the malignant disease of athletics. Perhaps you didn’t know that just a few weeks earlier, a young strength and conditioning coach for a hockey team at a local high school was stabbed to death as a result of a fight. All the muscles in him didn’t help him. In fact, they may have been the result of him being killed if he subscribed to the jockdom illusion, which basically says, “I’m tough, I’m strong, I’ve got muscles. I can’t be beaten.” Such ingenuity may well have been instrumental in causing his demise. Muscles don’t win wars. Brains yes.
Moral of the story and a word to the wise: don’t fall into the self-centered trap of athletics-of thinking that only muscles will save you or save the day. Such thinking is immature, foolish, and potentially lethal. Also, never underestimate an opponent’s ability, regardless of their size, age, or gender. You may be a great athlete, a standout athlete, an imposing figure, but if you’re going to be engaged in a battle, which is always potentially damaging, even lethal, you’d better bring more to the party than just your brawn.