Prologue I felt the stiffness overtake my body. Just stay warm , I told myself. Take deep breaths and stay warm . The building was complete chaos: parents, friends, coaches, and teammates alike all yelling out final instructions and words of encouragement, all of which blurred into indistinguishable white noise. The cage door closed, leaving three men inside the cage, three men on this stage: myself, my opponent, and the referee. I couldn’t believe I was the spectacle of this chaos, the entertainment for these hundreds of people. I thought of the gladiators. I thought of how humans have enjoyed spectating combat for years; it’s in our DNA. I felt like I was battling for my life in the Roman Coliseum. My nerves were running high but I used it to fuel my energy. I felt a paradoxical mixture of uncertainty and confidence. Simultaneously thinking, this guy isn’t making it out of the second round along wit...
Excerpts from The Compromise Lifestyle by Kazuki Newton