A Q&A with Sumya Anani
by Jack Dunne (August 21, 2003)
 Send this page to friend Give us your feedback
Also Read : Part 1
In part two of Jack Dunne’s Q&A with Sumya Anani, the writer and fighter get deep as they discuss the struggling image of women’s boxing, her one pro loss, massage therapy, the ‘science of mind control’, spirituality and human potential.
Jack Dunne: Along with being a professional prizefighter, today you are also a licensed massage therapist. You began your education in the field when you were 21. Exactly what is 'massage therapy'?
Sumya Anani: Massage is a natural, healing art that has been around since the beginning of time. It is a very natural way to show people that you care about them, to relieve stress. It is a natural thing to do. For instance, when you bump your elbow, you rub it. It is just part of who we are. Today our culture is getting obsessed with the wrong kind of touch. There is a saying that if half the world were giving a massage and the other half receiving a massage, the world would be at peace (laughing).
JD: But what you are most famous for is punching people out (laughing). The fact that you are a very spiritual person is obvious. How do you explain your ability to do both?
SA: Well, it’s the science of mind control. To be able to focus on what ever it is that you want to be good at. It seems like they are black and white and they are I guess. I just feel like we are given so many talents. Many of those talents remain dormant our whole lives. What is it? We use only ten percent of our brain? Even people like Einstein and Mozart didn't use all they were given. They used a lot more than the average person. It is just amazing to think about all that potential we have. There is a quote that goes something like "If you could harness the power of the brain, you could light up a city".
JD: Speaking of quotes, everyone takes a special interest in something, you take a unique interest in SEVERAL THINGS. One of those interests is quotes. Talk about that.
SA: I started reading quotes before I moved to Jamaica. I was living with my mom. After I would put my son down to bed I would go down to the bookstore, write in my journal, read, drink my tea. Before I left for Jamaica I had made this little tradition where I would get a quote book and dictionary and I would say a prayer and open up the quote book. If I was meditating on a problem or trying to figure out what to do, the quote would contain an answer.
JD: Confucius and Buddha seem to be favorites of yours, what is it about their works that interests you?
SA: Well I don't know if they are favorites but I do study the world's religions. I am interested in Buddhism; I have studied the Dhammapada. One of the very first stories in the Dhammapada talks about thoughts and how we are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts, with our thoughts we make the world. And that is what I was talking about earlier, we are powerful beyond belief.
I study all the world's religions. In the words of Gandhi, I am Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Christian. There is truth in all religions. It is man that separated spirituality into religions, it wasn't God.
JD: One of your most passionate interests is the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In fact it is an organization that you donate to on a monthly basis. What is it about St Jude that stood out and grabbed your attention?
SA: I have a child and I just don't think parents should have to bury their children and so many of these kids have these terminal illnesses, it is just so sad. It just doesn't seem like it should be. With our minds we are uncovering all of these ways of eradicating these things, man, let’s try to help them figure it out.
JD: Getting back to boxing. The only blemish on your resume came against Britt Van Buskirk. She is unusually tall; did her height pose you problems?
SA: Yeah it did, I think she is about six-feet tall. That and my head wasn't in the right place that night. I learned that night that you can be in the best shape of your life but if your heads not there, forget it.
JD: Very true
SA: Seriously, even after four years of training. I learned that then.
JD: You defeated Britt twice after that loss. What was different?
SA: After losing, on the drive from St Louis back to Kansas City, Barry just went off on me. It wasn't that I lost, he just knew that I didn't give my best. He said "Sumya, if you would have fought that would have been one thing but you didn't even fight. What happened"? I was just better prepared mentally the second time around.
JD: Changing topics, you state that one reason the American consciousness hasn't accepted women's boxing as a legitimate sport such as women's soccer or basketball is because of some of the women themselves. What do you mean by this?
SA: I thought women would do something different for the sport, represent the sport in a whole different way. Women are copying the men. I hear these girls going "I'll kick your ASS!" blah, blah, blah and all this stuff and it is like, come on ladies! Men, the reason they love the girls in soccer, basketball and tennis is because they do their ass kicking on the field and when they are finished they act like ladies.
We have to represent ourselves differently than men, we AREN'T MEN.
JD: I understand where you are coming from, however, it is still boxing and trash-talk works like a charm in the man's game. A recent example and though I don't agree with ANYTHING he said, Ricardo Mayorga's recent gum bumping of Vernon Forrest was pretty funny and bottom line, it did help promote the fight. You don't think the same equates to women's boxing?
SA: I don't think it so. I don't think it needs to be there, not if they can fight. I don't agree with the men doing that. I think that boxing could be on a different level. Yes, you hear where Mike Tyson gets attention and yes, but most of the things you hear people talking about, it's not good.
For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Sumya Anani
For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Jack Dunne
For Jack Dunne's archives : : Click Here
|
