Nothing is real Newsletter

Nothing is real.

Newsletter - 2025

A handful of people recently sent me this video, excited to have discovered an actual ninja in plain clothing living among us.

Surely somewhere there must be ninja police unleashing vicious attacks that can only be obtained through study with a violent monk of some kind.

But I was skeptical.

Six years ago, I proudly shared this equally vicious clip of a different cop... effortlessly flinging a machete wielding attacker to the pavement.

"This is a flawless Judo throw executed with his very life on the line," I proudly declared with my chest puffed out and no Judo skills of my own.

But they're both staged.

These are 'anti-terrorist' training drills... according to my research. But I choose to believe that police in other countries just like to demonstrate sick moves for departmental TikTok clout.

In this age, we can't believe in every awesome move that we see... and in most cases it's not hard to tell the real from the fake.

However... every now and again, I come across something spectacular... and I truly have no idea what to believe.

For example, behold this incredibly impressive video humbly titled "Amateur vs Pro..."

As I first watched it, my eyes began to widen from their usual grumpy squint.

I nodded approvingly at the uniquely low trajectory of the pro's punches... slipping just underneath the amateur's elbows. Not enough people train punches at that level...

"Zoinks!" I shouted, as the pro began instinctively slipping punch combinations!

And I almost flipped my desk as he effortlessly flowed from two razor-sharp slips into a nasty liver shot...

BOOM. 'guuuulp'

...but then the 'amateur' kinda stumbles sideways... suspiciously toppling over in a way that just feels... odd.

Liver shots kinda make you crumble... it's like your body immediately shuts down and collapses in on itself.

Who the hell takes a body shot and tips over into the ropes like a 2x4 leaned up against a wall?

Have I been deceived... again?

Should I regret the excitement that I momentarily allowed myself to feel?

Should I REFUSE to be amazed by your amazing potential RUSE!?

To answer this unintentional rhyme and alliteration, I did some research!

After scrolling through 298,598 comments on that video, I discovered that the Pro in the video is Mukhit Amanatayav, and he has a professional boxing record of 1-0.

(Hey... undefeated is undefeated.)

But he is much more well-known for being a high-quality online coach.

(As a guy with a 2-1 pro MMA record and a million YouTube subscribers, I can relate).

So, I dug through his Instagram and found some of his sparring footage... and this clip looks like the last minute of a very tough round.

There's not a lot of head movement... which is understandable if Mukhit is tired, or if he just feels compelled to be a bruiser.

Now, I also found this footage where he's quite fresh and again fighting with his back against the ropes in an extremely solid defensive display.

He's got great head movement.
He's a really good boxer.
But the whole thing just doesn't feel as exact as that original clip.

1. In real sparring, you defend punches that don't actually end up coming: you spaz out and block sporadically, often slipping when you see twitches that don't end up being punches at all.

2. Mukhit's slips are noticeably bigger in this last clip. This comes from the real "fear" of actually being punched. (It's easy to slip with flawlessly small movements when you already know what's coming.)

3. That first clip was just so darn perfect... it ends with two perfectly sized slips ideal for making those two exact punches miss, leading instantaneously into the absolute best counter-punch for a slipped right hand?

It's not impossible... but man... it would take some ridiculous skill and a ridiculous flow state to pull that off, while being coincidentally filmed for a clip.

4. *puts on tin foil hat...* And why is that other guy sparring in a stupid wind-breaker if he's not hiding a body pad! *removes tin foil hat*

Nevertheless, after careful examination, I still don't know what to believe, but I'd be interested in hearing your opinion... (specifically in the comments section under this video and not via email).

No matter what, Coach Amantayev does have my respect, and I look forward to any anti-terrorism demonstrations that films in the future.

Have a fantastic day!

-Trav

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