Great post, i can really appreciate both sides as ive now been training for just under 2 years but watching for 3! I doesn't matter what sport people do or how hard people think they are. My sensei teaches at Pupil Referal Units and we get so many 16-18 year olds coming down thinking they the hardest thing going, and after skiving a warm up they soon come in swinging, and ofter go out bleeding or puking!
Every training session re-inspires my love for this sport and strengthens my respect for those guys who put it on the line every session.