Book Review: “Tapped Out” by Matthew Polly
Becoming a writer requires a natural level of back-biting narcissism and getting into MMA at all requires a natural level of aggression. Even though these two elements would seem to combine to make for the most bitter professional competition, a hard to believe fact about MMA writers and journalists is that, with the exception of one or two legitimate rivalries, we all really like each other. We all advance the sport to different audiences and each writer’s financial success represents a growing opportunity for us all to succeed. As a result, we tend to put on the kid gloves when reviewing work from one of our own, especially with writers that live in close proximity and we see a lot.
So, when I say that Matthew Polly’s new memoir about MMA training, “Tapped Out,” is probably the best novel-length piece of creative non-fiction on the subject, I also have to add “and I actually mean it this time.”
In many ways, “Tapped Out” is a sequel to Polly’s best-seller “American Shaolin,” an account of his time training with the Shaolin Monks in China. At the start of “Tapped Out,” Polly is fifteen years past his athletic prime: a heavy drinker who seems to have declared himself done with exercise. Financial and social circumstances nudge him into a new book project where Polly has to prepare to compete again, this time in mixed martial arts.
The rest of the book chronicles his training with Renzo Gracie academy instructor John Danaher, famed Muay Thai kru Phil Nurse, Extreme Couture’s Joey Varner, and many others. “Tapped Out” has a narrative that can only be described as extremely first person and, as a result, is very personality driven. And, as a personality piece, it works extremely well.
Polly’s own awkward and self-deprecating character shines through immediately and sheepishly holds the reader’s hand throughout the story like a fifteen year old boy on a date with a girl way out of his league. And that is exactly the charm of “Tapped Out.”
The tale of a character always looking for acceptance and approval while still being ever so slightly misanthropic is one that most people, especially those with an interest in combat sports, has a soft spot for.
It’s rare for a book on the subject of MMA to have the level of writing technique found in “Tapped Out.” Even when the writer is, himself, genuinely skilled at the craft, something about the rawness of MMA prompts people to just be too honest.
Polly clearly knows how to take actual events and present them in such a way that there is clear thematic cohesion. In the acknowledgments, Polly even recognizes that he has painted himself a specific way for the story and that he rearranged some parts of the time line for the sake of the narrative. As I personally know a number of the people mentioned in “Tapped Out,” I’d also go so far as to say that Polly interpreted some of their characters deliberately to go with the story.
This is a very good thing. People read news reports for exact times and dates and people read memoirs to get an in-the-bar-after-just-one-more-Jameson style retelling. I’m glad someone in MMA finally realized this. While I haven’t asked him, I somehow doubt Reilly Bodycomb enjoyed being characterized as the “hipster Manhattanite” member of the American SAMBO team. But, those two little words do a lot to set the tone of the scene. Sorry Reilly, Polly made the right call, please don’t break my ankles.
Polly also just has a way with word choice that is rarely enjoyed on the topic of MMA. “Tapped Out” is filled with some very quotable lines, which is part of what makes the narrator and the people he meets so lovable.
I can pick nits on the writing style, but I wouldn’t describe any of the smaller problems as being mistakes so much as tradeoffs. The constant use of parenthetical references feels a little clumsy at times. But, the book is fast paced and told through a narrator who himself is nerdy and often loses focus, so there’s clearly a deliberate and positive effect for what might otherwise be a negative.
Ultimately, “Tapped Out” has a big heart that will make you enjoy its quirks as much as its virtues. It’s a delight to read and has a much greater mass appeal than most of its contemporaries. This book is a must read for the MMA fan and a probably should read for everyone else.
You can grab a copy of “Tapped Out: Rear Naked Chokes, the Octagon, and the Last Emperor: An Odyssey in Mixed Martial Arts” by Matthew Polly from Amazon.com
You may also enjoy our reviews of these other books: Review of “Raw Combat: The Underground world of Mixed Martial Arts”, Thomas Gerbasi’s “UFC Encyclopedia” Book Review, Dave Camarillo’s “Submit Everyone” Book Review, and Book Review of “Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques”
