NEVER BACK DOWN

Watching a good movie is an experience that always leave you with few insightful thoughts to wrestle with, as its a tendency to relate ourselves with the story, situations and experiences of the movie. I try to make every experience, education. So, coming up with my first blog on the movie "Never back Down", which inspires me in many ways, for many things.


The movie starts with a game of a Football. jake was in the white team competing against the black (color of the costume) team. Jake was continuously putting down one of the player of the rival team. Initially it seems that things are cool but, once, as a part of the game, Jake dropped the rival once again. This time the other player said something about his father in frustration. Jake turned around and in anger started confronting him. The referees where trying to stop the players of Jake’s team, but that let few other Black team players surrounded Jake. Jake was left with no option but to confront with 5 of them together. Few excellent stunts from Jake and all 5 of them were on the grounds. Few minutes later, fellow team players were all with Jake and there was a chaos between both the teams.

“One man shoots and the whole world watches.” This is the main theme of the movie. One man from the spectators shoots all this and the whole world watched it on Internet, You tube, cell phones etc. Jake was famous.

Jakes mom was not so happy with his stunts and his anger. She had grown grouchy after death of her husband. Jake and his younger brother get shifted to another place as his younger brother got some scholarship for lawn tennis and was aspiring to be a tennis star. Jake accompanied him and joined the high school in the same city.

Jake met Baha the very first day and started liking her. Baha invited him in a party. Jake couldn’t refused as he was bound by her charm. He reached there with Max, one of Jake’s mate, he met on the first day of the high school and get friends with. There they met with McCarthy who is the hero of the high school. He is the star wrestler and have won many championships. He is the kingpin of the college and use to bully, but surely was the cynosure of all eyes. After a few confabulations, he revealed that the whole high school have seen his vdo of fight in the football game and according to them it was awesome. First they insisted Jake to fight, but Jake was not interested.

“If u want to be the best u hav to take out the best.
” Said McCarthy. Means if Jake want to be the best in the high school, he have to defeat the best i.e. McCarthy.

“I don’t want to be the best.” Said Jake.

“Then why are u here” asked McCarthy.

Jake looked at Baha, McCarthy gave a smirk and went towards Baha and kissed her.
Jake was set up. Baha set him up as his boyfriend McCarthy wanted to fight him and defeat him to prove that he is the best. Baha wasn’t able to make eye contact to Jake as she was ashamed. Max was completely unaware about the whole set up thing. Jake was disgusted. He tried to go, but was stopped by other bully friends of McCarthy.

“It means the whole internet stuff was fake” teased McCarthy.
“Even the story of ur old man who hit into the tree inebriated and u kept ur ass in the adjacent seat and did nothing” he continued.

Clearly McCarthy was trying to stimulate Jake and he got the nerve. Jake was infuriated. McCarthy got what he wanted, fight.

Fight begins. Jake was just a gifted one but never brawls and McCarthy was the champion of the brawls. Undoubtedly, McCarthy broke Jake into pieces, physically as well as mentally.

Next day, Max visited Jake with an invitation to join a gym “365 Combat Club” which teaches Marshal Arts operated by its originator Jean Roqua.
According to Max, Jake can achieve what he or many others cant - Greatness, as Jake was undoubtedly gifted.

But, Jake was not interested for the proposal.

“Nobody can get their ass beat lyk that and not care.” Max tried to persuade.

“I can” replied Jake.

Max left disappointed.

Next day Jake visited the gym. Max was astonished to see Jake there. He introduced him to the coach “The Jean Roqua”.

Jean Roqua, as per the procedure, asked Jake to join the beginner class with Max but Jake insisted to join the Advanced class. Jake justified that he is a quick learner and will be fit into the class. He impressed Roqua and joined the Advanced class. The only instruction Jean Roqua stressed upon was “No fight outside the gym.”

“If u wanna learn something, first u have to empty ur glass.” You will always meet few people in ur life who are more excellent than u. Inspite of feeling jealous or inspite of feeling inferior, we shud learn from them. We shud keep our window open to learn.

Jake did mistake here, he was too conceited to learn. He did improved and learned skills but was not able to achieve the excellence due to his attitude.

He was constantly harmed by Jean Roqua’s instructions to improve. At one instance, Roqua tried to explain Jake that “Its ur responsibility to control the outcome.” Something flash backed into Jake’s mind, he ill-mouthed with Roqua and left the gym infuriated. On the way, he had a self initiated a confrontation with few tough guys and crushed them in a stunt which Max took vdo of and again Jake was a star as “One man shoots and the whole world sees.”

McCarthy was infuriated by the popularity of Jake. As Jake had improved and have not achieved excellence, McCarthy again bullied on him and showed Jake his place i.e. Good but not the Best. McCarthy was still the Best.

Jake resumed the gym the next day, trying to assume as if nothing happened. While Jean Roqua was highly infuriated by Jake’s fight. His clear instructions was “No fight outside the Gym.” Roqua discarded him and forbid Jake’s entry into the Gym.

Jake’s mother too was pissed off as Jake’s younger brother was trying to emulate Jake and got hurt in a fight. According to his mother it was all Jake’s fault. “He wants to be lyk U. U r setting an example for him.”

Jake was out of the gym, his mother forbid him to fight. Jake couldn’t do what he really wanted to do, training.

“NEVER BACK DOWN” as the name itself suggests, Jake didn’t gave up. He looked an opportunity to meet Jean Roqua outside the gym. He spied on him and got an opportunity in a Supermarket when Roqua was out of the gym for groceries.

“I lied to you the very first day. I had all intentions to fight outside the gym.” Jake started.

“Is this ur apology?” Roqua was confused.

“I lied coz I wanted to pound this guy who pounded on me. This guy has got the perfect life, perfect car, perfect girlfriend. I lied because I am pissed off. I am angry all the time. My dad was inebriated and he insisted to drive, and I let him. He went off the road and hit a tree. I made it, he couldn’t. I put my mom down, my brother down. We are into fight all the time. I don’t want to be angry ne more. And I m not only when I am in the gym, training with you.” Jake tried to convince Jean Roqua.

After a silence Jean Roqua picked up his bag and said “See u in the gym tomorrow at 6”.

Jake was touched that he made it in convincing Roqua.
He shouted “Thank You.”

“You wont be tomorrow.” Roqua replied.

From the next day Jake’s training starts. This was the most inspiring part of the movie when Jake gets trained. How he achieved excellence was commendable.
Now Jake had everything. Perfect training, perfect trainer ‘Roqua, perfect girlfriend ‘Baha, perfect friend ‘Max, perfect mother, perfect brother. Now he didn’t wanted to fight.

Jake came close to Roqua and came to know why Roqua was strictly against "Fighting outside the gym." He lost his brother in a confrontation of his brother with a bully guy in a local bar. He shot his brother and he could not do anything. He lost his brother and the trust of his father, as he was unable to "Control the outcome". Since then, he started sulking and restricted his life inside the gym.


McCarthy was infuriated by the word on the street that Jake wud hav kicked his ass if is in the tournament.

McCarthy wanted Jake to be in the tournament. So he picked up Max to his place and beat him up inhumanly.

Jake wanted revenge, so he decided to participate in the tournament and have a confrontation with McCarthy. But Roqua tried to stop Jake.

“You fight outside, and never come back to the gym. I forgive you once, but will not forgive you again.” Roqua shouted.

“I am fighting now so as to not fight again.” Jake tried to convince.

“Just let it go.” Roqua said.

“I did it. I let go my father to drive, I didn’t even tried to stop him. I cant do it again. Ur brother died, u let go ur father, and started sulking here.” Jake said.

“You know nothing Jake. I wake up every morning in this gym, wash my face and look into the mirror, disgusted. You know the last time I heard my father, he said – “That nite I lost both my son.”

“Everyone has his fight. I have to fight so that I need not fight again. You have to fight for his forgiveness. Letting go is also a consequence.” Jake said.

After a silence, Roqua said – “Whatever happens, try to control the outcome.”

Jake got the confidence required. He went and after few excellent stunts, he crushed McCarthy.

----The Shekhar