IT'S A MANZ WORLD

WRESTLE BUDS - Note: Most of my Manz World stories are fictionalized accounts of how the painting shown here came to be. However, some of the stories are rooted in truth.

Most people don’t realize how many men of all backgrounds, sizes, ages and, yes, gender preference, enjoy nudity. I’m one of those men. Many people also don’t realize how a true nudist prefers to be naked much, if not all, of the time. This is not for the reason of being sexual or to invite a sexual event, but because being without clothes is just the natural thing for a human. As one of my nudist friends says, “We were born without clothes. Why not stay that way? Isn’t that the way God meant us to be?”

Of course, there is the conservative Christian view that, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, God shamed them into covering their nakedness. Unfortunately, that view has been the reason many people do not want to shed their clothing in public. They say it’s immoral, that it goes against what God wants for us. That same reasoning is true in other religions as well.

Another reason for some people is the negative view they have of their own body. I have a friend who knows of my preference to be naked and says he would like to go with me to a nude beach or camp but because of his being overweight he would be embarrassed. I’ve told him there are people who are more weighty than him at the nude camps and beaches I’ve been to and no one cares. Unfortunately, that has not convinced my friend to bare all.

I have been asked the question: “So, what do nudist do when naked?” My answer is that it has to do with where they are and what interests they have. Many, if not most nudists, are naked only when at home. So, what do they do there? They do what they would do on any day when dressed: make dinner, do the dishes, clean the bathroom, do homework or, for relaxation, they would sit and watch some television. Naked.

And then there are the nude camps and resorts—even beaches—that are found throughout the country. Most camps and resorts have pools as well as recreation areas that provide for playing basketball, volleyball, tennis, pétanque and pickle ball, sports that are very popular with nudists of all ages.

However, there are also the planned happenings that draw people to a venue for a special event. I’ve seen advertisements for nude ice skating, naked horse back riding, nude rock climbing and, of course, special nude indoor swims at pools that are normally open to the public. In our community there is a bowling alley that, once a month, closes to the public for a night of nude bowling sponsored by our local camp. It is a ‘members only’ event but very popular. And, somewhere out west, a ski resort allows for nude skiing at certain times. I must admit that would not entice me since, not only am I not a skier, I’m very sensitive to the cold.

There are several very large national events that are of interest to nudists. One such event is the naked volleyball tournament held in the fall in Pennsylvania where up to 2,000 nudist gather for a whole week, coming in from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. Another similar tournament is held in the spring in Florida, near Tampa. One other big event, while not just for nudists, draws many people who end up taking off their clothes. That is the huge Burning Man event held in the middle of a desert in Nevada. Thousands of people (almost 80,000 attendees in 2023) go there, many because they can throw off their conservative facades—the doctor, the plumber, the housewife—and throw off their clothing as well, becoming more open as they enter into this special time in this very special place. I’ve spoken to several friends who have gone to Burning Man who said they saw hundreds of people, both male and female, walking or biking naked, some of them having never before experienced nudity in a public place.

One of the many events included at Burning Man is naked wrestling. Although women are allowed to participate, it’s mostly a male event. I’ve seen several videos of men, some more talented and athletic than others, who have wrestled there. As are all events, this one is held no matter what the weather. I’ve seen guys wrestling with sweat pouring off their bodies as the sun is blazing down with the temperature up near 100 degrees. I’ve also seen guys wrestle in the rain. By the end of their allotted time, they are drenched and usually covered in mud from head to toe.

Over the years the Nevada Burning Man event has spawned ‘mini’ Burning Man events that are held at nude camps and resorts throughout the U.S. One such Burning Man Weekend is held annually at the camp where I go. And as in Nevada, there is a nude wrestling contest. I’ve viewed several of these wrestling bouts, including last year where I saw one of my friends, Steve, wrestle one of his buddies, David. Both men were well toned. However, Steve had an advantage since he had been a wrestler back in high school. And that advantage paid off eventually, even though his adversary put up a good fight.

Having viewed this and several other nude wrestling events, I decided to draw what one would look like. That is what you see here.