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The sport of ultimate fighting (mixed martial arts) has become the latest fad in the martial arts industry. Along with the sports newfound popularity have come some severe criticisms from various circles. Some Canadian provinces have even effectively banned the holding of mma competitions. Politicians who are against this sport basically argue that it has minimal regulation, and is too brutal. They also point to the fact that the sport may have some organized crime financial backing. Some respected old school martial arts experts point to the fact that most competent (I.e. world class boxers, Thai boxers etc) avoid MMA circles as the money is no good and the risks of permanent injury high. Although many like the entertainment value of the sport, others point out that it is no more realistic than other sports as any competitive sport cannot mirror the street. For example, in the street there is no referee, no time limit, the possibility of several attackers at once, weapons, no rules inhibiting biting, eye gouging, striking behind the neck, etc It would seem that mixed martial arts are rapidly evolving into a popular sport with its own techniques and training methods. Perhaps this fact alone will help change the tone of discussions as ultimate fighting gains ground, establishes itself as a new sport and even martial arts style.
Article created: 2009-03-04 -- It was read 1570 times
COMMENTS
A anonymous user said ...
Mixed martial arts are the future! All these traditonal guys would not last 10 seconds in the octagon!
2009-03-26
Corey said ...
What the heck do you mean a new martial arts style?
2009-03-26
Danny said ...
I am a fan of MMA however I do agree that the rules do give certain disciplines a leg up on the others. Many styles of Kung Fu for example rely heavily on striking the soft spots such as the eyes groin back of the head etc...
As a practitioner of Ba gua Zhang I find it somewhat interesting when I hear people say Kung Fu doesnīt work simply because Kung Fu practitioners have not had much success in MMA.
Particularly grappling has a great advantage in that you cannot kick or knee a downed opponent in the head. That is a huge gift to jiu jitsu practitioners. One of my favorite techniques finishes with an elbow to the brain stem. If I was only allowed to finish a fight by punching someone in the face or submitting them on the ground I would be in big trouble. In a real life situation... things would be very different. That being said I do enjoy MMA very much and do believe it to be the most entertaining spectator sport out there.
thanks for the article.
Danny
As a practitioner of Ba gua Zhang I find it somewhat interesting when I hear people say Kung Fu doesnīt work simply because Kung Fu practitioners have not had much success in MMA.
Particularly grappling has a great advantage in that you cannot kick or knee a downed opponent in the head. That is a huge gift to jiu jitsu practitioners. One of my favorite techniques finishes with an elbow to the brain stem. If I was only allowed to finish a fight by punching someone in the face or submitting them on the ground I would be in big trouble. In a real life situation... things would be very different. That being said I do enjoy MMA very much and do believe it to be the most entertaining spectator sport out there.
thanks for the article.
Danny
2009-04-27
Andy said ...
MMA fights are boring as hell10 seconds of striking followed by 10 minutes of grapplingand while I dont dispute the skill of these guyslets be totally honestgrappling sucks to watch.
2009-05-02
Canadian said ...
Itīs funny to hear that someone would say that a traditional fighter would get there ass kicked by a MMA fighter. Maybe so in the Cage where the rules are to favor the MMA figher however take that same MMA figher into the street with the traditionalist and remove all the rules and start to allow weapons which Many styles train with and now who is the winner. Everything has its time and place.
2009-05-15
Tom Fidas said ...
In traditional martial arts you learn real life situations. You also learn about the structure of the body and the mind. I am not a fan of MMA but I am sure there are many great fighters involved in it.
MMA is a sport. Period. A violent sport....yes I agree but still a sport. Take for example a Tae Kwon Do practitioner who practices for the olympics vs a practitioner of traditional Tae Kwon Do. There is no comparison.
I always try not to laugh when MMA fans say that TMA is not effective when it was TMA that brought UFC to where it is today. Does the name Royce Gracie ring a bell? Heīs a traditional martial artist.
I have been involved in the martial arts for 27 years and have seen many fads come and go.
So why arenīt there many great Traditional martial artists that have have dominated the UFC? the answer is that there have been a few but becoming a TMA takes practice and years to perfect.
I am NOT saying that MMA is not real! It most certainly is but from my experience of being in the martial arts for 25+ years and having over 300 streetfights in my lifetime with no refīs and no rules......I strongly believe that learning traditional martial arts kept me alive.
As for trying to change peoples opinion?
Remember this:
A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still
My advice? Just pick something stick to it devote your life to it and try not to focus on anything else.
After due trial you will be amazed at what you are capable of doing.
Just my 2 cents
BTW I agree with Andy 100%. Thatīs one of the reasons I donīt watch MMA anymore.
MMA is a sport. Period. A violent sport....yes I agree but still a sport. Take for example a Tae Kwon Do practitioner who practices for the olympics vs a practitioner of traditional Tae Kwon Do. There is no comparison.
I always try not to laugh when MMA fans say that TMA is not effective when it was TMA that brought UFC to where it is today. Does the name Royce Gracie ring a bell? Heīs a traditional martial artist.
I have been involved in the martial arts for 27 years and have seen many fads come and go.
So why arenīt there many great Traditional martial artists that have have dominated the UFC? the answer is that there have been a few but becoming a TMA takes practice and years to perfect.
I am NOT saying that MMA is not real! It most certainly is but from my experience of being in the martial arts for 25+ years and having over 300 streetfights in my lifetime with no refīs and no rules......I strongly believe that learning traditional martial arts kept me alive.
As for trying to change peoples opinion?
Remember this:
A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still
My advice? Just pick something stick to it devote your life to it and try not to focus on anything else.
After due trial you will be amazed at what you are capable of doing.
Just my 2 cents
BTW I agree with Andy 100%. Thatīs one of the reasons I donīt watch MMA anymore.
2009-05-17
A anonymous user said ...
300 fights...ah a story teller too i see. i only had about 15.
2009-05-30
T-Cubed said ...
In a real fight there are no rules only survival. Step into a cage a ring an octagon and that changes. It becomes a contest of skills not of survival. The threat in the cage is limited. Sure there are injuries and there are risks; but in the ring it is one on one. In the street today you could end up facing 2 or more opponents; it is never 1 on 1 anymore.
I still enjoy the MMA it has shown that a single style may not be the best style. You have to have a diversified skill set to survive in the ring which can only benefit someone on the street.
It is a debate that may never finish as there are too many variables.
I still enjoy the MMA it has shown that a single style may not be the best style. You have to have a diversified skill set to survive in the ring which can only benefit someone on the street.
It is a debate that may never finish as there are too many variables.
2009-07-02 tcubed@rogers.com
SGSS said ...
criticism or not MMA is killing the traditional martial arts and this is very sad because itīs our heritage. I love MMA iīm a big fan of Fedor but this is going nowhere and its gaining popularity because of its violence and not because of the skillfullness. Thereīs a lot of people that donīt know anything about martial arts history that just go and practice MMA because they saw it on TV. If Martial Arts didnīt exist then there would be no MMA no UFC nothing like that.
2009-07-18
A anonymous user said ...
Very good analysis Sgss I agree completly!
2009-09-30
A anonymous user said ...
yes MMa is killing tma and that is too bad because the public dont get that the fightres all have large traditional backgrounds... george st-pierre for example is a kyukushin practitioner...
2009-11-27
A anonymous user said ...
The MMA is not the real thing. If you want to test your skill donīt fight naked with oil on the body an in a cage with a referee and a doctor near but with clothes in forest or wherever you want outside.
Fighter from MMA may be more efficient in a cage under specific situation it proves just one things individuals physical superiority.
A diversity of skill is not the right thing to learn. You must learn what you are good at and try to polish this one. If not itīs just a fight between school boys.
Fighter from MMA may be more efficient in a cage under specific situation it proves just one things individuals physical superiority.
A diversity of skill is not the right thing to learn. You must learn what you are good at and try to polish this one. If not itīs just a fight between school boys.
2009-12-03
A anonymous user said ...
rules or no rules a real martial artist who has trained a real art with body conditioning traditional forms qigong weapons and who has had a real teacher with knowledge of grappling technique due to extensive practice in his complete style will beat any mma fighter. anyone who makes excuses because of rules and afraid of injury is just someone who doesnīt practice enough and wants to hide behind those excuses. a real martial artist doesnīt waste his time with this topic because it is useless. congradulations your all better than each other.get in the ring and show that traditional fighters are better instead of typing.if not go practice and enjoy your art. if you canīt then it is time to change school. five minutes wasted
2010-03-08