The various sports events, Pride, and whatnot...?

Question

For those who watch and/or participate in these competitions?

1) why? What do you get out of it?
2) do you think it is real martial arts or are people like me just grumpy and sticks in the mud?
3) would you prefer to be involved one of these sports mas or a traditional style and please state why for either answer?

For traditionalists who do both I have a question:

1) do you find the sport ma interferes with your traditional training?

Frankly, I am becoming fatigued with the spate of "will [name entered here] win in [name of sports ma here]" questions and I am also tired with "will [name of sports ma practitioner here] beat [name of sports ma practitioner here]"

I have never had any desire to participate in or watch these things and I do not understand the draw. Likewise I do not enjoy watching boxing or WWE.

Thankyou Kung Fu Fighter for the thought-out answer. Much of what you say makes much sense.

Oh, "kid". Me?

Hardly.

Forgot... thankyou ninedemons too.

Answer 1

I've been giving this some thought.

1. I have studied 'mixed martial arts' before they started calling it MMA. I've studied striking styles, grappling styles, and styles like Hapkido, which combine grappling and striking. Although I have never entered an MMA tournament, I have been in both striking and grappling competitions where I could have used skills from the other styles but the rules would not allow it. Even now, Hapkido isn't a viable style in the UFC because the rules forbid most of the techniques used in Hapkido. There's a good reason for this. If you apply a wrist lock and then strike the forearm to dislodge the wrist, you can do serious damage that isn't practical in a sporting event.

2. I think that sporting events like UFC, Pride, K-1, etc. are attracting a new breed of fighters. In the early days, you saw black belts who had years of training in their respective styles. These martial artists had not trained for this type of competition before and were forced to adapt to a set of rules. Today, fighters are well aware of the rules and train accordingly. Listen to the introductions of these fighters. Some are still introduced as 'Muay Thai Fighters' or 'Brazilian Jujitsu Fighters', while others get introduced as 'Mixed Martial Artists' or 'Free Style Fighters'. The term 'Free Style' could refer to a mixed martial artist, or it could be someone who hasn't studied at all and is just a street fighter. Either way, they are all bound by the same rules once they enter the ring.

3. These sports are gaining popularity. Because they are a sport and not scripted entertainment like pro-wrestling, people can bet on them. The reason boxing has such a bad reputation for being 'fixed' is because it is the easiest sport to control the outcome. Team sports are much harder to fix because you have to rely on more than just one person (Anyone remember the 'Chicago Black Sox'?). In boxing, you just have to get one guy to agree to take a dive. In MMA competitions this is even easier to do because you don't have to fake being knocked out. All a fighter has to do is take the fight to the ground and 'accidentally' get caught in a submission. Think it can't happen? Neither did boxing fans. Money is more dangerous than any martial art.

These events are competitions for those who wish to either test their skills or seek glory among their peers. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with either of those things, nor is it wrong to not pursue either of those things. Many fighters in Thailand compete in order to win a championship so that they can retire and open their own gym and make money to support their families. If I wanted to become an MMA coach, I have no resume to attract young fighters. I would either have to compete myself or find someone willing to take a chance on me.

Look at what UFC did for Gracie Jujitsu. I grew up about a mile from their gym and never knew it existed. After the UFC, there is a waiting list to get signed up and people actually move to California to train there.

You say you are tired of the 'Who will beat who' questions, but they are here to stay. Click on any of the sports topics and you will see the same questions. Whether its 'Will Man U beat Arsenal' or 'Will the Yankees beat the Red Sox', every sport has these types of questions.

Answer 2

First off MMA is the real deal. its not scripted like pro wrestling(WWE). it is better than / more safe than boxing. boxing has a long history of being fixed+ if you get your head beat in for 12 rounds and they give you 8 sec. to answer the bell you have more of a chance of serious brain damage. MMA the fight will be stopped as soon as 1 fighter taps out (submits) is unconscious(ko'd or passed out from a choke) or cannot intellegently defend himself(completely getting his butt kicked). all fights in UFC at least are sheduled for no more than 5 rounds. and is sanctiond by an athletic commision.
What really makes the sport great is that you must be trained in various forms of martial arts.not only must you be well versed in boxing/kickboxing but you must also be able to grapple.. ie wrestling jui-jitsu judo etc. if you ever have the chance watch a fight night on Spike (dont know if i can advertise that) and see for yourself the actual work and skill it takes for these athletes to compete in the sport. It might give you a different outlook on MMA.

Answer 3

MMA is using many different styles of martial arts which if you look at one of the most brilliant martial artists in the world, Bruce Lee, he was always improving his art by using different techniques from other forms of martial arts. Those that believe that only one kind of martial art is the best is narrow minded and doesn't see real athleticism and art in MMA. Yes occasionally you will get your fight that just looks like a bar fight but the intricacies of MMA are seen by those that really understand the concept of using an open mind to achieve ones goals (which is what most martial arts are all about).

Answer 4

1) I like to watch how fighting is done, how certain techniques are done, how people use same techniques in different way, see how they deal with other techniques, and it's fun to watch two different styles fight. It is always interesting. Also I learn many different techniques, stratergy, and counters from watching. I mean those guys are some of the best fighter we know of in the world, so why not learn from watching them?

2) I think it's martial arts. I don't think there's a true way to definite martial artists. It's same with religions, some people are uptight about it while some others are very laid back and relaxed. Some martial artists choose to try live by the code rigidly, some choose to test themselve out, and some choose to make a career out of it. If you think there's a certain requirement for people to meet to be consider as a martial artists, please tell us where you get the requirement from.

3) I perfer to be involve with sport mas because I feel like I recieve better training. What kind of instructor wouldn't try to train their students as best as they could then toss them in ring? In traditional style, it's not always easy to tell if the instructor geniunely are trying to train their students as best as they could. So this kinda push me away from traditional. Also I LOVE to spar/grapple, it's fun and it also build more respect among the students.

Answer 5

I totally agree with you and find the mma fighters misusing their martial arts completely. I find it irritating as the media vexes the people to think martial arts is only learned how to beat someone up.
Boxing however I accept as a western martial art. There's nothing wrong with it

Answer 6

Entertainment and with MMA it is a sport still in its infancy so watching the evolution of the fight game is what fascinates me. Perhaps since you dislike boxing too, you would prefer team sports. I am sure most MMA fans would be appalled by your WWE comparison.

Answer 7

i'm a practitioner and rabid fan of MMA, and can see that you don't get it. i've been into it since UFC 2 when i first saw gracie destroy the compettion with techniques i had never concieved of. at the time i was in high school and was a skilled in baseball, football, wrestling, and track, so i apreciated the athleticism of the contestants. i always rooted for the wrestlers because i could relate to them. now my view has evovled with the sport and i'm aware that you must cross train and be able to take advantage of every oppurtunity. you must also be able to defend against your opponent's style. i was floored by the idea of letting everybody bring whatever style the practiced to the table to see who was best. watching it evolve and become mainstream has been refreshing. i remember buying tickets to go watch it in niagra falls in '95 or '96 and at the last minute they had to pull the plug because the sport was still a bit barbaric, and NY athletic commission posed many sanctions on the event. it's come a long way since then, and it's going to grow much bigger.

it's clear a lot of the traditionists of most common martial arts styles in the world are annoyed because these competitions have exposed how narrow and impractial their styles are when put into action against the more rounded MMA styles that have come rule the fight scene. these katas and kung fu forms may be pretty to watch, and teach discipline and control, and they may take down the completely inept school bully, but that's about it.

bottom line- MMA is here to stay. the athletes will get bigger, and stronger, and make much more money. the events will be more and more main stream, and there will always be ignorant people who can't relate in any way whatsoever. who will know they could never under any circumstances compete. and, of course, have the nerve to mention MMA in the same breath with WWE.

good luck kid.

Answer 8

I completely agree with you. =)

The End.