how do martial artists / practioners / exponents really feel about ufc / mma competition.?

Answer 1

I feel the athletes are very dedicated and deserve the same kind of respect any high level athlete gets.

However, I find that the UFC and others do a big disservice to the martial arts in the way they market and sell their product. I wasn't born yesterday, and I understand it's all about the money; they're giving the fans what they want. But all the trash talk, that high horse they're on about this being the only "real" thing, etc..., etc... gives the wrong impression about the martial arts and, I feel, attracts the wrong kind of people. Luckily, most of these people don't have the patience to acquire real skill, but I still feel publicizing the idea that beating up someone is a great way to boost your ego is just socially irresponsible and culturally decadent.

Also, I'm not that bothered about the idea it's the most violent thing out there, because statistics will tell you Muay-Thai, Kickboxing, boxing, and, in fact, American Football, are all more dangerous than UFC fighting. I would take away that rule that you can hit somebody that's fallen on the ground, though - That I find pointless and brutal.

Answer 2

I believe that most of the UFC fighters are definetely skilled martial artists. They train hard and deserve to win a title. BUT, I strongly dislike UFC Competitions for several reasons of my own. Once again, MY OWN OPINION... (Sorry, if you feel my reasons are unreasonable.)
1. Put too much attention in ground fighting.
2. Combat forms and techniques are not top priority.
3. Score counting may be unfair at times.
4. Too violent (elbows and knees)
5. Pounding (when one fighter dominates and punches while the other is down)

I believe that UFC has taken away the beauty of martial arts. Although some may say tae kwon do and karate point sparrings may not be entertaining, there are rules in which how fighter should fight (if techniques are not in proper form, no points are given.) This preserves the beauty in martial arts. In addition, UFC is definetely TOO VIOLENT! This competition is not about who can pound the crap out of the other guy more, it's about who has learned the art better. Some may say that traditional martial arts such as TKD and Karate are not practical, but that is why they're called ARTS. These arts are not invented to harm, but to SELF DISCIPLINE and BUILD STRENGTH. UFC's way of fighting had become similar to street fights...

Answer 3

I think it has both good and bad to it. Traditional martial arts does not teach some of the more serious or deadlier type techniques to raw beginners or to just anyone per say. They usually teach those techniques to advance students or black belts after they have shown a good understanding of their art and demonstrated they can exercise the proper responsibility that goes with those techniques. I have to admit that I cringe about some ten or twelve year old knowing how put some other kid in school into a choke or arm bar-especially if he is a bully.

At the same time it has caused a resurgence in martial arts training and forced some systems to evaluate their ability to be effective with respect to ground fighting and wrestling. They now are starting to modify their approach to those things and give their students better skills and self defense with respect to the ground fighting aspects which has really always been important but not always recognized.

Answer 4

It is simply entertainment, but it is also brutal and gives people a distorted view of martial arts.

UFC is NOT art. It is gladiator sport. It is not realistic as they say. When they start killing each other, I'll say it is "real", and I know there's an audience for it if they do start killing each other

Do I watch it? Yes. Why? entertainment. Would I do it? Hell no. I am a lot smarter than that. I also wouldn't drive funny-cars or dragsters, but I like to watch that too.

As a martial artist of more than 20 years, I think that it is doing harm to martial arts, but I do not attempt to stop it. It simply is, but I view it as very separate from martial arts. It is a sport, period.

Answer 5

I'll put it this way:

Most mixed martial artists HATE traditional martial arts. When training in an art that involves breaking someone's arm, or knocking them out, they want to know what is most EFFECTIVE.

That's what MMA is all about. Finding what works best, getting good at it and using it to win a fight.

Practicality is the name of the game.

I, for one, cringe when people refer to what I do as "Martial Arts" because it brings to mind all of the TMA jokers that answered before me who are all like "no character building...no discipline...not an art...blah, blah, blah".

I joined the Army to build character and discipline. I don't need some guy with a 10th degree blackbelt in some crap that doesn't work telling me how to do it through focusing my Chi.

Answer 6

"Traditional" Martial arts teach humility and non-violence. Some have argued that it is the most important part of the art and that the physical training is a tool to improve the spirit.

While the participants in the MMA fighting have trained in traditional arts, it seems they have forgotten half of what they were taught. So while they are skilled athletes, I don't consider them Martial artists.

Answer 7

I am a novice brazilian jiu jitsu/muay thai fighter. I think that the UFC and other mixed martial arts promotions show which fighting systems are full of crap and which ones are effective.

A lot of the karate, kung fu, tae kwon do guys hate the ufc because it shows how ineffective their techniques are. Don't get me wrong, their are a lot of useful self defense tools from karate and the others. But, they are more like practicing acrobatics instead of fighting.

Answer 8

MMA fighters are martial artists, I don't get the question.

Answer 9

I think it's awesome. Watching all thoughs combinations of fightting styles go at it, is lots of fun. I'm currently training in a UFC style gym and I am also a Black Belt in WTF, I can definatly say, all fightting styles should be appreciated. by all.