Ok, I have been reading this little debate and decide to express an opinion. First, from what I see here I find it hard to belive that any of you have been in more than 4 or 5 street fights, or ever a seen a real deal street thug in action. I know most of you are support the cross training theory, you are absoulutley right. If you think you can block a sucker punch then spin it into some BS armbar in the middle of a club or crowd,, well you've never been there. Street fights do not set up in a toe to toe fashion, very likely you will be hit in the back of the head or blindsided, in which case you can throw round house kicks all you want after you get out of the hospital. All of the good street fighters I have seen will almost always ground their opponents, whether they were attacked or not, I will explain why. 1: in case of a sucker punch, if you have not been KO'ed the best responce is to bring the arms up to gaurd the head from another attack and pull your assailant into a clutch, if you know what your doing from there,it's cake to toss somone who dosen't know whats going on, from there they will be kicked into heaven, 2 If the thug has a target the best trick in the whole world is to walk up to them and chin jab with an open palm and ground them, then kick kick kick. Now imagine you are the guy who messed up your offensive attack, or the guy who was victimized, if you know some BJJ or the like your survival chances just went through the roof, in the first case instead of just being tossed down and boot sauced, you will very likely be able to bring him down with you then snap crackle pop, and leave. If you have been sucker punched and are already on the ground you will know how to bring him to you or how to execute attacks from the ground. MA has to be real world for real people, we go to the clubs we drink, we do not always have maximum balance or power or speed, what is important is being dynamic and having a responce for all possible contingencys, to say my master can kick your masters ass is the height of immaturity, I can beat anyone in the whole world if they aren't looking and I have a beer bottle or bat or heavey cup or a good leather belt or a good silk shirt or or or or or,, you get it. Check out dogbrothers for instance, I challange anyone to take them on unarmed, and even if you do manage to get inside their striking range SUPRISE,,,BJJ! I'm Done. P.S. as to ancient ground based martial arts check out pentjak silat
