Poll...are the MMA's and UFC's good or bad for martial arts?

[jeffrogers]

My reasons why I think Martial arts from Okinawa got watered down.

 

1. Itroduction by Itosu to bring in the Shori te system into the public school systems. In which he changed the forums and techinques to more closed fist style. He took out alot of the more brutal techinues that can kill a person. Although what he did show was effective none the less for fighting. This was first big mass deliverence of Karate around okinawa. Before it was practiced more in secret or underground. Oh and to confirm Sevenstars idea for competing. Okinawan masters and practioners did do challlange matches with each other. Read diffrent history on okinawa Karate by diffrent authors and you will see that.

 

2. US Military coming to Okinawa and Japan around wwII and after that were only stationed there a short ti me. Picked up moves and then came back to the states to teach them. With out grasping alot meaning behind them. Certain moves were done to get across concepts they were used as a trianing tool. You wouldn't find like that. Wants you got the concept you move your postions to were you would fighting better but you have the idea to apply the concept. Such as the punch from the hips. One hand goes out one hand goes back. To get across the simple, basic concept of push and pull in hitting. So both sides of the body were working.

 

3. Students in America stayign a short time then creating there own system or teaching what they no with out full understanding it to make a buck. So again less martail arts knowledge left there respectvie arts watered down.

 

4. Finally Joon Rhee the supposed "Father" of American Taekwondo introduced more padded gear and point sparring to the states. Which caused to use teachniques less effective or not really that effective at all. Becaues you don't need body weight behind your stirkes you just need speed and torque or (snap) to deliever the techinques. Which also led later on to Muscial forms and others stuff which is Known as form "Acting" Which basically left the Martial artist not really understanding what the purpose of the forms were for. So with lack of concepts and undesrtanding with in the art. The practioner become a weapon with blanks. Sure iwhen its fired off you heard the loud BANG! and see the flash from the barrel its seems impressive but the was nothing in the intended results in which it was designed. So you see the Acting in forms. The gymnastic cart wheels and flips. Don't get me wrong I still like that stuff its fun to watch. Diffrent gymnastics in forms and seeing Wu shu they have some elgant looking forms that look impressive.

 

 

 

So these are my reasons why karate turned into dance and tag.

 

-Jeff

[jeffrogers]

Also on a side note. TMA instructors know that when you open a school Big amount of that revune comes from kids. Kids have short attention spans so pushing off more stuff like point sparring to keep it safer and to have gymnastics in forms, musical forms, its more entertaining. Also stuff like Tae bo and other things to bring in more customers. After all its a business they run and they have to do what they need for a business. So in all honesty mass martail arts is going to be catered to the wants of the public. Look at UFC after that went crazy and every one started getting and is now getting into the BJJ and grappling craze. Schools offer that now. They will find some wrester with some sub skills or a judo guy and they go to wrestling clincis and martial arts seminars to pick things up. Or instructor of a TMA schools were they will watch some Gracie tapes and other stuff. Which I think waters down or mcdojo's the ground frame work. Stupid stuff like taking the back and then going to your back with the attacker between your legs to try to choke him. But they cross there legs. Leaving the attacker to throw his own legs over to ankle lock him. Or showing wrong direction to turn into arm bars. They lack the detail to show them how to make the moves effective.

 

Which on a lighter note pisses me off. Because for an intlectual competing side of Jiu-JItsu and ground work. I like a good game of chess. and pisses me off some one doesn't know how to play were is the fun of that.

 

-Jeff

[Rich67]

Thanks for all the votes and replies, guys. Just trying to generate some good conversation on here.

[Davison]

what goes through the minds of inpressionable youngsters who view violent techniques.after all,they are the future of marial arts.they see the hero,or bad guy,brutally knock or throw his/her opponent to the ground.the loser lays unconscious as spectators cheer.would a youngster be the good guy by violently striking or throwing a schoolmate who gets in his way?when society condones violence as fit for the eyes and ears of youngsters,it is society who is resposible for the influences that violence gives.the dangers of sport competition are numerous,if the offensive techniques taught in sport comp fell into the hands of a person who would use them on innocent people,he would be well versed in the art of attack.Or if an evil person were to watch a competition event,he could easily remember techniques and use them on who ever he/she wished.from the humanitarian point of view commercialism has turned these once honorable self defensive arts into violent fights.i wont lie,every once in a while,i dont mind watching the ufc but everyone should keep in mind one of the most important factors that deal with this topic , our youth of today,for they are the future.

[jeffrogers]

Most of those violent slams are in wreslting. Youth no how to do it if they train in it. As for the Jiu-JItsu part You have to be trained some what in it to make it work. As for youth watching it how old you talking about Teens. Shoot! far more stuff on television that is more violent then UFC/Pride. boxing is on television. WWF is on television. They already do stuff on that. The show * is on television.

 

-Jeff