What are we?

[White Warlock]

MMA practitioners as opposed to "Forms Collectors".

Isn´t a FC still "mixing" his MAs? Is it is my impression that many FC´s are classified as MMA practitioners as well as classifying themselves? Also, can a person who practices BJJ, MT and lets say TKD also be classified as a "Forms Collector"? or is he still MMA practitioner? I really don´t know and explanations will be appreciated.

yeah, but mixing MAs isn't really what MMA is about - not in the forms collector sense. The MMA thinking is this - you need to know how to strike. you need to know how to grapple. It's not "strikes from boxing, kicks from tkd, takedowns from wrestling, throws from judo..." It's also not mixing various strikes from various striking styles - all that is WAY too complicated, and you will not make any significant progress at really understanding any of it. MMA is basically a term for a modern approach to a complete fighting system. train grappling and striking. train hard and efficiently.

Okay, there's your base. Having been the first time I've ever heard the label, "forms collector" i'm a bit intrigued and would like to gain input as to what others consider this to be, what each feels differentiates a Forms Collector from an MMA, or from the other options listed, and what each feels they may be classified as.

 

At this point, i'm not quite sure what i would be classified as, assuming classification is even warranted. But i do think it would be an interesting topic of debate.

[battousai16]

...indeed... i think maybe that a forms collector is "i want to learn wing chun, xing yi, tae kwon do, capoeira, kali, and eagle claw because i like them" where as an MMA would be more "i need to learn kicks so i'm going to goto muay thai and train them, but then discard some stuff and maybe add some stuff from tae kwon do, but i need grappling too so i'm going to do a little BJJ, with some aikido principles, and i need to punch so i'm going to do boxing with a little shotokan". you know, less "my punches are wing chun, my kicks are TKD, my grappling is judo", more "this is how i kick, this is how i punch, this is how i lock, this is how i throw", etc... does that make any sense? that's the first i've heard those terms too and i'm intrigued as well... i'm not so sure what i think, i guess...?

[delta1]

Dual Style/System

 

I chose that because MMA , to me, implies that you'd have more than my very limmited exposure to grappling. I would probably say that I'm more of a 'style/system plagerist', as everything comes back to Kenpo for me in the end. But, that wasn't an option, so... .

[Rick]

I'm definately a Mixed Martial Artist simply because i get ants in my pants and can't stay in one style for more than 2 or so years... Although i started in Kyokushin and then floated into a ten year love affair with Freestyle Kickboxing. I've done everything i could find though... Except Tae Kwon Do... I never had much love for it, but now i'm wanting to try it because i like the thrill of jumping and twisting with a massive spinning kick.

 

Rick

[GhostlySykanRyu]

I cannot label myself as any of these. I am one with myself, and I do not limit myself in my search for knowledge. I simply am what I am...without style how can I even call myself a mixed martial artist?

[gcav]

I like to mix and match the different styles I've learn to fit the situation.

[battousai16]

I've done everything i could find though... Except Tae Kwon Do... I never had much love for it, but now i'm wanting to try it because i like the thrill of jumping and twisting with a massive spinning kick.

 

you didn't get enough of that in wushu?

 

i guess to actually answer the question, i might be a forms collector?... maybe...? y'know, i don't pick and choose the techniques per say, i try to learn as much of each style as i can. so... yeah. this is a good question though. i might call myself a dualist, too, except i practice 3 styles

[Rick]

yeah, wushu is where i learnt most of my flashy kicks and all of that kind of stuff, but i wanted to experience more of the Korean style of kicks like i did when i was doping HapKiDo...

 

And JeetKuneDo, dude, i'm pretty sure having no specific style makes u a mixed martial artist. I read Tao of JKD from cover to cover too, but i don't think Bruce wanted us all to become Philosophical drones with no true idea of what we are... He knew what he was, he was a mixed martial artist, always on the move with different styles, and he was proud of his early wingchun beginnings.

 

Rick -

[Bad_Vibes]

I'm amazed you guys are able to effectively keep up with all the styles you study. I'm just starting thai boxing and plan on JJ or Judo down the road. That seems cut and dry to me. A stand up art and a grappling art.

 

I took a limited amount of TKD in the past and learning the hook and to not chamber and snap my kicks has been difficult.

 

When you actually fight (in the ring) how does your body know how to respond if you have trained in all these styles. When in the heat of battle don't instincts just take over. How do you control the style your using.

[Little Dragon]

When you actually fight (in the ring) how does your body know how to respond if you have trained in all these styles. When in the heat of battle don't instincts just take over. How do you control the style your using.

well the main thing about is that you should always keep your cool.The intellegent fighter is always better than the furious fighter.Some people when fighting or sparring get aggrivated if they cant hit the opponent which leads them into going into a frenzy and do what they could do to get a hit.The intellegent fighter always stays calm and knows what he is doing...giving him an advantage.