Respect in MMA?

[okimura]

Here's what happened. I went to check out a gym that offers instruction in MT, boxing, and jiu jitsu. I talked to the gym manager and he was rude and disrespectful. I told him that in addition to MT and Judo, I had practiced aikido and JKD. He said about aikido and JKD, "you're aware that those are not effective forms of self defense, right? If you want to learn what really works, then this is the place." Then he went on to brag about how the instructors had one x number of fights and were champions of such and such. He was abrubt and rude and in kind of insulted me. Then later on I was thinking about it. JKD not effective? I beg to differ. I learned a lot of good self defense techniques, and not just the eye poking/gouging and groin kicks, but grappling and striking that are from MT and jiu jitsu. And isn't Bruce Lee considered a very important influence in the development of MMA? And what about aikido? I hear it's taught to Japanese police, and its derived from jiu jitsu!!! It's not useless. In a way the guy kind of insulted his own gym.

I don't want to make any generalizations but I have encountered several people like this who think that MMA (MT and BJJ or some variant) are the end all of martial arts. Theirs is the best. They have no respect for other disciplines. I've sparred with some of these guys in MT. I put my hands together and bow in the traditional Thai way, and they don't return the gesture. I've met a lot of these guys that have no discipline and no etiquette. What's the deal?

[UseoForce]

What you're saying is propagating an incorrect stereotype that I have yet to experience for myself.

First of all, many instructors in many styles market their particular style has the best. That's been that way for as long as anyone can remeber. Is it right? Not really, but it isn't something to get upset about.

As for respect, I've experienced nothing but respect from 99.9% of the mixed martial artists/jiu-jitsu players I've worked with. I wish I could say my experience with traditional arts has been as good.

The difference is MMA/jiu-jitsu guys don't have a lot of formalities. That doesn't make it any less respectful!

Before every sparring match in my school, we touch gloves or shake hands. At the the end, we laugh about what we did wrong and give eachother advice. Heck, pro guys usually hug after a bout! It's all very open. There is no artificial respect built into the mixed martial arts, but there is very genuine respect present.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Most of the MMA guys I have met are pretty informal, no bows etc., but they're no less respectful. Most of the ones I've met do however have a show me what you got attitude. They don't want to know if you've done a martial art for 5 years, they want to know if you can use it. I respect that. If you've been training in something for 5 years, but you can't hit them with a basic kick or punch, then you need more practice. Or, it is very possible that for you, for your physicaly attributes, what you've been training in just isn't right for you. Also, in all reality you could go to a hundred different places and at least half of them will have one instructor or more that will tell you what you are doing is wrong. That it won't work in a real situation, and what you really need is their training to help you out. Whether you choose to believe this, well that's all up to gullability. Most of them will back off it if you can prove yourself on the mat though. That's the key to this whole thing, you have to prove yourself to them. If you can use Aikido affectively on someone in the ring, they're going to respect it more. Until that happens, no respect. If they've fought a lot, they've probably fought with aikidoka, that doesn't mean they were good, it just means they studied Aikido. If they ate those people alive, they are going to assume Aikido doesn't work.

[parkerlineage]

I don't know if it's commonplace, but the limited experience I've had will MMA practicioners is that they disregard traditional arts as outdated and ineffective, and tend to snub their noses at things like bowing.

I can't say that they all do that, because I don't have enough experience, and I'm sure that not everybody is that way. But I have experienced that.

[TigerDude]

Some people are just jerks. Don't take that guy's example to apply to the whole field.

BTW, you didn't say, but I hope you're not going to give him money. Don't encourage such behavior.

[bushido_man96]

Sounds like you may have just picked out a bad apple. Just let it go. One thing you should consider with MMA fighters is that they probably spend a lot more time fight training than traditionalists do. Myself, I have to work for a living, so I don't get to spend 6 hours a day training. That is where the difference lies, I think.

[Shotokan-kez]

I agree with Bushido man, you picked a bad apple. Not sure what you guys mean by MMA fighters?? I feel that respect it is a big thing among martial arts and i have a lot of it, i think without respect it's pretty useless. On the other hand i also think that sensei's/masters should also show a little respect to his/her students. Not by putting them down and being inpleasent.

I have lots of respect for other MA styles and am very facinated by them, i am hoping to either try Thai boxing or TKD in the next few months. Any kind of martial arts has it's own disciplines and all should be respected really.

Kez xx

[ps1]

What you're saying is propagating an incorrect stereotype that I have yet to experience for myself.

First of all, many instructors in many styles market their particular style has the best. That's been that way for as long as anyone can remeber. Is it right? Not really, but it isn't something to get upset about.

I agree with UseoForce whole heartedly! I've walked into just as many TMA schools that have said the same thing about other systems. Remember...there's no such thing as a bad art...just a bad instructor!

I don't know if it's commonplace, but the limited experience I've had will MMA practicioners is that they disregard traditional arts as outdated and ineffective, and tend to snub their noses at things like bowing.

Just wanted to point out that the bowing is usually replaced by a handshake and friendly smile. They simply tend to swap one tradition for another. I've had very few people snub their noses at it...it's just not their way.

I put my hands together and bow in the traditional Thai way, and they don't return the gesture. I've met a lot of these guys that have no discipline and no etiquette. What's the deal?

Try a hand shake. Afterall, when's the last time you met your business partner, car dealer, or boss and gave him a warm Thai bow? If you did that (in America)...people would look at you funny. Ettiquite varies from school to school and to expect someone elses school to follow your ettiquite is a little presumptuous. Besides...if a bow doesn't mean anything to them...do you really want them doing it? I'd rather have a warm meaningful greeting. In some places it's a bow, in others a handshake, and yet others it comes in the form of poking fun and kidding with each other.

I do think the instructor sounds a little cocky though. But that's what alot of peole want to hear these days. Can't blame him for trying to sell his school to someone who's interested. It's what alot of people want to hear. Not all of them...but alot of them.

[cathal]

Something else to consider here is that he may simply have been trying to scare you into buying into a training program.

[Anbu Alex]

yea i think its just a bad apple i know alot of MMA ppl some are jerks others are not just like life even in traditional arts there are ppl like that. alot of my MMA Friends are really into learning stuff in my art and in turn i ask about their art and learn we are all going towards the same goal but different paths....but u have me paranoid cause people bow to me and they are from another TMA i just pat them on the back make me think that they think i being rude cause for a traditional art my school doesnt do the whole traditional thing