What happened to UFC?

[bushido_man96]

I watched WCL.. I def enjoy it.. more martial arts based.. less wrestling based.

Wrestling is a Martial Art.

[Azmyth]

it def. is a martial art.

maybe I should rephrase by saying.

"I watched WCL, I def. enjoyed it.. because they punch & kick".

[NY_Karatedork]

I've never been a fan of UFC, I found it to be somewhat pointless and it looks like wrestling to me which is cool but kind of boring. I know the fighters train in different martial arts but they spend most of their time grappling and punching and not much kicking.

[YoungMan]

Exactly. UFC devolved into using just enough subpar kicks and punches to get in close, and turn it into a submission contest. I couldn't imagine watching 20 minutes of that.

And contrary to what was posted previously, I don't believe wrestling is a martial art. In fact, Keith Vargo (Black Belt Magazine columnist) did a series of columns postulating the same thing. But that's another thread.

[bushido_man96]

I think that Wrestling deserves just as much respect as a Martial Art as any other style would. I think that people get caught up in the idea that Wrestling is not a Martial Art because it is perceived as a sport, or because it doesn't come from the Orient. I think that Wrestling can have just as many applications for self-defense as any other style that is out there.

[Azmyth]

I will agree that wrestling is "martial" but in no way would I consider it an art.

you don't see many "wrestling schools" that allow you to train in the "art" of wrestling.

now, granted.. I am sure there is alot of history behind how wrestling was founded.. but at the same time.. wrestling is rolling around on the ground without any sort of training as a test of strength and might.. in my eyes anyway. sure later on they came up with different maneuvers.. but back to what I said earlier.. if it was a martial art.. wouldn't we have forum for it? or wouldn't there be "grandmasters" in it? or schools you could go to learn it?

just my thoughts.

[bushido_man96]

Again, you are basing your idea of what a Martial Art is on what appear to me to be Oriental/Asian concepts of what the Martial Arts have become. Just because there is no designated "Grandmaster" doesn't mean that it can't be a Martial Art. Just because it doesn't have forms doesn't mean that it can't be a Martial Art. Look at BJJ and Judo. Are they that much different? Sure, they wear a gi, but that does not define an "art."

but at the same time.. wrestling is rolling around on the ground without any sort of training as a test of strength and might.. in my eyes anyway.

This may be how it appears, but ask anyone who has Wrestled, and they will tell you differently. I Wrestled for a year in middle school, and the conditioning training was the best that I had ever had, and I can tell you that it is not easy to do. Looking back now, I wish that I would have stuck with it, because it would have served my Martial Arts training very well. There is a lot of technique involved, just like in Judo or BJJ. The goals are simply different. If it was all about strength, then there would not be a need for Wrestling coaches.