Blood And Guts!

[sensei8]

Thought many here might enjoy the link below...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDgCQtxXhQw

Video is about 30 minutes, give or take a few; history unfolded before your eyes.

At the time of this video, 1968, I had been training 4 years, still not a JBB yet, just a fledging brown belt. I was deeply involved in the MA tournaments back then, and enjoyed them immensely, and entered as many as I could or was allowed to. My emphasis was always Open tournaments, and a rare Closed tournament from time to time; Open tournaments were much more challenging.

Those from this circa, might enjoy memories from yesteryear, and those that aren't from that circa, might enjoy what it was like back then. Every single name and face seen in this video is well known by myself, and I thank them for pioneering the Karate tournaments and the like, of which, todays MAist owes them that respect!!

Your thoughts, please!

[Maybetrue]

for me(my opinion) the 1960's the open karate tournaments were still in the raw stages. the mid 1970's was the golden age for open fighters.

PS was it great when the urquidez family could field a team by themselves.

[JR 137]

I didn't watch the whole thing, but I plan to when I have more time. So far, what I take from it is that it was a different era altogether. Different viewpoints, outlook on life, etc., and not just in MA. We've "softened up" as a society. Not saying that's good or bad, as there's good and bad to any change; good or bad overall is a different thread.

I'm pretty sure Joe Lewis's karate was a result of his military service, training overseas. I wonder how many of those guys' MA training originated overseas as well. That could very well be the single biggest the difference between then and now if one is looking for the one answer (even though it's more complex that that).

The combat servicemen of that era had a far different outlook on life and what being "tough" meant than we have today. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it was a very different era.

Also, that was their "MMA." They weren't playing what some refer to as a safe game of tag; they were fighting. The modern day version of what they were doing is probably closest to Kyokushin/knockdown competition.

Just my opinions.

[sensei8]

for me(my opinion) the 1960's the open karate tournaments were still in the raw stages. the mid 1970's was the golden age for open fighters.

PS was it great when the urquidez family could field a team by themselves.

Yeah, the Urquidez family had the advantage there because they didn't have to look to far to fill up their team!!

[sensei8]

I didn't watch the whole thing, but I plan to when I have more time. So far, what I take from it is that it was a different era altogether. Different viewpoints, outlook on life, etc., and not just in MA. We've "softened up" as a society. Not saying that's good or bad, as there's good and bad to any change; good or bad overall is a different thread.

I'm pretty sure Joe Lewis's karate was a result of his military service, training overseas. I wonder how many of those guys' MA training originated overseas as well. That could very well be the single biggest the difference between then and now if one is looking for the one answer (even though it's more complex that that).

The combat servicemen of that era had a far different outlook on life and what being "tough" meant than we have today. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it was a very different era.

Also, that was their "MMA." They weren't playing what some refer to as a safe game of tag; they were fighting. The modern day version of what they were doing is probably closest to Kyokushin/knockdown competition.

Just my opinions.

Solid post!!

Times surely have changed quite a bit from then to now!! And not just bits of pieces here and there, but the whole thing across the board has changed; a new horizon has emerged

[Maybetrue]

For those that were not lucky enough to see the 1970's open tournaments a quick run down:

- You could see ALL styles compete with minimum protections. not even a cup.

- You could see MONKEY Style Kungfu vs Karate, Kenpo vs Tkd, wushu vs tang soo do , joe shmoe vs combat trained , etc.

- Top "point" fighters could crossover to full contact successfully(i cannot imagine WKF/sport karate of the 2010's doing anything close to crossover).

- NO JUMPING AROUND and yelling after a point, -

- no holding your jaw if you got tapped looking for a foul.

- no weight divisions.

- 50 to hundreds in ONE DIVISION.

- ONE CHAMPION

- best of all, everyone partied TOGETHER after the huge events.(Now days the people from the SAME STYLE HATE EACH OTHER, LOL crazy)

[sensei8]

For those that were not lucky enough to see the 1970's open tournaments a quick run down:

- You could see ALL styles compete with minimum protections. not even a cup.

- You could see MONKEY Style Kungfu vs Karate, Kenpo vs Tkd, wushu vs tang soo do , joe shmoe vs combat trained , etc.

- Top "point" fighters could crossover to full contact successfully(i cannot imagine WKF/sport karate of the 2010's doing anything close to crossover).

- NO JUMPING AROUND and yelling after a point, -

- no holding your jaw if you got tapped looking for a foul.

- no weight divisions.

- 50 to hundreds in ONE DIVISION.

- ONE CHAMPION

- best of all, everyone partied TOGETHER after the huge events.(Now days the people from the SAME STYLE HATE EACH OTHER, LOL crazy)

Those were the days! I miss them quite a lot!!