LOILOI44 Posted January 29, 2003 Posted January 29, 2003 People have changed in the past 50 years never mind 20,000 and what not. How they have changed is by size and strength. So in turn techniques have changed to modify and deal with much stronger people. I don't think people have changed that much. Until we evolve, human anatomy will always be the same. If you cut off blood flow to the brain, a person will still pass out. A strike to a pressure point will still disrupt a person's nervous system. It's my feeling that MMA competitions are just attracting a larger competitor. I'd also like to know the percentage of MMA competitors who use performance enhancing drugs. If it still exists in the NFL (don't think it doesn't) why wouldn't it be in the high testosterone world of MMA. The human body can only get so big with diet and exercise. Going back to what Kirves said, you can't train for MMA competitions part time. It is a full time job. The Gracies (not taking anything away from their accomplishments) start young, and train full time. Rickson isn't working in a steel mill, he's training all day. If you show that kind of commitment to something you are obviously going to be good at it. I liked the article it brought up some good points. The author apparantly studies in Japan. I agree with him that all JJJ can not be used. Horseback riding and floral aranging (samuari actually studied floral aranging, it was thought to imporve battlefiel strategy) might be valuable life skills, but don't have a place in the world of today's martial arts. The author is absolutely right about the issue of weapon training. I am fortunate in the fact that the school I studied at do not teach weapons till higher ranks. JJJ and BJJ share so many techniques, and given BJJ's success I see no reason why JJJ doesn't have it's place in MMA. Now only to find someone who will answer the call.
Mr Heel Hook Posted January 29, 2003 Posted January 29, 2003 You don't think people have changed that much? George Washington was considered a GIANT among men because he stood a six foot one. There is NO arguing the fact that people have changed. Evolution through diet is only but a small part to it (though clearly seen by how the average Japanese man in WWll stood a 5'2. Exposure to western food has increased that dramatically), man will ever be growing in his six and strength...of course this is finite...but we aren't there yet. I don't really see the point you are making, but I will reiterate mine. The techniques have changed to deal with stronger larger people. What you said about everyone evolving isn't true. It's a slow process. Or I wouldn't be 5'9 @150 lbs. But, aside from all that, I wouldn't be ignorant enough to say that JJJ can't be used. However, because of it's lack of evolution, I don't think it's on par with BJJ yet. Then again, I could be totally wrong because it's not what I study. Lets just call it a guess through what facts I know. "A deer admires a lion. But all the members of our family are lions. So it doesn't matter which lion I admire. " -Rener Gracie-
LOILOI44 Posted January 29, 2003 Posted January 29, 2003 HeelHook, good argument; but if everybody is growing then nobody is really growing. If we are all getting bigger, then doesn't it kind of level the playing field? As far as JJJ goes, it is based on the principle of minimum effort, maximum results. It's all about physics. In JJJ as well as Judo throws, the key is to get your center of gravity lower than your opponents. Granted to accomplish feats like throwing a man who weighs 50-100 lbs more than you does take much practice, but it can be done. In my years of studying JJJ, I have never heard this technique won't work on a guy bigger than you. JJJ isn't about using strength, it's about using your opponent's anatomy and weight against them.
Kirves Posted January 29, 2003 Posted January 29, 2003 HeelHook, good argument; but if everybody is growing then nobody is really growing. If we are all getting bigger, then doesn't it kind of level the playing field? You both have a point. But with the recent generations the growing has been very fast. It is common that a son is almost a foot taller than the father. The difference didn't use to be so huge. The average man today in his fifties is way smaller than the twenty-something average Joe he may have to fight against.
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