M.M.A Techniques and Behavior
To all, Tonight I watched an M.M.A. fight on T.V. The interesting thing about this was the defense used at one point. The guy on the bottom went onto his forearms and knees. His butt is down with elbows and knees touching. The whole of his back is exposed and he is completely vulnerable. But because the back is not a valid target, he got away with it. He even turned in place and got the other guy back up! Later I saw another M.M.A. fight and a similar thing happened. Only this time the guy took an illegal elbow to the back of the neck. He ended up as described above with the other guy beating his face in. The ref stopped it shortly after he said he could continue (but obviously couldn’t). There was also a “street fight” on the “Ultimate Fighter” T.V. show. Here were these two supposed athletes drinking and fighting in the backyard. And another one was egging them on. They were lucky no one was maimed or killed. Dana White took them to task for their childish behavior and kicked the three miscreants out. It was really sad and pathetic antics from supposed professionals. Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

There are many arts with practices that are designed with the competition aspect of their style in mind, yet weak when used in a real combat situation. Wrestlers are instinctively trained to land on their stomachs when taken down because they don't want to get pinned. This is SO important in competition that it becomes ingrained. I imagine to break that habit for a wrestler who crosses over into another martial art would be very difficult. I haven't been following the Ultimate Fighter these last few seasons. The whole thugs and streetfighting thing I believe is part of the marketing of the show. They run auditions and conduct interviews and I believe they want these "characters" that will help the ratings of the show by making it that much more interesting. It's the same as how Survivor always throws a few looney tunes in the mix to keep things cute. Dan White may act all shocked and dissaproving but I am betting as soon as the camera's are off he's all smiles and "That was some great footage! I bet the ratings will go through the roof!" Western Culture is certainly ruining the mystery and deeper training of the martial arts and replacing it with "Use it to fight" mentality. (With exceptions of course.) UFC is great entertainment, but other than having students who overcome their fear of getting hit and committing to an attack it just isn't the best style available because of the limmitations placed on it by having "rules."

Hello North, You posted, “There are many arts with practices that are designed with the competition aspect of their style in mind, yet weak when used in a real combat situation.” So it would seem. The so-called fight in the backyard also resulted in grappling techniques being applied on concrete, too. It was technically correct for the octagon but it was the wrong tactic for the backyard. Also, drinking alcohol radically affected the way in which these guys reacted (no surprise there). You posted, “The whole thugs and streetfighting thing I believe is part of the marketing of the show. They run auditions and conduct interviews and I believe they want these "characters" that will help the ratings of the show by making it that much more interesting.” While I’m certain that there is a lot of truth in this statement, these guys went too far. Antics are one thing but unsanctioned fights are over the line. In my opinion, Dana White could easily have done without this bad press. You posted, “Western Culture is certainly ruining the mystery and deeper training of the martial arts and replacing it with "Use it to fight" mentality.” I would disagree with this and say that the Martial Arts are merely going through another phase. For example, an early phase would have been this; When I was a kid there were charlatans who claimed to be renegade Shaolin monks (on the backs of comic books). They hid their faces and purported all manner of things…for a fee. You posted, “UFC is great entertainment, but other than having students who overcome their fear of getting hit and committing to an attack it just isn't the best style available because of the limmitations placed on it by having "rules." Agreed. It does have its place but it’s a sport not an art. Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

To all, So I’m watching the fight channel on TV over the last few days. And there were a couple of different matches I wanted to comment on. In the first one, this fellow defended against a roundhouse kick to the head. He did this by putting his arm in the way. It was a shield block plain and simple. He got his arm broken for his ineffective technique. In a different match, the eventual winner beat an obviously defeated loser bloody. The ref simply watched for the better part of two (2) minutes while the defender took a beating! He neither returned fire not defended well. Eventually, the bout was stopped, eventually… In still another match tonight, one of the combatants was skilled, eager and focused. It would have been an exciting match if the other guy had known martial arts (at all). I mean, seriously! This loser’s only technique was to jump in close and press the other against the wall. The match went less than the first round. Now there are some really savvy, tough M.M.A. guys out there. Maybe it’s just me and maybe I’m just spoiled. But I have also seen grapplers who choke out their opponents or tap them out (and I mean fast). There are skilled strikers who can knock out anyone they are pitted against. But these other guys, well they make all martial artists look bad. It isn’t enough to be willing to take a beating in the ring. Ya gotta know how to give one, too. Regards, MrE2Me2

I think the problem is when these sub-par fighters qualify for the MMA televised bouts they are fighting against other sub-par fighters. So they show up with a 5-0 record and people assume they have some skill. Then they fight and get clobbered or roll around on the ground for 3 rounds unable to submit each other. The UFC IS getting filled by people who are willing moreso than skilled these days. I know alot of MMA schools teach techniques that are flawed such as the shield block you mentioned. They also teach that if you cover your ear with your hand the forearm can be a shield to block against kicks to the head. Then the kick hits the arm and snaps it like a twig. (Seen that twice in the UFC now) I also know a fighter who does MMA king of the cage fighting and he just took his cast off from having his arm broken blocking a kick. He tried a double forearm block but the kick only hit one arm and snapped it. That same technique was taught at TKF but it was taught to beginners because it was an easy way to stop a high kick whereas the more practical blocks were harder to time and develope skill at. Again I am curious to see how the future of the UFC etc will continue to evolve. Perhaps some Thai Boxer of great skill will show up and be unbeatable for ____ fights. That would change the entire popularity of the current MMA style.

Hello North, I think you’re right. I think part of the problem is that there is a lot of demand by viewers. But there aren’t a lot of fighters who are real good yet. The other problem is that the rules vary from event to event. What is illegal in one place isn’t in another. I really like watching this sport grow. But unless someone or a group of individuals acquire control, it’s doomed. Literally, it is competing with itself for an audience. In my opinion, that is unnecessary. Regards, MrE2Me2

MrE2Me2 I disagree greatly with you on the subject of MMA specifically to your last post... To say that their aren't alot of good fighters in MMA is FALSE and shows your lack of knowledge on the sport. Major clubs such as BTT, Chute Boxe, ATT, Hammerhouse, Tiger Gym... are producing incredibly talented fighters that fight all over the world but are NOT situated in one single MMA organization so you don't see them all if you only watch UFC. Also the variation on rules isn't that big, only 3 rules differ from ever organization... the use of elbows and the use of knees and/or kicks to the head of a downed opponent, aside from that everything else is the same. MrE2Me2 expand your arisen to outside of the UFC when it comes to MMA... check out PRIDE, Shooto, IVC, IFL, K-1 Heros, TKO, ZST... the talent pools are MASSIVE compared to the UFC. Perhaps some Thai Boxer of great skill will show up and be unbeatable for ____ fights. That would change the entire popularity of the current MMA style. Their names are... Anderson Silva - Brazilian Muay Thai Champion, UFC Middleweight champion Mirko Filipovic - European Kickboxing/Muay Thai Champion, PRIDE Absolute Champion Wanderlei Silva - (former)PRIDE Middleweight Champion Jose "Pele" Landi - IVC/Mecca/Rage Cage Champion, Brazilian Muay Thai Champion Yes all these fighters have paved a new way for the future of MMA... a little history note Jose "pele" Landi started the movement YEARS ago for Muay Thai in MMA, take sometime and search information about this living legend.

Hello Crowear, Welcome to the forum! You posted, “To say that their aren't alot of good fighters in MMA is FALSE and shows your lack of knowledge on the sport….” Uh, actually, that was a specific response to a specific comment made by “North”. If you had looked at my earlier posts, you would have seen that I also posted; “Now there are some really savvy, tough M.M.A. guys out there. Maybe it’s just me and maybe I’m just spoiled. But I have also seen grapplers who choke out their opponents or tap them out (and I mean fast). There are skilled strikers who can knock out anyone they are pitted against.” You posted, “MrE2Me2 expand your arisen to outside of the UFC when it comes to MMA... check out PRIDE, Shooto, IVC, IFL, K-1 Heros, TKO, ZST... the talent pools are MASSIVE compared to the UFC.” I watch the fight channel regularly and I am an ardent fan…speaking of which; Are you ready for the crossover match between “Ramage” Jackson heavyweight champion of the U.F.C verses Dan Henderson heavyweight champion of Pride? Your quote about Thai boxers was from North not me. But I’m going to respond to it anyway. It will be interesting to see who can survive the meat grinder that M.M.A. has become. All fighters are expected to fight very often. This has lead to a quick turn around of champions on a regular basis. So far there hasn’t been any one great fighter to emerge from this unscathed. I mean no disrespect when I say this, but the whole point of the quick turn around is to show that no one can fight continuously year after year without being beaten. This includes all fighters of all arts whether they are living legends or not. Regards, MrE2Me2