What evactly is MMA, is it just a mixture or blends of different styles? If so then someone doing Karate and TKD along with Kempo would be consider a MMA person, or I am missing something here. Thanks for any and all replys ahead of time.
Question regarding MMA
- Thread starter terryl965
- Start date
good question, & a big one too. i think the most pragmatic answer is that MMA is a combat sport, one that generally requires proficiency at multiple arts. sure, someone blending tkd & kenpo is training a variety of arts, but to call them an MMAist would be misleading.
jf
jf
OP
- Thread Starter
- #3
Why is that, if you do not mind expanding onthe previous post
myusername
Brown Belt
My novice interpretation of this is that MMA is a sport and "style" all of its own. Somebody may train various arts to enhance their performance within the MMA arena or just attend an MMA school.
Somebody who trains in various multiple martial arts but does not compete or attend a specific MMA school is cross training but not an MMA person.
I do Jujutsu and TKD and I consider this cross training and would not consider this MMA.
Somebody who trains in various multiple martial arts but does not compete or attend a specific MMA school is cross training but not an MMA person.
I do Jujutsu and TKD and I consider this cross training and would not consider this MMA.
The early UFC's where promoted as "Mixed Martial Arts" competitions, in that they featured martial artists from different styles competing.
It didn't take long for the rules of the event to lead to what is essentially it's own style and the terms usage switched to that style. While there is still a range in what different fighters specialize in and what there background is they still all do bascially the same sorts of techniques and train in similar ways for the same set of rules.
Karate, TKD and Kenpo does not suit that style as it is lacking in wrestling, submissions and Ground & pound training as well as the more general idea of training with all of those things allowed with a combat sport mentality behind it.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #6
I understand what you are saying, but I do not understand what it is then, For me if you train in multiple discepline than you do MMA. I know it is not tha easy but it should be. How is MMA a style when they are just taken from various styles.
I think you are putting too much emphasis on the literal meaning of the words.
Or, in the same line of reasoning as your question, is anyone that practices a punching & kicking art doing Tae Kwon Do? Or anyone that is practicing empty hand fighting doing Karate?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #8
No I am not trying too. I was ask to teach a fighter here locally MMA and I told him what I do and how we train, now he wants some of his buddys to come train with me and says I should say I am teaching MMA and I am trying to figure out if it is right or not for me to do so. I hate to say something that is not true as you know Andrew.
LuckyKBoxer
Master Black Belt
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Ok.
Here is what I consider a fair definition of what MMA is.
MMA = Mixed Martial Arts.
Kajukenbo is an example of an art that was started based on mixing different martial arts into one.( I have never trained in Kajukenbo by the way... but the name itself is literally a mix of martial arts added together... KA - KArate.. JU - JUdo/JUjitsu.. KEN - KENpo.. BO - BOxing/Chinese BOxing kung fu.)
MMA is most popular and most well known for its sports aspect, which is displayed in its most famous venue of the UFC, and formerly PRIDE fighting competition. The sports aspects have rules, and are based on mixing the best of different martial arts techniques and aspects to cover the ranges of UNARMED hand to hand combat... which include
1. Out of range
2. Kicking and punching range
3. Clinch range
4. Takedown range
5. Grappling range
any person who trains in multiple martial arts is truely a Mixed Martial Artist, although they might train for Combat reasons, Academic reasons, or Sports reasons.
I think with the success of the Sports aspect of MMA it is virtually becoming its own Martial Art. The vast majority of people automatically assume that MMA means sports fighting, the funny thing is that the vast majority of non sports centered martial artists also attach this same meaning to the term MMA, and automatically assume that a MMA practitioner is not skilled enough to make his skills work in the street in a lethal encounter.
This is how I describe the term MMA to people who do not understand it, I would love to hear someone add to it, or describe it better for me.
I might add if someone is inquiring about whether you teach MMA or not, I think simply finding out what their goals are, and being honest about what you do would answer their question for them. If they are simply looking for training to enter sports fighting, and you do not specifically teach that, I would recommend either hiring someone to do it, or pointing them elsewhere.
Thanks
Here is what I consider a fair definition of what MMA is.
MMA = Mixed Martial Arts.
Kajukenbo is an example of an art that was started based on mixing different martial arts into one.( I have never trained in Kajukenbo by the way... but the name itself is literally a mix of martial arts added together... KA - KArate.. JU - JUdo/JUjitsu.. KEN - KENpo.. BO - BOxing/Chinese BOxing kung fu.)
MMA is most popular and most well known for its sports aspect, which is displayed in its most famous venue of the UFC, and formerly PRIDE fighting competition. The sports aspects have rules, and are based on mixing the best of different martial arts techniques and aspects to cover the ranges of UNARMED hand to hand combat... which include
1. Out of range
2. Kicking and punching range
3. Clinch range
4. Takedown range
5. Grappling range
any person who trains in multiple martial arts is truely a Mixed Martial Artist, although they might train for Combat reasons, Academic reasons, or Sports reasons.
I think with the success of the Sports aspect of MMA it is virtually becoming its own Martial Art. The vast majority of people automatically assume that MMA means sports fighting, the funny thing is that the vast majority of non sports centered martial artists also attach this same meaning to the term MMA, and automatically assume that a MMA practitioner is not skilled enough to make his skills work in the street in a lethal encounter.
This is how I describe the term MMA to people who do not understand it, I would love to hear someone add to it, or describe it better for me.
I might add if someone is inquiring about whether you teach MMA or not, I think simply finding out what their goals are, and being honest about what you do would answer their question for them. If they are simply looking for training to enter sports fighting, and you do not specifically teach that, I would recommend either hiring someone to do it, or pointing them elsewhere.
Thanks
Dave Leverich
Black Belt
Terry, I'd say no. I started in TKD in 85, Tai Chi in 89, Escrima in 90/91, JKD in 98 etc, but it wasn't 'MMA' by todays standards. What it was, was me training in different styles but not together as ONE application. Although some of the footwork from FMA might show up in my TKD, or some of the circular movement from TC, it still wasn't one unified application.
I've trained MMA almost two years now. As I see it, the art has kickboxing range, boxing, stand-up grappling, and ground grappling (then also ground/pound). What arts you use in each aspect might vary but the overall combination is 'MMA'.
Myself as an example; I use TKD and Muay Thai in my kickboxing bubble. Boxing with some JKD and others at hand range. Greco/Collegiate with bits of Judo at standing grappling range (good lord I wish I'd taken Judo when I had a chance years ago...), then wrestling and BJJ in ground grappling and wrestling/boxing in gnp.
While the name 'mixed martial arts' could connetate any blend of arts, what it's come to be accepted as is a very specic set of skills and approaches at each range. It's quickly become a defined sport and method of training in the last few years.
I've trained MMA almost two years now. As I see it, the art has kickboxing range, boxing, stand-up grappling, and ground grappling (then also ground/pound). What arts you use in each aspect might vary but the overall combination is 'MMA'.
Myself as an example; I use TKD and Muay Thai in my kickboxing bubble. Boxing with some JKD and others at hand range. Greco/Collegiate with bits of Judo at standing grappling range (good lord I wish I'd taken Judo when I had a chance years ago...), then wrestling and BJJ in ground grappling and wrestling/boxing in gnp.
While the name 'mixed martial arts' could connetate any blend of arts, what it's come to be accepted as is a very specic set of skills and approaches at each range. It's quickly become a defined sport and method of training in the last few years.
Terry,
I wouldn't suggest claiming to teach MMA -- but if you've got the skill sets to do it, nothing says you can't coach people in how to use your TKD to compete in MMA events -- including coaching or leading conditioning and sparring workouts.
Too many people are opening MMA gyms up with incomplete training. They've done a bit of boxing, a little wrestling/jujitsu, some TKD or muay thai for the kicks/knees... and they don't really know what they're doing. I personally feel I could coach someone, primarily in the stand-up and clinching, for MMA if they wanted to do it -- and have a line on folks to give them the grappling -- but I wouldn't hang my shingle as a MMA coach, either. Lots of these guys out there are just riding the fad, like the ninja turtle kids programs that showed up in lots of very commercialized dojangs...
I wouldn't suggest claiming to teach MMA -- but if you've got the skill sets to do it, nothing says you can't coach people in how to use your TKD to compete in MMA events -- including coaching or leading conditioning and sparring workouts.
Too many people are opening MMA gyms up with incomplete training. They've done a bit of boxing, a little wrestling/jujitsu, some TKD or muay thai for the kicks/knees... and they don't really know what they're doing. I personally feel I could coach someone, primarily in the stand-up and clinching, for MMA if they wanted to do it -- and have a line on folks to give them the grappling -- but I wouldn't hang my shingle as a MMA coach, either. Lots of these guys out there are just riding the fad, like the ninja turtle kids programs that showed up in lots of very commercialized dojangs...
The "Tao of Jeet Kun Do" sums up MMA IMO. Yeah, there's more too it, but Bruce Lee was on to something.
This to me is spot on! Teaching MMA is as specialised as teaching any other art. To teach MMA correctly is to teach more than just kicking punching and takedowns, you have to teach tactics, fitness, nutrition. You teach them to corner people because it's good training for actually fighting,watching for opening, the way the opponant fights etc. It's in depth training and many people only see the kicking, punching, take downs etc and think its easy to teach.
Coaching people in your TKD though is an excellent idea, I know many fighters who have good TKD skills, Rosi Sexton who's fighting in the States next month is one.
In this country MMA means only one thing, fighting in the cage/ring. We are lucky in that being very small still we tend to pick up any 'commercial' gym that is offering MMA and saying they have fighters, one was exposed as a fraud last week. Impossible in a big country though.
We will send out fighters out to learn fom others if we can, they are off to Thailand again later this year to train MT.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #15
Remember I wa sasj to call it that but I am not. I will continue to train and get of these fighter into shape nut thar is all. <aybe one day I could expand and even help corner someone.
Cornering someone is very satisfying! You'd enjoy it.
the art of a corner is very underestimated!
hey terry, sorry it took me a while to come back to this.
while blending any martial arts might technically count as MMA, the term MMA is commonly understood to refer to a specific type of sport fighting. while tkd & kempo would have some value to an MMA fighter, they are not commonly regarded as "core" MMA arts. i think that to teach "MMA", someone should have either MMA competition experience themselves, or be qualified to instruct at one standing & one grappling art commonly seen in MMA. just my opinion.
jf
OP
- Thread Starter
- #18
I appreciate you getting back with me, I have told tem I will teach what I know to them but please do not tell people I teach MMA because I am a Karate and TKD guy. I sure do hope they understand that.
Mixed Martial Arts is exactly what it sounds like. But in practice, things are a bit different. A mixed martial artist is going to be someone who is very well-rounded. Technically, if you train multiple martial arts, you're a mixed martial artist. But in reality, a mixed martial artists is going to have very solid striking skills, as well as very solid grappling skills.
The most common martial arts in MMA are Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, and Sambo.
Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very common combination.
Most professional Mixed Martial Artists train Muay Thai, BJJ, and Wrestling (and many even incorporate boxing).
Of course, there are always exceptions.
The most common martial arts in MMA are Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, and Sambo.
Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very common combination.
Most professional Mixed Martial Artists train Muay Thai, BJJ, and Wrestling (and many even incorporate boxing).
Of course, there are always exceptions.
