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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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...
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.
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.
Why is that, if you do not mind expanding onthe previous post
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
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.