I recently ran across this article by Antonio Graceffo about Traditional Martial arts versus reality fighting. In my opinion his views seem a little biased and incorrect. Just wanted to get everyones opinion on the article and the subject of the article itself. Here is my take on his article and the subject.
Link to full article
"I've been in the ring with champion Tae Kwan Do and other traditional martial artists, and I knew from experience that one solid punch in the face would change everything these guys believed about themselves and their art."
Now i'm not here to bash MMA or any other art for that matter. But this part of his article kind of bothered me. Wouldn't any Tae Kwon do, karate, Kung Fu fighter with experience say the same thing about him and his art. I just didn't get his point of saying this and it seemed rather offensive.
"And if everyone did this, we would develop into a world with one extremely effective martial art. But somehow, the traditional martial arts don't do this."
He is talking about taking the best parts of all the martial arts and putting them together into one art like mma people do. I feel like he assumes that to us traditional people, all we care about is fighting. Yes i guess some of us do but we are also in it for several other reasons. Building character, discipline, spiritual calmness, focus, etc... Thus why traditional martial arts "don't do this" Fighting and winning is simply not what it's about all the time to everyone. To some of us, the worst enemy is ourselves and not another opponent.
"In more than 25 years of training and competing in countless challenge matches and a number of professional fights, I have never earned any type of belt in martial arts."
Maybe because you lack discipline my friend. Okay, that was a bash, I apologize.
"Every few years I get the urge to do TMA. I show up in a school, train a couple days. Then either I get impatient and want to fight, or if it is in a country where I am known, they are curious and invite me to fight. Inevitably, they fight like my sister, and I am disappointed. I leave, running straight back to boxing or Muay Thai (Khmer Boxing). Why would I waste my time unlearning the fighting skills it has taken me years to develop?"
Okay, this is not a bash but the truth in my opinion. In my dojang I learn how to use a Jingum, I learn how to defend myself with my fist and legs. But the most important thing i have learned is patience and respect. The reason why I am a little peeved about the author of this article is because he seems to be lacking in both. A couple days? What could you possibly know in a couple days to "get impatient and want to fight"? They fight like my sister? Have a little respect and don't generalize people in TMA from the few fights you have had in a controlled situation? Maybe it's just me but I have been taught from my Master that a comment like that will get me kicked out of the dojang for good. Patience and Respect.
"In Korea, it happened the same way. On my second night of training, the teacher said he wanted me to fight one of his guys – so they could see what I could do. They were curious about the way a boxer/kickboxer fights, and I think I may have only been the second foreigner to ever enter the school, so there is always some interest in seeing how foreigners do things. I started looking around for boxing gloves, but they told me I wasn't allowed to punch, because it wouldn't be fair, and someone could get hurt. While I agree with them, having me fight without gloves wouldn't demonstrate what it is that I do. I am, admittedly, the world's worst kicker, so this was going to be a one-sided fight. When the teacher said, "Go!" I rushed in and crowded my Korean opponent. I stayed right on top of him, where he couldn't use those long high kicks that they love. From this position, the only kick I could manage was a shin kick to the back of his right thigh, which I threw repeatedly. First he stopped to complain that I was crowding him. Next, he complained about the shin kicks. A few times, he did manage to get a little distance and throw high kicks, but I blocked with my elbows. Finally, one of my elbows landed square on his shin, and he collapsed in pain. The fight was over.
I pretty much knew the fight would go like that."
Thats great that he won that match. It truly is, and I do agree that a lot of these mma fighters are awesome. I have seen them in action and would not want to run into them in a dark alley but again. This is not what martial arts means to all of us. So i still don't understand why he speaks of TMA ers being out of touch and we should change to become more like them. And again, just sticking up for my peoples here, controlled situation. It's not real life. I have unfortunetly seen a mma person that was very efficient at there art, layed out on the ground when he messed with the wrong group of guys. Seen the same thing with TMA people too. But that is my point. To me, martial arts are not only about being the best fighter in the world. If it was then man...I have wasted a lot of time.
"The next day when I came to class, the teacher complimented me on my performance the night before. He said that blocking kicks with elbows was deadly. He was also fascinated to watch me work the heavy bag with my hands. "Wow!" he said, or the Korean equivalent. "That is amazing, and tough." Then he proceeded to teach me some stupid, silly, traditional martial art punching drill, after which, he taught me how to block kicks with my open hands."
Wow indeed. I would have a lot of respect for this author if he carried himself with some respect. Maybe he set a great example for himself and maybe even answered his own question here. The Kuk Sul Won Master, MASTER I remind you, takes the time to show how impressed he is and tells the author how amazing and tough his skill looks. The Author in turn when taught the skills of Kuk Sul Won calls the drills Stupid, Silly traditional martial art punching drills. I suggest that if he wants to know the answers of why we do what we do? One, learn to have some respect for others, two gain the patience that he obviously doesn't have.
"Why don't traditional martial arts just throw away the chop, the hammer strike, the finger spear, the monkey-brain, the slapping open-hand kick-block, or at least stop throwing their hands down when they kick? Why don't they see that none of these techniques work, and that they should stop practicing them?"
Why doesn't he...No comment. Patience and respect.
"Proponents of traditional martial arts say, "It's not about fighting. It's about discipline."
Yes and no. I would say depending on who you ask, its actually about a good balance of both. Both being equilly important, with out one I feel the other is worthless. But that last statement is purely IMO.
"Now I am training for a fight again. I am in the gym three hours a day. Are they saying pro-fighters lack discipline?"
No, I just feel that he has no discipline. Okay, that was another bash, im sorry. But truthfully, and I'm not saying that only TMAers know this because i'm sure a lot of MMAers follow this too. Discipline is not just about training hard. Discipline is how you carry yourself when your not in the Dojang/Dojo/Gym. Yes, this author seems to be very disciplined when it comes to fighting and training. As for having discipline in how he treats others, patience and how one carries himself. I see no discipline what so ever. Opinions are opinions. They don't have to be followed up by insults. Excuse me all for my lack of discipline. I'm trying to be fair as possible here.
"They argue that traditional martial arts is about technique. Isn't pro-fighting also about technique?"
Yes, i will agree with him on this. Although i do feel that technique of fighting in a ring/cage and techniques of fighting outside against multiple people or even one are different. But yes, I do honestly believe that pro fighters have great technique.
"The final argument is usually, "You just don't understand. It's not about fighting."
If it's not about fighting, then they need to change the name to the NON-MARTIAL ARTS."
I saved this part for last cause I thought it was SPECIAL. Okay, i'm normally a really sarcastic guy so you all don't know how hard it is for me to not go all out on the author right now. But I'm gonna resist here and just stay on track. I'm just gonna sum it up here. He calls what we do stupid and silly. He shows us no respect and in a very biased article basically bashing our arts. Yes Antonio Graceffo my friend, you just don't understand. Yet I will give him one thing, he seems to be trying to find an answer. He is taking Kuk Sul Won and says he will try to keep up with it. I can respect him for that, but the way he went about trying to find the answer to his question? This (IMO) offensive article? Tells me that he has not found the answer yet. Maybe not the best path to take.
-Andrew
P.S. This post is in no way a bash to MMAers. I have nothing but respect for them. But it's more pointed towards people who are like the author. It's okay to question, but have some respect. Unfortunetly there are people in MMA AND TMA that are like that. Now the real question is, who's fault is that? Again, sorry for the novel and a half. Just had to get this off my chest.
Link to full article
"I've been in the ring with champion Tae Kwan Do and other traditional martial artists, and I knew from experience that one solid punch in the face would change everything these guys believed about themselves and their art."
Now i'm not here to bash MMA or any other art for that matter. But this part of his article kind of bothered me. Wouldn't any Tae Kwon do, karate, Kung Fu fighter with experience say the same thing about him and his art. I just didn't get his point of saying this and it seemed rather offensive.
"And if everyone did this, we would develop into a world with one extremely effective martial art. But somehow, the traditional martial arts don't do this."
He is talking about taking the best parts of all the martial arts and putting them together into one art like mma people do. I feel like he assumes that to us traditional people, all we care about is fighting. Yes i guess some of us do but we are also in it for several other reasons. Building character, discipline, spiritual calmness, focus, etc... Thus why traditional martial arts "don't do this" Fighting and winning is simply not what it's about all the time to everyone. To some of us, the worst enemy is ourselves and not another opponent.
"In more than 25 years of training and competing in countless challenge matches and a number of professional fights, I have never earned any type of belt in martial arts."
Maybe because you lack discipline my friend. Okay, that was a bash, I apologize.
"Every few years I get the urge to do TMA. I show up in a school, train a couple days. Then either I get impatient and want to fight, or if it is in a country where I am known, they are curious and invite me to fight. Inevitably, they fight like my sister, and I am disappointed. I leave, running straight back to boxing or Muay Thai (Khmer Boxing). Why would I waste my time unlearning the fighting skills it has taken me years to develop?"
Okay, this is not a bash but the truth in my opinion. In my dojang I learn how to use a Jingum, I learn how to defend myself with my fist and legs. But the most important thing i have learned is patience and respect. The reason why I am a little peeved about the author of this article is because he seems to be lacking in both. A couple days? What could you possibly know in a couple days to "get impatient and want to fight"? They fight like my sister? Have a little respect and don't generalize people in TMA from the few fights you have had in a controlled situation? Maybe it's just me but I have been taught from my Master that a comment like that will get me kicked out of the dojang for good. Patience and Respect.
"In Korea, it happened the same way. On my second night of training, the teacher said he wanted me to fight one of his guys – so they could see what I could do. They were curious about the way a boxer/kickboxer fights, and I think I may have only been the second foreigner to ever enter the school, so there is always some interest in seeing how foreigners do things. I started looking around for boxing gloves, but they told me I wasn't allowed to punch, because it wouldn't be fair, and someone could get hurt. While I agree with them, having me fight without gloves wouldn't demonstrate what it is that I do. I am, admittedly, the world's worst kicker, so this was going to be a one-sided fight. When the teacher said, "Go!" I rushed in and crowded my Korean opponent. I stayed right on top of him, where he couldn't use those long high kicks that they love. From this position, the only kick I could manage was a shin kick to the back of his right thigh, which I threw repeatedly. First he stopped to complain that I was crowding him. Next, he complained about the shin kicks. A few times, he did manage to get a little distance and throw high kicks, but I blocked with my elbows. Finally, one of my elbows landed square on his shin, and he collapsed in pain. The fight was over.
I pretty much knew the fight would go like that."
Thats great that he won that match. It truly is, and I do agree that a lot of these mma fighters are awesome. I have seen them in action and would not want to run into them in a dark alley but again. This is not what martial arts means to all of us. So i still don't understand why he speaks of TMA ers being out of touch and we should change to become more like them. And again, just sticking up for my peoples here, controlled situation. It's not real life. I have unfortunetly seen a mma person that was very efficient at there art, layed out on the ground when he messed with the wrong group of guys. Seen the same thing with TMA people too. But that is my point. To me, martial arts are not only about being the best fighter in the world. If it was then man...I have wasted a lot of time.
"The next day when I came to class, the teacher complimented me on my performance the night before. He said that blocking kicks with elbows was deadly. He was also fascinated to watch me work the heavy bag with my hands. "Wow!" he said, or the Korean equivalent. "That is amazing, and tough." Then he proceeded to teach me some stupid, silly, traditional martial art punching drill, after which, he taught me how to block kicks with my open hands."
Wow indeed. I would have a lot of respect for this author if he carried himself with some respect. Maybe he set a great example for himself and maybe even answered his own question here. The Kuk Sul Won Master, MASTER I remind you, takes the time to show how impressed he is and tells the author how amazing and tough his skill looks. The Author in turn when taught the skills of Kuk Sul Won calls the drills Stupid, Silly traditional martial art punching drills. I suggest that if he wants to know the answers of why we do what we do? One, learn to have some respect for others, two gain the patience that he obviously doesn't have.
"Why don't traditional martial arts just throw away the chop, the hammer strike, the finger spear, the monkey-brain, the slapping open-hand kick-block, or at least stop throwing their hands down when they kick? Why don't they see that none of these techniques work, and that they should stop practicing them?"
Why doesn't he...No comment. Patience and respect.
"Proponents of traditional martial arts say, "It's not about fighting. It's about discipline."
Yes and no. I would say depending on who you ask, its actually about a good balance of both. Both being equilly important, with out one I feel the other is worthless. But that last statement is purely IMO.
"Now I am training for a fight again. I am in the gym three hours a day. Are they saying pro-fighters lack discipline?"
No, I just feel that he has no discipline. Okay, that was another bash, im sorry. But truthfully, and I'm not saying that only TMAers know this because i'm sure a lot of MMAers follow this too. Discipline is not just about training hard. Discipline is how you carry yourself when your not in the Dojang/Dojo/Gym. Yes, this author seems to be very disciplined when it comes to fighting and training. As for having discipline in how he treats others, patience and how one carries himself. I see no discipline what so ever. Opinions are opinions. They don't have to be followed up by insults. Excuse me all for my lack of discipline. I'm trying to be fair as possible here.
"They argue that traditional martial arts is about technique. Isn't pro-fighting also about technique?"
Yes, i will agree with him on this. Although i do feel that technique of fighting in a ring/cage and techniques of fighting outside against multiple people or even one are different. But yes, I do honestly believe that pro fighters have great technique.
"The final argument is usually, "You just don't understand. It's not about fighting."
If it's not about fighting, then they need to change the name to the NON-MARTIAL ARTS."
I saved this part for last cause I thought it was SPECIAL. Okay, i'm normally a really sarcastic guy so you all don't know how hard it is for me to not go all out on the author right now. But I'm gonna resist here and just stay on track. I'm just gonna sum it up here. He calls what we do stupid and silly. He shows us no respect and in a very biased article basically bashing our arts. Yes Antonio Graceffo my friend, you just don't understand. Yet I will give him one thing, he seems to be trying to find an answer. He is taking Kuk Sul Won and says he will try to keep up with it. I can respect him for that, but the way he went about trying to find the answer to his question? This (IMO) offensive article? Tells me that he has not found the answer yet. Maybe not the best path to take.
-Andrew
P.S. This post is in no way a bash to MMAers. I have nothing but respect for them. But it's more pointed towards people who are like the author. It's okay to question, but have some respect. Unfortunetly there are people in MMA AND TMA that are like that. Now the real question is, who's fault is that? Again, sorry for the novel and a half. Just had to get this off my chest.
