Well, let me clarify my opinion (because that's merely what it is): I don't really think that MMA IS a style, per se', so I apologize in advance for any confusion. I do believe that if it's trained, all in one (integrated) it could appear to exist as a style, particularly if it's left to the generic arts of muay Thai, BJJ and wrestling.
However, I believe that MMA is just a combination of ranges. In that sense, it is "beyond" style. Put another way, ANY style trained functionally, could fit within the concept of MMA. As we are seeing now with fighters such as Lyoto Machida, MMA is essentially "free-style" or again, as I alluded to earlier "no-style". Machida's shotokan background (I believe it's shotokan) has demonstrated that any fighter from any background may fit into it's (mma) structure if - and that's a BIG if - he is functional and capable of doing so.
Now, I don't know if that made any sense...but I just got back from training and I believe my blood-sugar level has dropped. Maybe tomorrow I may realize that I've just said something entirely stupid (which wouldn't be a first).
To reiterate, I agree that MMA is merely a method of training; a method that is like a shell, open to ALL arts and approaches.
And Thank YOU for the conversation. Again, I'm merely weighing in with my opinion. I really appreciate all of the opinions here. It's good to see everyone's side of the topic. I look forward to many more!
I would have to agree with that statement. Sure, there are many people out there who say that MMA is just a sport. Or, they say that MMA is "just" muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling. I see MMA as merely a method of training. As such, it is merely a template of sorts that combines the 4 ranges into on whole, trained free style. Any art can be made to fit within that template. As I alluded to earlier, Lyoto Machida is "representing",

Seriously, he's showing the rest of the brain-dead, that MMA isn't limited to just the three arts, known collectively as "Generic Cage Fighting" (lets call it, GFC, consisting of, muay Thai, Wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu).
So to make sure that I am clear with you, virtually ALL TMA's that have the four ranges (and train as much in an "alive" manner) are potentially, MMA. In my opinion, how one trains is almost more important than what one trains. Function precedes and determines form, or should, IMO. Functional, alive training is the engine that makes it all go. If one has those elements in place, I don't care what you do, it's MMA in my opinion.
I understand that. Modern MMA has really only been around since 1993. Some would argue that it goes back to 1925 in Brazil. Others would say that MMA has been around since we first climbed down from trees. I'm with that latter group. I simply don't see MMA as a "sport". It's merely free style fighting, without artificial range limitations. But remember, that's just how *I* see it. Well...I'm not exactly alone with that, but that is my point of view.
I would probably agree. And thanks. Just weighing in.
No no, it's all good. I'm not here to argue but to understand. I live by the old saying, "seek first to understand, then be understood". That's fairly important to me.
Thanks!
That may be. But as I love to play Devil's Advocate, I would ask you to consider a few things (nothing like getting more confused, eh?!)
What if you were drawing from Wing Chun, Boxing and Fencing. Then you emphasized the stop hit and stop kick. Now lets say you're training under one of Lee's instructors (Inosanto, Kimura, or one of their's or James Lee's instructors). You'd be doing Jun Fan gung fu. Now lets suppose that you do the exact same thing, in the exact same way, but you're NOT training under one of those people. Are you or are you not doing Jun Fan gung fu?
You would essentially training the same movements, but you would be without direct lineage to Bruce Lee. Is that or is it not Jun Fan? If not, why not? I'm not arguing either way, merely presenting a point.
The bottom line is, the "word, is not the thing". It ultimately doesn't matter what you "call" what you do. But, I'm going off on a tangent at the moment so I'll stop while I still have a head.
Thanks all! Really good conversations with you all.