Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Shephard
So what do you all think about them?
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Several problems with MMA.
1. Philosophical. Originally, the idea of "mixed martial arts competition" was to pit practitioners of different arts against each other. Never mind that the UFC was pretty much entirely a marketing scheme for the Gracie family to market their style and programs. Anyway, the concept morphed rather quickly into mma being a "style" of fighting in itself. But the problem is it is taught as "mixed martial arts" which is pedagogically and philosophically unsound. For example, the average mma gym in the US teaches basically two classes - a Muay Thai kickboxing class and a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu class. So to train "mma", one trains the kickboxing, and the jiu-jitsu. The problem is, Muay Thai is itself a sport, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is it's own sport. So the student is learning two distinct and not necessarily complementary arts/styles of fighting in an attempt to figure out how to "blend" the two effectively in a cage fight. MMA should be taught as a distinct method of combative fighting, a comprehensive and holistic whole system that blends striking and grappling together with a common philosophical approach to training and execution. You know, like practically all martial arts used to do (karate used to have takedowns and submissions/joint locks, judo used to have striking, even boxing before Queensbury rules had takedowns and kicks etc).
2. Bad boxing. Since most mma gyms teach striking from a Muay Thai point of view, their boxing basically sucks. Even Muay Thai fighters have better boxing than most mma fighters, especially amateur mma fighters. The guys who do the best in mma using hand strikes are those with either a pure boxing background, or else a Dutch Kickboxing or Savate background (which uses western boxing methods and training approaches).
3. Bad grappling. It is undeniable that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu teaches really good ground work and submissions (joint locks). But that's about it. MMA fighters with a wrestling background routinely manhandle fighters whose grappling is Brazilian Jiu-jitsu based. Russian Sambo, western Catch Wrestling, even Judo and western Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling routinely produce successful and champion mma fighters who basically destroy a lot of BJJ practitioners. I'm generalising of course, but the trends are unmistakable and observable and quantifiable. Brazilian jiu-jitsu was a development of Judo and Catch Wrestling, but has largely become just "ne-waza" (Judo ground techniques) and the whole "wrestling" part of its history seems to have been dropped from mosrt curriculums. Hence, many BJJ students seek out "how to do wrestling takedowns for BJJ" type supplemental training. But just learning some wrestling techniques is NOT the same as training in wrestling. Wrestling is to grappling what boxing is to striking, the entire gym culture and training approach produces actual fighters with fight mentality and fight capabilities, they both produce "mighty men of valor" whereas too many BJJ schools produce typical "martial artist" types who can execute cool techniques but simply don't have the "oomph" to throw down when it matters. Again, I'm generalising, but having interacted with all the types of people described in this post I can only speak what I have seen.
4. Rules. The rules need modification. Most people simply do not want to watch two guys roll around on the ground for minutes on end. They want to see striking, knockouts, and fast takedowns and quick submissions. There should be more penalties for "stalling" and "avoiding" just like in wrestling and Judo. The definition of a "grounded fighter" needs to change as well, as it has been gamed by fighters so they can stick a finger on the mat and thereby prevent their opponent from kneeing or kicking the head, etc etc. Grabbing the cage should be allowed as well. If you don't want anyone grabbing the cage, then why use a cage? I understand the reasons why the rule was adopted, but come on, it's been abused too much and needs to go back. No kicking the head of the top opponent when you are on the ground is also plain stupid.
5. Steroids and weigh-ins. The use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs is both illegal and practically universal. Everyone pretends like nobody does it but everybody does. It's a shame. At least BJJ doesn't even do drug testing for steroids, at least they are honest about where they stand. But the same is true for all professional sports: everyone is on the juice while pretending not to be. All the young kids looking up to athletes thinking all their success is due strictly to "hard training and vitamins and creatine" are being lied to. And the weigh-ins, the weight cuts, which are ridiculous and extremely unhealthy? Just go to same day weigh-ins. There is no reason why a fight should be listed as "150 pound welterweight" when both fighters step into the arena actually walking around at 175-190 pounds. It's just a LIE.
6. Fixing. Yes, fights are fixed. Not always like people imagine ("You, you're gonna take a dive in the 3rd round, see?") but most professional fights (and a lot of amateur fights) are rigged, either by intentional mismatching or by hiring journeymen to take the loss. There's money in professional sports. Therefore there is corruption.
Alternatives? King of the Streets - a European underground fight club that literally has no rules except no weapons. No rounds, no judges, no points, win by knockout or submission only, bareknuckle, no strikes prohibited, no holds barred, usually on concrete or pavement or in a parking garage. And they have the best video production values of any fight league out there. But, not for the faint of heart.
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