Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Correia
Obviously. Understood.
JV, would you mind elaborating on how and why you originally got into the (traditional) martial arts and then how and why you made the change over to MMA oriented training, and explain your change of heart? You did, to me, come across as judgmental and with a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth. Sorry if I'm reading into your comments too much.
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I trained originally for self defense I grew up in a real shitty part of town and fighting was a past time it seemed for many of the local boys and which I wholehearedly participated in. I practiced first in TKD, and Shaolin Kung Fu, both were form and technique oriented with some sparring but nothing close to full contact I also trained in Shotokan Karate and Aikido for a while but found them to be too similiar to what I had already learned. I then got into Western Boxing and it started to open my eyes to what really worked, along with Wrestling in highschool. From there it was a simple transition to Muy Thai, and then in 91 after the Gracies dropped a bomb on us BJJ.
A street fight breaks down into simple basic attacks if you master those basics wether its the punching hands of Western Boxing, the leg attacking kicks of Muy Thai, or the most basic attacks of BJJ like the Traingle Choke, Kimura, and arm bars they simply just work better and are more efficient then the vast majority of techniques that are taught from traditional arts.
I can take an untrianed fighter and in 6 months of solid MMA training have them able and capable of defending themselves in a street fighting situation using the basics from Boxing, Muy Thai, wrestling and BJJ. I can't say the same from my training in the other traditional styles.
Its not that I have vehemence towards the traditional styles they do teach self defense but I think they add in too many things that get into the way of what a fight really breaks down to and that is simply mastery of the basic attacks either hand, leg, take down, or submissions. MMA is the evolution and stripping down of the old traditional styles and the refinement of the basics. Take a look at the best fighters in the world and they beat people down with simple basic attacks that they have mastered. They don't have "secret" techniques or "dim mak" mumbo jumbo they master basic attacks and refine them.
I have a ton of respect for the people keeping the traditional martial arts alive and progressing. I just have my own opinion as to what is more effective from my own experience when someone asks a question like the original poster posed.