Martial Arts Philosophy

[Guest]

Here is a long list of interesting martial arts articles. Quite a few of them are philosophical.

http://www.martialinfo.com/ArticlesMA/viewall.asp

Unfortunately there are some broken links floating about.

 

[Doctor X]

I wonder why all of these "Chi" masters never seem to make it into the UFC or other martial art events and win. Why don't "chi" powers ever end up on tape or in the ring?

For the same reason they do not submit to a test for the JREF prize. . . .

--J.D.

 

[Guest]

For all my life I had thought that the martial arts were the be all and end all of fighting. That if one could focus and train to a certain level, they would be unbeatable (probably got this from watching Kung Fu).

In the late eighties/early nineties someone turned me on to Ultimate Fighting Championships. It was amazing how quickly and decisively that street fighters and thugs such as Tank Abbott kicked the snot out of almost every black belt dude there. So much for the mysterious!

 

[thaiboxerken]

In the late eighties/early nineties someone turned me on to Ultimate Fighting Championships. It was amazing how quickly and decisively that street fighters and thugs such as Tank Abbott kicked the snot out of almost every black belt dude there. So much for the mysterious!

Yes, but did you realize that martial arts did make a big difference in a person's fighting ability? Tank Abbott got lucky a few times against the McDojo martial artists, but he didn't fare so well against trained fighter-martial artists. Royce Gracie showed, in the first 3 UFC's, that martial arts CAN overcome size and strength.

 

[Guest]

Here is an article that I thought was interesting. About the connection between imagery and action. The example used is aikido and basketball.

http://www.bodymindandmodem.com/Daily/hoops.html
(this whole site is interesting too)

I also found this site interesting. Common sense Shaolin responses to situations.

http://www.success.org/MA/SelfDefense/Emmotional.html

 

[Guest]

Royce Gracie does not expound enlightenment and meditation. He does not draw his powers from the mystic. He is a scientific wrestler that is into submission and victory, a far cry from brick breakers and board splitters.

I wish I could remember any of the kung fu dudes that tried their trade in UFC but they weren't around long enough to be remembered.

All the 'lightning speed' and 'deadly force' along with the mysticism that accompanies the martial arts aren't worth spit when it comes to the crunch. Other than Gracie, I think the only requirment is the ability not to be knocked out (ie Taktarov).

If I remember correctly most if not all the kung fu guys got spanked like a four-year-old at Walmart.

That being said, the UFC has gone for a dump because of people like Gracie, that turn it into a boring pushme pullme show. They decided to let judges assess who had won, instead of letting the match go to its conclusion. This takes it from the objective to the subjective and destroys the very reason for its being...ie to find out who is the king of the hill.

 

[Guest]

What do you think the purpose of breaking boards is?

 

[Doctor X]

Depends on the situation and the quality of board.

In some cases it is used as a part of gradual training for conditioning.

On the more extreme end it is to demonstrate some great "power." There is quite a history to fantastic breaks--I believe Randi describes how he taught a little girl to break boards--choose the right board.

--J.D.

 

[thaiboxerken]

Royce Gracie does not expound enlightenment and meditation. He does not draw his powers from the mystic. He is a scientific wrestler that is into submission and victory, a far cry from brick breakers and board splitters.

Yes, there are many martial arts that have alot of crap in it.. things like "chi" and "dim mak". But, there are legitimate martial arts that teach people how to actually fight.


I wish I could remember any of the kung fu dudes that tried their trade in UFC but they weren't around long enough to be remembered.

Yes, many "kung fu experts", especially in the USA are just fools that think doing kung-fu movie type of training really pays off. This isn't isolated to the USA though, all over the world people are training in nonsense like chi. There are a few good kung-fu fighters, despite the crap, like Cung Le... but they seem to be, in the ring, muay thai fighters that just added a few extra moves.

All the 'lightning speed' and 'deadly force' along with the mysticism that accompanies the martial arts aren't worth spit when it comes to the crunch. Other than Gracie, I think the only requirment is the ability not to be knocked out (ie Taktarov).

Did you realize that wrestling is a martial art also, as well as Sambo? Maurice Smith did well in the UFC and he is a Thaiboxer.


If I remember correctly most if not all the kung fu guys got spanked like a four-year-old at Walmart.

Alas, this is true. That's why I tend to stay away from most chinese and japanese arts.


That being said, the UFC has gone for a dump because of people like Gracie, that turn it into a boring pushme pullme show.

Gracie had a hard time overcoming the strong and big guys with technique, it may have went alot quicker if he fought people his own size. That being said, to a non-grappler, the ground work looks boring.. a grappler can enjoy watching a good ground fight.


They decided to let judges assess who had won, instead of letting the match go to its conclusion. This takes it from the objective to the subjective and destroys the very reason for its being...ie to find out who is the king of the hill.

I agree, the time limits should be taken out and the fight last until someone is KO'd or submitted.

 

[thaiboxerken]

The purpose of board breaking is to impress people, that's all. Many schools tihnk that the more boards their students can break, the more impressive they will appear to other people. Board breaking doesn't impressive at all, as it has NADA to do with combat.

 

[OdderMensch]

What do you think the purpose of breaking boards is?

"don't know, never been attacked by tree."

TBK
Reverend, I osted some bits of my arts phiosophy earlier, its based of the traditional chinese medicin ideas, chi, and yes I will learn some dim mak later. Just because some, well a lot, of kung fu in the US is bull-shi-do doesn't mean it all is, anymore than all thai boxers are buffed out punks. I've creamed my share of "kung FU fighters" in the past, but I still study kung fu.

 

[Guest]

Royce Gracie is very talented, and so is his whole family.

Yet as talented as they are, Helio got beat by a judoka, so I guess it comes down to who trains the hardest, not the style.


----
Alas, this is true. That's why I tend to stay away from most chinese and japanese arts.
----


Where are the thai boxers at a karate tourney, or a taijiquan sensing hands tournament? Where are the karate people at a boxing match?


Ken, can you tell us when you'll be appearing on pay-per-view? You know, since thai boxers and the UFC are superior and all...and anyone who isn't interested in those things are basically inferior.

Thanks.