In today's society it is really quite easy to get caught up in the hype of MMA. MMA, short for Mixed Martial Arts, is an event where fighters enter a ring to fight each other with little more than 4 oz. gloves. Actually, nothing more than 4 oz. gloves. Despite its seemingly violent, at face value nature, MMA is really quite safe. Currently, the MMA industry has no recorded deaths since its inception back in 1993.
Many critics of martial arts tout MMA as being the complete system of fighting, and frequently label traditional martial arts as non-effective. Now this is where I begin to take exception. As a practitioner of traditional martial arts for 20+ years, I can say that it is furthest from the truth. In all do honesty, comparring MMA to traditional martial arts is the equivalent of comparing (get ready for the cliche) apples and oranges.
I believe the crux of the growing criticism stems from the seemingly ineffective techniques that traditional martial artists practice. One of the biggest aspects is KATA, or form for our western society. Kata gets a bad wrap from the flashy gymanastic-like movements that you tend to see on television, but real kata is far from it. When looking at the essence of kata, one must take a step back and look for what is NOT being shown. Have I confused you with that statement? Well, the peasant farmers in ancient Japan disguised their fighting methods through kata. In the eyes of their government, the farmers were just dancing; however, under the guise of dancing, were carefully planned movements that were meant to simulate attacks. What is not shown is more important than what is.
Now, kata is practiced with the same mentality of ancient times. While the movements are pre-arranged, they lend themselves to very specific meanings. However, kata is not just about the movements, but it is also about power and focus - keeping an almost innate sense of surroundings. One should know what, or who is around them at all times. Now, my explanantion of kata is, at best, well, mediocre; however, possibly the best explanation comes from world reknowned martial artist, Hidy Ochiai. Below is an excerpt from an piece that Master Ochiai wrote reagarding kata. the full version can be found here: Kata by Hidy Ochiai
Kata by Hidy Ochiai - Excerpt
...at its highest levels kata becomes a kind of moving meditation; in contrast with zazen (sitting meditation) kata is considered dozen (moving meditation).
Kata is not without its difficulties. Because it contains abstract and symbolic movements, it is not always easy to figure out what is happening without proper guidance. In fact, it is often said that the ancient masters used to hide meanings and special techniques within a kata in such a way that only the worthiest students would ever discover these manings. For this reason, bunkai or kaiseki (analysis of kata) becomes very important to the sincere student. Even the most skeptical could not deny the value of kata as useful physical conditioning. Aside from increasing coordination, kata practice develops strength, tone, speed, balance, felxibility, and depending on the rate and duration of the student's practice, it can become good aerobic execise as well.
Let us move on to what I really want to say about this debate, MMA v. Traditional Martial Arts. The term "effective" is largely subjective, in that it is going to have different meanings to different people. Many will say that in street application, tradition falls short, while the utilization of various martial arts is dominant. While having the knowledge of several martial arts is most beneficial, it should not detract from the knowledge of a singular traditional style. After all, whether it be MMA, karate, tae kwon do or boxing, one only gets oout of it, what one puts into it.
Earlier, I made it known that I have been studying traditional martial arts for 20+ years, and I have been doing so under Master Hidy Ochiai. I would like to share a brief story: One day, while waling home from school in Binghamton, NY, I accidently bumped into a gentleman, whom proceeded to take a knife out, and attempt to attack me. I used a simple wrist submission that disarmed him, and put me out of harms way. Now, of the 20 years I have been studying, I can say that one incident made all of my training pay off.
What did that story mean? Simply put; it means that it doesn't matter the style, if what you are doing is effective, then it shouldn't matter. I do not need someone telling me that my style is "this" or "that," because I know.
