Welcome to Gaia! ::

Big problem alot of TMA people are having is that MMA has taken all self control out of the equation. Bigger badder stronger faster is the new mantra. Focus (fukus) Discipline (disapron) and Control (cuntroll) are seeming to die out since the onset of the new MMA way. Sadly as some TMA try to upgrade to MMATMA they loose it completely.

Yes, actually I do think mma will/does have an affect on tma. The 'grappling' or 'wrestling' you see in mma is a prime example. In a fight against an assailant, heckler, drunk, etc. where martial arts is needed, nearly 70% of the time the fight will end up on the ground. This isn't to say that learning stand up fighting isn't necessary. In fact, it is very important since 'stand up' is where most fights begin. However, you knowing what to do should the situation turn into a ground fight is essential if you value your life. Many tma styles today have already begun incorporating ground work into their styles after seeing it's effectiveness from practitioners such as the Gracies who were early mma fighters.

What about us guys who do neither TMA or MMA?

Like me?

I don't do MMA or TMA

People have different tastes. There are MMA guys who hate on TMA

and there are TMA guys like Martial J's teacher who spit at the mention of MMA.

If you look at it objectively you can realize that even the so called TMAs are in fact mixed anyway. Monkey kung fu is what? Kung fu that adds the motions and antics of a monkey. Still freakin kung fu. Drunken monkey, Drunken boxing, same s**t diffrent principles. oh and heres something to point out. Theres one called Snake AND crane. isn't that a mix of of Snake style and crane style Kung fu.... I think so.

The refinement of any one form or style weather TMA, MMA, or your own doesn't freaking matter because it all stems from the same pit of potential that all humans being posess. the only real seperation between fighters is the drive to use and hone those instincts into skill.

and yeah. <.< me too. Muay Thai, explain that one soul, are you just that pissed that you over looked that or are we missing something.

I respect both in the fact that they are useful for their times, during the era of the big TMA boom they were useful due to the fact they were used to defend one self and kill a man, that was the core usage of TMA no matter how you look at the spiritual or mental aspect. Once it became inconvenient and somewhat illegal to walk down a street and snap a guy in two for looking at you funny came the time when compromise was created and in turn came about MMA. Aikido is a fine example of traditional yet still existant MMA, Ueshiba Morehei O Sensei created Aikido off the principals of other Budo which in turn created another MMA which was more useful for its time. And as much as I hate to say it UFC fighting is useful for the times we live in, cause you dont want to be lethal and accurate in a bar fight, you just want to subdue your opponent and MMA opposed to TMA has perfected this art.

I guess it's mostly a matter of opinion. When I think of MMA, I think of a style of martial arts that has incorporated both standing and ground work. With TMA, I think of a style that only incorporates one of the two. I don't really consider katas or belt systems as being something that makes a traditional style traditional. I think it's also more a matter of how long it's been around. In that perspective, styles such as boxing can even be considered TMA. pirate

Muay Thai is, I believe, one of quite a few TMA styles that do both standing and ground work. You really can't say that TMA only covers one area of the two. Thats my opinion anyway.

but people have things for special people like special karate... ( the only thing ive heard of mrgreen ) but thats it! fat people will come out sweating and hungry all martial arts teachers should tell the to eat and make a diet for them specifically! mrgreen mrgreen