i cant help but notice that kung fu practitioners get no respect from mma guys. they're always criticizing kung fu guys for doing forms and having no groundwork and oftentimes, they tend to kick kung fu practitioner ass. my question is, why is this so? with centuries history and hundreds of sifus adding to their arts, wouldn't the hundreds of kung fu styles be able to adapt to the fighting styles of mma guys? or are kung fu guys too limited by mma rules: no groin, eyes, hair?
Good observation.
My impression of MMA exponents is that many of them tend to be arrogant and have little regard for the traditonal arts. This attitude could be due to the following reasons:
Most people's understanding of traditional Chinese martial arts (TCM) comes from the movies and wushu competitions. After watching these, they may think that TCM is about executing spectacular flying kicks and flashy moves or that it is just "flowery punches and silky kicks". Rubbish! The TCM fight scenes in movies are deliberately made flashy to provide a great cinematic experience. Wushu competitions are for the most part, exhibition events for
contemporary martial artists. Some moves are watered down or "beautified" to make the performance spectacular. It is thus inevitable that people, especially MMA people, see TCM as "just for show'.
Sanda or Sanshou events are not as well-marketed as MMA bouts. Compared to the latter, in which a variety of techniques can be used, the former is rather restricted in the type of fighting techniques (mainly striking and throwing). People who compare the two are likely to find MMA to be superior because of the repertoire on display. And anyway, Sanda/Sanshou are martial arts modified for fight sports. It is neither TCM nor
leitai fights, in which TCM is used.
I believe many MMA people took up one or more traditonal martial arts before they joined a MMA gym. They could have been disillusioned with the training they received when they did TCM. In Sinkieland and probably other countries as well, there is an overemphasis on the belt/grading system, especially in Tae Kwon Do and Karate. (TCM schools use belts for other purposes, such as preventing your trousers from dropping.) The promotion tests in a belt system tests on your ability to perform
katas, or set plays, and does not emphasize on the physical or martial aspects of the fighting style. In contrast, MMA people train to win fights, and therefore focus more on physcial training and application of techniques. As a result, the traditional martial arts are “for show” and “pass exams” whereas MMA is the “real thing”.
In TCM,
taolu (set play) is used to drill the student in the correct application of techniques and precondition him to execute these in a real fight. Unlike the moves found in MMA and karate, some of the taolu appear to have no real purpose other than just to move your arms around in strange funny patterns. When I first started out in TCM, I was a bit lost myself because the stuff I was learning did not look like anything resembling a block or a strike. It was only after my master demonstrated to me how these seemingly “bo liao” techniques can be used that I realized just how wrong I was. A move can have quite a few ways in which it can be used, and the transition from one to another can be astonishingly fast. Unless you are fortunate enough to be instructed by a real shifu who teaches you the actual applications of the taolu, most of the time you would be struggling to figure out how to use this or that move in a real confrontation.
As if the figuring part is not difficult enough, the practical part is arduous. You need to practise and practise until the execution of the technique is as natural to you as breathing. This requires years of consistant training. Physical training and conditioning are also critical. You can execute your techniques perfectly but if you lack the physical attributes to power these techniques, it is useless. Sadly, many TCM schools today do not focus on physical training beyond leg stretching (for flexibility). This puts the TCM guy at an disadvantage compared to the MMA guy, who is often a gym rat. Of course, constant practice and hard work are also important components of MMA training, but its repertoire is not as extensive as TCM’s, and its moves are obvious (a punch is a punch, a block is a block – no other way). In addition, the results of training in MMA can be seen in a comparatively short time. In TCM, you can train for three years and still be a “beginner”.
MMA is marketed as a fight event for ALL fighters from ALL schools and the winner is considered the BEST. Very American, the last point. Sure enough, fighters from different styles have been competing in the MMA, but most of these fighters participating are not from China and Chinese-speaking countries nor are they TCM exponents. When people point out that the winner in MMA are angmos, and tend to use jujutsu or other forms and TCM exponents suck because they almost never win anything, they forget about statistics. The lack of TCM people in MMA make it unlikely that the winner is going to come from a TCM school. It is simple logic. And MMA fighters train to win in the ring; TCM fighters train to survive a street fight. TCM fighters may be restricted in the type of techniques they can use when they step into the ring or cage or whatever.
MMA fights may be highly competitive events, but they pale in comparison to traditional
leitai fights. The former has safety regulations and certain joint locks/chokes and strikes to particular areas are prohibited. Such restrictions often mean that a defeated opponent often escapes crippling or very serious injuries.
In the
leitai , there are no rules. You are free to employ whatever attack you like. Any part of an opponent is a legitimate target. Fights end when one opponent is knocked off the stage or beaten so severely he is unable to continue the fight. It is not uncommon for a leitai fight to result in serious injuries or worse.
Kungfu - technically speaking, wushu should be a more appropriate term to describe a puglist's art - exponents are taught to end a fight quickly using the best technique applicable to the situation. (By kungfu exponents, I am referring to those trained in the traditional way/school; I exclude
contemporary wushu artists from this consideration.) If a simple front kick to an assailant's knee or shin can end the fight quickly, do it. No need to try to kick his head. All that spectacular moves should be, for the most part, used in performances or practice (if you can kick over a person’s head, you will have no problem kicking him in his chest). A lot that has been written about northern Chinese martial arts using many high kicks and kicking a few times in the air is just BS. All styles/forms of TCM focus on efficiency and effectiveness. The only real differences in “Nanquan” and “Beitui” are that the latter uses kicks or longer strikes more frequently, possibly more circular blocks (this could depend on style), is more ‘space-dependent” and has longer melee weapons. Martial arts principles are the same.
To conclude, MMA fighters should train hard in TCM for a reasonable period of time and under a real master before they open their stupid gobs and criticize.
