Wong,
A ring is not the street. Given.
Here is where those of us who believe sportive MMA is a good training concept have the problem:
“Kung Fu is NOT just a bunch of forms and stances. It has real fighting value!”
“Ok, here are the rules. Show us.”
“It’s not just a collection of vital point strikes and deadly techniques!”
“Ok, here are the rules. Show us.”
“The other guys that claimed to do Kung Fu weren’t really any good at Kung Fu!”
“Ok. Here are the rules. Show us.”
“The rules favor grapplers!”
“Ok.
-We’ve changed to a round system and instituted a
stand-up rule.
-The floor is padded to prevent injury upon slam
or throw.
-There seem to be an awful lot of strikers
knocking people out these days.
-If boxers and kickboxers can do it, why can’t
you? Show us.”
See, we’re not asking for a miracle. We’re asking that the claims are backed up. Give us proof, and we’ll believe it. Show us that people trained in Kung Fu can kick ass in this context and we will all seek this out and learn what we can. We are interested in the improvement of fighting skills, and if Kung Fu shows us that we’ll go that way too.
For the record, people seem confused about “the ring and the street.” None of the MMA types think the ring is the street. We think that success in the ring is a pretty good indicator of how well you can do in real life. Who here wants to screw with Tyson, Belfort or Sak in a real situation?
Those of us who believe sportive styles are the most efficient groundwork for self defense base that on the following ideas:
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Live, active opponents create an environment of continuous improvement-you learn timing, you learn what it FEELS like to hit and be hit. You learn what works best for you under a variety of circumstances… all against an actively resisting opponent. I recognize that Kung Fu uses active full speed sparring in many places, but sports are PRIMARILY about this, and the emphasis is greater: I never escaped wrestling practice without live wrestling. I never leave BJJ without full-speed sparring, barring injury. I have, however, witnessed several “traditional” classes where they do not spar every class.
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We believe that in a fight, gross motor movements are going to be the most effective. I am unlikely to have the presence of mind or body to perform something requiring me to hit a certain exact spot, or extremely subtle manipulation. I WILL however, be able to shoot, sprawl, throw, kick or punch to the body, legs, and head.
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We believe that adapting sportive movements to combat is easily done. I don’t have to choke or submit you once I’ve taken you down. I can pound on your face. I can also gouge your eyes out, rip at your face/throat or throw knees to your head and groin, since I have controlled your body movement and you will have a hard time moving if I don’t want you to. Same goes for stand up work: A throw becomes a slam on the head, a kick to the leg becomes a kick to the knee.
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We believe that all arts and sports have holes, and train to shore them up. Nothing is the perfect art, nothing offers it all.
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We believe in “show us.” We don’t CARE where it came from, show us the value and we’ll use it!
Did I miss anything anyone?