kickboxerkid

This topic is purely based around the study of MMA as opposed to the study of seperate styles that make up MMA.

I've never studied MMA as a style, however I have studied other styles that make up the basic structure of what MMA is and what MMA involves.

Kickboxing and Ju jitsu being the ones I've indulged in.

I really enjoy studying the styles seperately, purely due to the flexibility it allows and how I can schedule it. Also finding a local MMA trainer or gym is quite difficult.

Bryan

The way I've come to understand MMA is that its what it is...Mixed Martial Arts. Each fighter develops their own hybrid of styles and mixes them.

Theres no real set technique, strategy or anything, which makes MMA so unique and interesting. No two fights are the same, no two fighters are the same.

Unlike in boxing or karate vs karate, MMA is unpredictable and UFC and TUF and other MMA competitions really use that to their benefit. You never see two people just jabbing at eachother for an hour straight. Instead, you see new technique and intuition grow in front of your eyes.

Thats why I love MMA and would choose it over any "particular style".

roundhouse87

I'd have to agree with bryan.

While typical style training does allow you flexibility, it severaly restricts freedom of technique, style and attack/defensive moves.

Then again if you've never studed MMA as an art previously, you're less likely to know anything of difference.

kickboxerkid

I see what you mean.

I'm still looking around for a good MMA trainer and gym in my local area. If needed I'll have to look a bit further out and travel a bit further to the venue.

Thanks for the input so far. More welcomed.

Sinjin

you have to look at it this way as well; things that work in kickboxing (or whatever discipline) vs another kickboxer will not work against other styles.

This is what makes MMA so great. It takes the techniques that really work, and discards the techniques that only work in their own discipline. For example, try a spinning roundhouse kick where your opponent is allowed to take you down. In a Tae Kwon Do match you don't have to worry about it so, a spinning or jumping kick can be effective

kickboxerkid

I can see what you're saying.

A lot of people who I've spoken to at the dojo who have given MMA a try have said that they always went back to just standard styles such as kickboxing due to how easy it is. The variation is minimal so it's a bit easier to perfect techniques.

rogue

MMA is an art. Karate and other "single" martial arts to me can sometimes be a science. It's something you study and you do.

MMA is an art because you incorporate your own blend of several different martial arts to create your own style and expressions. MMA is beautiful when an expert can jump from BJJ, to Hakido, and back to BJJ without effort or ease.

kickboxerkid

I see what you mean, so it's safe to say it is an art due to its level of personal expression within the varying styles.

Would you say any 'style' is just a science, and 'styles' that combine with others are an art? OR is that too general?

rogue

Well in a way, yes, I would say that studying just ONE style and not incorporating or blending it with others is a science.

I say that because really, when you think about it, its all "out of the book". There are a few expections like Shaolin and other arts where there are different styles WITHIN the parent style. Like, crane style, tiger style, etc.

Studying one art and not mixing it is very technical and literal and leaves no room for creativity. If your opponent strikes here, you do this. If your opponent strikes there, you do that...

If you do MMA and mix several arts you have an unlimited amount of possibilities and options, and it gets much more difficult, and you must apply much more time and imagination. Creativity comes into play, and you can switch it up any how you want.

That's why I see it as an art...as opposed to a science.

roundhouse87

Art is Expression while Science is Education....that's what I always say.

MMA allows for new doorways to open and mix your styles, techniques and effects in with eachother to develop something completely unique to yourself. This is why 99% of MMA fighters are all unique.