Invitation to Participate in Research Study on Continuous Contact Point Interactions

[Johnny Dutch]

Hi,

I am a PhD researcher at Griffith University and currently studying continuous contact interactions in martial arts disciplines such as wrestling, judo, jujitsu, MMA, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi.

We are seeking experienced martial arts practitioners and coaches to participate in this research that involves a brief (5-10 minute survey). Your insights will contribute to bridging the gap between practical expertise and scientific theory, advancing the literature in combat sports science.

To participate please click on the following link link deleted by Staff.

Please note that the link may not open if you're connected to a VPN.

Feel free to share with others who might be interested. Your insights are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Haruhiko]

continuous contact interactions in martial arts disciplines such as wrestling, judo, jujitsu, MMA, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi.

G'day Dan!

Glad to participate, but just want to clarify some things (fellow postgrad context - UoM and RMIT).

Is this for a thesis, joint publication, data for a meta analysis, etc.? How did you come to choose this forum, and how can you guarantee that survey entries are (aside from VPN denial, which appears to still be allowing common VPN services at a glance) vetted as reliable data points, according to your requirements?

There are some definitional things as well... MMA isn't technically a discipline, it's an umbrella term for combat sport martial arts training methodologies and sometimes gym programs. For example, a fighter in the UFC with a background in judo, karate, and US wrestling, could be considered an "MMA" fighter.

combat sports science

How have you defined combat sports in your thesis, or if you're just surveying, what publications' definitions have you used?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

I haven't gone all the way through the survey, but I note that the first 3 questions are personally identifying into (full name, gender, and birth year) and I don't see any statements regarding privacy, how that data will be used, who it might be shared with, whether it might be sold to 3rd parties, or any of the usual stuff along those lines that I might expect from an academic study. (At least here in the U.S. - and I believe privacy laws are stricter in the EU). Are standards for such things different in Australia or is this an oversight?

 

[skribs]

I haven't gone all the way through the survey, but I note that the first 3 questions are personally identifying into (full name, gender, and birth year) and I don't see any statements regarding privacy, how that data will be used, who it might be shared with, whether it might be sold to 3rd parties, or any of the usual stuff along those lines that I might expect from an academic study. (At least here in the U.S. - and I believe privacy laws are stricter in the EU). Are standards for such things different in Australia or is this an oversight?

Also in the OP "please note the link may not work on VPN".

Yeah, I'll pass. I'll pass with a 10-foot pole.

 

[Simfers]

Yeah, I stopped at the first question, where it asked for my full name. Smelled rotten.

 

[Haruhiko]

Are standards for such things different in Australia or is this an oversight?

There are, and usually surveys like these include a cover page with ethics and privacy details.

 

[skribs]

There are some definitional things as well... MMA isn't technically a discipline, it's an umbrella term for combat sport martial arts training methodologies and sometimes gym programs. For example, a fighter in the UFC with a background in judo, karate, and US wrestling, could be considered an "MMA" fighter.

I would argue that MMA is a fairly specific discipline at this point. There are certain situations that you really only train if you're training specifically for MMA, that aren't coming from any of the component arts. Wall work, interactions between striking and grappling (for example, ground and pound) are generally unique to MMA and not any other combat sport.

Various backgrounds can bring in a lot of the skills for MMA, and can certainly create unique styles in MMA, but in order to be competent on the feet, on the wall, and on the ground, you need some sort of training specific to the sport of MMA.

 

[Haruhiko]

I would argue that MMA is a fairly specific discipline at this point. There are certain situations that you really only train if you're training specifically for MMA, that aren't coming from any of the component arts. Wall work, interactions between striking and grappling (for example, ground and pound) are generally unique to MMA and not any other combat sport.

Various backgrounds can bring in a lot of the skills for MMA, and can certainly create unique styles in MMA, but in order to be competent on the feet, on the wall, and on the ground, you need some sort of training specific to the sport of MMA.

I would argue MMA is an umbrella term describing arts that are most effective, and trained for specifically, the UFC ruleset.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

I would argue MMA is an umbrella term describing arts that are most effective, and trained for specifically, the UFC ruleset.

When it started, sure. And that still is one definition. But there are literally mma schools. Those schools aren't necessarily teaching separate wrestling, bjj, kickboxing and muay thai classes, they've got three classes a lot of the time: striking, grappling, and combined.

And that combined class isn't one you'll see in most of those base arts as well, it's a different 'style' created specifically around the mma/ufc ruleset.

 

[Buka]

Smelling a rat as large as a White House ego, I reverted back to my thirteen year old self and filled that survey with fart jokes, boogers
and the foulest language I could muster.

I don’t really know why, but it was kind of fun.
Even the dog laughed.

 

[skribs]

Smelling a rat as large as a White House ego, I reverted back to my thirteen year old self and filled that survey with fart jokes, boogers
and the foulest language I could muster.

I don’t really know why, but it was kind of fun.
Even the dog laughed.

Buka, shame on you. Martial artists, especially those as senior as you, should be exemplars of virtue. You shouldn't be bad influences on younger generations like myself, who also just went and did that.

 

[skribs]

There's a "select all that apply" which only lets you select one item.

 

[Buka]

Buka, shame on you. Martial artists, especially those as senior as you, should be exemplars of virtue. You shouldn't be bad influences on younger generations like myself, who also just went and did that.

Buddy, you’re the bomb!

 

[Haruhiko]

When it started, sure. And that still is one definition. But there are literally mma schools. Those schools aren't necessarily teaching separate wrestling, bjj, kickboxing and muay thai classes, they've got three classes a lot of the time: striking, grappling, and combined.

And that combined class isn't one you'll see in most of those base arts as well, it's a different 'style' created specifically around the mma/ufc ruleset.

Then wouldn't MMA be a training regimen than a discipline?

 

[Haruhiko]

Hi,

I am a PhD researcher at Griffith University and currently studying continuous contact interactions in martial arts disciplines such as wrestling, judo, jujitsu, MMA, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi.

We are seeking experienced martial arts practitioners and coaches to participate in this research that involves a brief (5-10 minute survey). Your insights will contribute to bridging the gap between practical expertise and scientific theory, advancing the literature in combat sports science.

To participate please click on the following link. Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions

Please note that the link may not open if you're connected to a VPN.

Feel free to share with others who might be interested. Your insights are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Dan

We're waiting, DAN.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Then wouldn't MMA be a training regimen than a discipline?

What's your definition of a discipline? What would separate a school/group of schools that takes what they learned, determined how it works together and teach something new (and fairly standardized) different than something like kickboxing, which did the same thing in the 70s?

 

[Haruhiko]

What's your definition of a discipline? What would separate a school/group of schools that takes what they learned, determined how it works together and teach something new (and fairly standardized) different than something like kickboxing, which did the same thing in the 70s?

I lean toward the idea that MMA isn't quite a discipline in the traditional sense. To me, it seems more like a highly adaptive training methodology built around what works best within the current competitive rule sets, especially the UFC's.

Unlike more established martial arts, MMA doesn’t have a consistent philosophy, cultural roots, or a unified curriculum as far as I'm aware. It evolves rapidly based on what’s effective right now, which makes it feel more like a response to the current meta than a codified system in itself.

There’s also a wide range in how MMA is taught e.g. one gym’s approach might be striking-heavy, another might focus on grappling. That lack of standardisation is part of what makes it feel like a toolbox rather than a defined discipline to me.

Western kickboxing emerged by blending styles to suit a new format. MMA feels like a continuation of that trend, just updated for the modern combat sports landscape.

Totally open to being challenged on this, though. I just think it's an important distinction when we talk about what makes something a discipline versus a strategy or methodology.

 

[Buka]

I lean toward the idea that MMA isn't quite a discipline in the traditional sense. To me, it seems more like a highly adaptive training methodology built around what works best within the current competitive rule sets, especially the UFC's.

Unlike more established martial arts, MMA doesn’t have a consistent philosophy, cultural roots, or a unified curriculum as far as I'm aware. It evolves rapidly based on what’s effective right now, which makes it feel more like a response to the current meta than a codified system in itself.

There’s also a wide range in how MMA is taught e.g. one gym’s approach might be striking-heavy, another might focus on grappling. That lack of standardisation is part of what makes it feel like a toolbox rather than a defined discipline to me.

Western kickboxing emerged by blending styles to suit a new format. MMA feels like a continuation of that trend, just updated for the modern combat sports landscape.

Totally open to being challenged on this, though. I just think it's an important distinction when we talk about what makes something a discipline versus a strategy or methodology.

I believe your first sentence sums it up nicely, “isn’t quite a discipline in the traditional sense.”

But to me, it’s still a discipline. And one that works very hard at what it does.

 

[Haruhiko]

I believe your first sentence sums it up nicely, “isn’t quite a discipline in the traditional sense.”

But to me, it’s still a discipline. And one that works very hard at what it does.

Okay sure, but a discipline as a means to what end? Producing exceptional fighters within the confines of an octagon and specific rulesets? I think the answer to that would be yes, as I don't know any MMA fighter or gym that includes weapons in their curriculum.

 

[Buka]

Okay sure, but a discipline as a means to what end? Producing exceptional fighters within the confines of an octagon and specific rulesets? I think the answer to that would be yes, as I don't know any MMA fighter or gym that includes weapons in their curriculum.

As to the question - “To what end?”

To me, a fighting ability as it pertains to self defense of self or others. I don’t think the shape of the training floor has anything to do with it. In fact, I believe training in an octagon, which I’ve done (and, man, does it suck) helps a great deal in actual self defense
in the real world. Think about it, how many dojos train any techniques when you’re pressed against a wall? (a cage in this example) Every place indoors has walls.

MMA has a much more open rule set than most of the other arts I’ve practiced or seen.

What weapons that are applicable in today’s world, as a tool used outside of a dojo or training academy, are we talking about?

In the American Karate that we taught, we only taught two weapons (brown belt and above as a curriculum, but as an introduction to students in lower ranks under the tutelage of professionals in their fields at least once a year)

Handgun and knife.

Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional Martial Arts weapons and I love traditional Martial Arts. I enjoy watching their teachings, their training and I’ve participated in quite a few. But I love all Martial Arts. Except for, you know, scam dojos be they eclectic or Traditional.

I don’t actually know if scam places are still out there anymore. But they were in seventies, eighties, nineties, the oughts, and the twenty tens. Hopefully they’re all gone by now.