I've watched a few minutes of MMA on tv

[Joab]

Something I thought I would never do, as completely turned off to MMA's commercials which I find highly offensive. But I was channel surfing and nothing else was on. I was surprised, its not as bad as the commercials make it look. I'm genuinely impressed with the toughness of the fighters, taking a kick in the shin and keep going while not even exhibiting any sign of pain what so ever. And I was really impressed that some could get off the mat while being pummelled and continue fighting, I never understood this hitting a guy over and over while he is down, looked sadistic to me, but some really can get out of that situation and continue the fight, amazing really.

I don't think I will ever be a MMA fan, but its better than I thought.

 

[Steve]

Something I thought I would never do, as completely turned off to MMA's commercials which I find highly offensive. But I was channel surfing and nothing else was on. I was surprised, its not as bad as the commercials make it look. I'm genuinely impressed with the toughness of the fighters, taking a kick in the shin and keep going while not even exhibiting any sign of pain what so ever. And I was really impressed that some could get off the mat while being pummelled and continue fighting, I never understood this hitting a guy over and over while he is down, looked sadistic to me, but some really can get out of that situation and continue the fight, amazing really.

I don't think I will ever be a MMA fan, but its better than I thought.

As you watch more MMA matches, you'll quickly learn to distinguish between punches that are doing damage and punches that aren't. Often, when a guy is riding another's back and punching to the side of the head, these punches aren't doing a lot of damage. There isn't a lot of power behind them and what the ref is waiting for is to see if the guy on the bottom basically gives up or if he can improve his position. Contrast this with punches that land sharply where the striker can use more than just arm strength and that land in more vulnerable places on the head, i.e., the chin vs the top of the head, and a fight can be over in one punch.

All of that being said, good on you for taking a look and allowing that your opinion can be changed.

 

[Tez3]

I think if you get away from the televised commercial stuff, like a lot of sports and activities, the grass roots sport is fantastic. the skill level is high and not drawn out for the television audience. The fighters should not be hitting over and over again someone on the ground because the ref should stop it as soon as 'one fighter cannot intelligently defend himself'. there aren't standing counts either so you don't have a fighter knocked down, staggering around being hit again, with that happening a few times as in boxing. You go down like that you are out.
I wish you could see the DVDs of fight nights from here, I think you be even more surprised how good the fights are! It's nothing like the UFC lol! Much more like martial arts fight competitions with good sportmanship, very good skills and fast moving fights with a good mixture of stand up and ground work.

 

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I know a good deal of MAs who do not like MMA for various reasons but I am suprissed it took a martial artist this long to actually watch some MMA.

It is not the be all end all of hand to hand combat but it still is plenty real and probably the best martial sport for being able to use a wide variaty of techniques.

It is a great display of body mechanics and human psycology under stress, therefore it has it's uses for combat martial artist.

 

[Em MacIntosh]

It is a great display of body mechanics and human psycology under stress

IMO, the most important thing in self-defense (other than knowing where not to be).

 

[Aiki Lee]

I used to share that sentiment. I was uner the impression that most MMA fighters were brutish and cruel. I had a pretty long discussion with Tez about it once that helped me figure out that my past experiences had led me to generalize an entire group.

I still don't care for certain aspects of MMA, but I have no grudge over it or think badly of fighters as a group anymore (individually? well that's different).

Keeping an open mind is essential to being a warrior IMO, and sometimes that means taking a long look at something that you may have misjudged.

 

[pmosiun1]

Strange, MMA does not look as violent as boxing matches to me. I always wonder if all these Martial artist ever watch an MMA match. Compare to boxing where you would get hit for 12 rounds, MMA is pretty much safer.

 

[Tez3]

I think there may be things in all our styles we aren't keen on or we don't like the way some groups practice their martial art. Look at all the discussions we've had about six year old blackbelts, Olympic TKD, no touch KO's, self defence thats not, the money grubbing parts of MA etc etc. Personally I dislike the groups that do kata without Bunkai and there's aspects of MMA that really annoy me, mostly the commercial companies that appeal to the yob element instead of martial artists. they put money before thart, they aren't alone in that of course but it is a bit more 'in your face' than many other martial arts advertising.

I find boxing is more brutal to be honest, in MMA there's more areas to target not just the head and as I said no standing counts.

I think too in MMA, as in life, it's the empty vessels making the most noise, the 'fans' who jump on the bandwagon ( they were probably the same when they were soccer/American football/boxing/whatever fans). The true fans and practicitioners carry on about their business quietly. the commercial companies like UFC are out to make money of course and they do what they have to to get those tickets told, for them no publicity is bad publicity.

Just bear in mind I'm a nice middle class middle aged lady and I teach and train MMA, I ref pro male fights too! :ultracool

 

[Steve]

Just bear in mind I'm a nice middle class middle aged lady and I teach and train MMA, I ref pro male fights too! :ultracool

There's a movie script there... or a monty python sketch! I think it's awesome.

 

[Tames D]

Something I thought I would never do, as completely turned off to MMA's commercials which I find highly offensive. But I was channel surfing and nothing else was on. I was surprised, its not as bad as the commercials make it look. I'm genuinely impressed with the toughness of the fighters, taking a kick in the shin and keep going while not even exhibiting any sign of pain what so ever. And I was really impressed that some could get off the mat while being pummelled and continue fighting, I never understood this hitting a guy over and over while he is down, looked sadistic to me, but some really can get out of that situation and continue the fight, amazing really.

I don't think I will ever be a MMA fan, but its better than I thought.

As you watch more MMA matches, you'll realize that there is alot more to it than throwing punches and kicking. There is alot of fight strategy. Watch closely when the fight goes to the ground.

 

[Telfer]

Strange, MMA does not look as violent as boxing matches to me. I always wonder if all these Martial artist ever watch an MMA match. Compare to boxing where you would get hit for 12 rounds, MMA is pretty much safer.

Its safer if I'm up against a grappling specialist...but theres still blood and KOs aplenty.

I see MMA as the best testing ground to see what works and what doesnt.

 

[ralphmcpherson]

I agree. When I used to see commercials on tv for mma it just looked like 2 guys lying on the ground punching each other and didnt interest me at all. One night , however , I sat back and watched it for several hours and found elements of it quite interesting. I didnt realise that they actually do some stand up fighting as well. Unfortunately I still lose interest when a fight goes to the ground , but it does give me a chance to go to the fridge and get a beer and hopefully when I return they are up on their feet again.

 

[Tez3]

I agree. When I used to see commercials on tv for mma it just looked like 2 guys lying on the ground punching each other and didnt interest me at all. One night , however , I sat back and watched it for several hours and found elements of it quite interesting. I didnt realise that they actually do some stand up fighting as well. Unfortunately I still lose interest when a fight goes to the ground , but it does give me a chance to go to the fridge and get a beer and hopefully when I return they are up on their feet again.

It's only dull because you don't know what they are doing, it's like a non MA watching kata...it looks like dancing. I can't stand watching golf because to me it's boring, slow and uneventful, golfers would totally disagree. Wtacht hem fighting for control and submissions when you know what you're looking at is great fun, you learn a lot too.

 

[sgtmac_46]

It's only dull because you don't know what they are doing, it's like a non MA watching kata...it looks like dancing. I can't stand watching golf because to me it's boring, slow and uneventful, golfers would totally disagree. Wtacht hem fighting for control and submissions when you know what you're looking at is great fun, you learn a lot too.

I'm an MA and I still find watching Kata like watching Golf.

 

[ralphmcpherson]

It's only dull because you don't know what they are doing, it's like a non MA watching kata...it looks like dancing. I can't stand watching golf because to me it's boring, slow and uneventful, golfers would totally disagree. Wtacht hem fighting for control and submissions when you know what you're looking at is great fun, you learn a lot too.

Yes , I understand this , and I am sure if I understood "the ground game" I would find it interesting. But because I do a stand up art and know nothing about grappling it just looks like two guys rolling around on the ground to me unfortunately.

 

[Andrew Green]

Commercials and promotional stuff is just that.

It's also something that has a history longer then MMA.

"At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far. "

- Muhammad Ali, probably one of the biggest trash talkers ever. He was a little more "poetic" in his trash talking then most

Just ignore all that and watch the fights, also realise that most of the trash talking is just putting on a show. Professional athletes are performers, and the only way they make money is if people want to see them perform.

 

[Carol]

I love watching MMA fights! I can't even follow the chess match on the ground very well and I still enjoy it a lot. There is a lot of passion in those fights.

I don't like the trash talking and other silly drama stuff but...meh...my remote has a mute button.

 

[Tez3]

I love watching MMA fights! I can't even follow the chess match on the ground very well and I still enjoy it a lot. There is a lot of passion in those fights.

I don't like the trash talking and other silly drama stuff but...meh...my remote has a mute button.

I can't stand commentators in any sport.

Watching kata is interesting if you are looking for specifics, if it's being done as though the martial artist is just going through the motions or considers just the moves matter not what they contain it will be boring. If you watch trying to work out the Bunkai as it goes, it's fantastic. Like MMA!