Maurice Smith on karate, GSP, Machida, and Hidehiko Yoshida

[kungfufan]

http://mmayou.com/news-and-exclusive-interviews-with-mmayou/37-fighters/189-maurice-smith-on-his-upcoming-opponent-hidehiko-yoshida-i-just-have-to-be-careful-of-the-judo

[Vash]

Dude, the articles you post are good, nothing inflammatory, so, not complaining.

But, this is kungfumagazine.com . Granted this is the MMA subforum, so a decent bit of cross-linking is necessary. But EVERY thread you've started is a link to mmayou. This has gotta stop. We would love to have you as a contributor, and if you want to link to MMAyou in your sig, I would ask Gene about it. But please discontinue the cross-linking for a while.

Thanks,

Mod 3

[sanjuro_ronin]

MMAyou.com: Lyoto Machida and Georges St. Pierre are both effective strikers in MMA, and they both have a karate base. What is better for MMA striking, karate or Thai Boxing?

Smith: For me Thai Boxing. Karate’s not really a, to me it’s not a fighting art. It’s more… It’s a traditional fighting art but it’s not, it doesn’t do well too often in MMA or even in kickboxing. It has its place in traditional martial arts but as far as fighting, I don’t see it.

BWWAAHHH !!

At times Smith does put his foot in his mouth !
LOL !!

[MightyB]

What I find as od is how MMA fighters like Smith say that they respect Judo, yet, just like most martial arts, Judo is struggling for students. It seems like in every edition of USJF Judo Magazine there's an article addressing the issue on how to bring in the MMA crowd.

[monji112000]

What I find as od is how MMA fighters like Smith say that they respect Judo, yet, just like most martial arts, Judo is struggling for students. It seems like in every edition of USJF Judo Magazine there's an article addressing the issue on how to bring in the MMA crowd.

Honestly I think judo isn't struggling at all. Everytime I go to the gym someone is talking about judo. Takedowns, escapes , ect...
the reality is that allot of people are very interested in Judo, BUT a large amount are not interested in GI judo.

easy way to get MMA crowd to do Judo with you.. take off the Kimono OR don't use gi only grips and techniques.
on the whole I think anyone who is into MMA wants to know some crazy judo throw.. so they can slam somebody in a fight or tournament and look badass.

Me.. I like pulling guard :P

[MightyB]

We've just added- I mean "just" in that we had a meeting last Wednesday- blended martial arts and no-gi class starting next Wednesday. We decided to call it blended rather than mixed. MMA is a style now- not a theory. Judo will be the core (it is a Judo club after all), but our coach used to coach wrestling and was a collegiate wrestler back in the day- so more of that will be added- I'll help with striking, traps, and locks (my own little Mantis/Judo hybrid)- and we have a couple of hapkido black belts (not sure what they'll be able to ad). I'd love to get a Jiu-Jitsu guy, but beggers can't be choosers. Plus we added more open mat time for people to work out on whatever they want. It went over really well when we announced it, so we'll see how it goes.

Gotta get with the times you know...

[Vash]

MMA is a style now- not a theory.

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Surely you jest!

;)

[MasterKiller]

MMA is a competition ruleset, not a style

[lkfmdc]

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Surely you jest!

;)

He isn't jesting

but dont' call him Shirley

[Vash]

He isn't jesting

but dont' call him Shirley

What's your vector, victor?

[lkfmdc]

Roger, Roger

Over, Unger?

[MightyB]

Is there a variation? Basically it's a blend of Thai Boxing and Jiu Jitsu. Postures, hold-downs, positions of control, striking strategy--- these are pretty universal at every MMA gym... so No, I'm not kidding. You can drill exclusively for competition MMA as it's own thing. A couple of wrestling and no gi techniques, plus thai boxing drills, and a lot of conditioning = a new style called MMA.

[MasterKiller]

Is there a variation? Basically it's a blend of Thai Boxing and Jiu Jitsu. Postures, hold-downs, positions of control, striking strategy--- these are pretty universal at every MMA gym... so No, I'm not kidding. You can drill exclusively for competition MMA as it's own thing. A couple of wrestling and no gi techniques, plus thai boxing drills, and a lot of conditioning = a new style called MMA.

Well, are you drilling wrestling or BJJ? How about BJJ or Judo ground? Catch wrestling, Greco or Freestyle? San Shou or Muay Thai? Mixing any boxing into any of that?

There is too much variation in the components that make up MMA training from school to school to nail it down to a specific 'style'.

Sometimes, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 1 + 1 + 1 +1 instead of 4.

[MightyB]

Because if you say "MMA"... it brings forth a certain mental picture from potential students. "MMA" defines a way of fighting- a rules set- or certain type of fighting (try to follow). It's like saying "Xerox". For what we're doing, "blended" is a better term. MMA is unique, like San Shou is unique. You don't need to train in any particular style to gain the skill sets required to be a good competitor--- in theory, it is it's own style and can be trained as it's own style.

[MasterKiller]

Because if you say "MMA"... it brings forth a certain mental picture from potential students. "MMA" defines a way of fighting- a rules set- or certain type of fighting (try to follow). It's like saying "Xerox". For what we're doing, "blended" is a better term. MMA is unique, like San Shou is unique. You don't need to train in any particular style to gain the skill sets required to be a good competitor--- in theory, it is it's own style and can be trained as it's own style.

So what does an "MMA" punch look like?

What does an "MMA" kick look like?

What does an "MMA" takedown look like?

What does an "MMA" submission hold look like?

[MightyB]

So what does an "MMA" punch look like?

What does an "MMA" kick look like?

What does an "MMA" takedown look like?

What does an "MMA" submission hold look like?

You're thinking like a skilled martial artist, not a general consumer. It would be wrong for me to advertise being a MMA school or teaching MMA if I'm not pushing cage fighting or what the general consumer thinks MMA is which is basically what they see on TV.

I'm not doing that. I plan on using mantis handwork and traps. Sometimes there will be weapons and self defense. These aren't things that belong in a MMA gym and they're not for people who are motivated to do what they see on TV. I prefer to think of it as blending traditional arts with the traditional training methods and techniques. Yes there will be plenty of Randori and controlled sparring. But it's not UFC--- it's not MMA style.

[MightyB]

So what does an "MMA" punch look like?

What does an "MMA" kick look like?

What does an "MMA" takedown look like?

What does an "MMA" submission hold look like?

Jab, Cross, Shovel Hook, Hook, Upper Cut, Over Hand Straight.

Round Kick, Push Kick, Foot Jab-- sometimes side and side thrust and back - but these are frowned on... forget crescents.

Submissions are pretty much universal Judo or Jiu Jitsu without the gi.

The single and double leg takedown are the two biggies for MMA style. Judo frowns on "sloppy" tackles. Remember a take down has to show technique and force- MMA--- not so much as long as he's down and you somehow scramble to a position of control.

[MasterKiller]

I'm not doing that. I plan on using mantis handwork and traps. Sometimes there will be weapons and self defense. These aren't things that belong in a MMA gym and they're not for people who are motivated to do what they see on TV. I prefer to think of it as blending traditional arts with the traditional training methods and techniques. Yes there will be plenty of Randori and controlled sparring. But it's not UFC--- it's not MMA style.

That's because MMA is competition format and you are not teaching skills specific to that format.

[MightyB]

That's because MMA is competition format and you are not teaching skills specific to that format.

True enough - that's pretty much it. I don't want people to get the wrong impression or say that we're doing something that we're not.

I like to think that we're more "traditionalist" since there's a good Jiu Jitsu school in Ann Arbor and Dan "the Beast" Severn's gym is only about an hour away. If that's what a person wants, I'll push them that way.

[Pork Chop]

So what does an "MMA" punch look like?

What does an "MMA" kick look like?

What does an "MMA" takedown look like?

What does an "MMA" submission hold look like?

Punch - jab, haymaker from outside as people don't want to stand in the "kitchen" and risk a takedown, dirty boxing (uppercuts while holding the head down), and long hooks. Boxers have a hard time avoiding the clinch, let alone takedowns - just look at the career of John Ruiz. Boxing purists are always going to lament MMA punching because the modifications that need to be made to work in that environment won't look like "proper" boxing technique.

Kick - less reliance on the teep, roundkicks thrown without the hip turned over all the way as to not risk a takedown. Otherwise the best san shou gyms would probably be the most established muay thai gyms. I score 3 sweeps every time I spar my muay thai team mates, doesn't happen as much with mma guys and even less with san shou guys.

Takedown - wrestling (greco, folk, freestyle) and judo takedowns with over/underhooks instead of the gi. Not hugely knowledgeable here, but I imagine there are certain modifications that need to be made to make the techniques work in that environment.

Submission - generally low risk bjj & sambo/catch submissions, so one doesn't lose position and risk a ground n pound. That statement comes straight out of the sam sheridan book - he gets his info directly from Brazillian Top Team.

[cjurakpt]

MMA is a concept; because in context of live, pressure-based training, adherence to the ideal of a given "style" has no relevance; as soon as you say "style", you limit, because a style is defined by what it is / how it does things - meaning that there are thing it intrinsically doesn't have / ways it doesn't do things; if it doesn't, then it will be constantly evolving as the need to modify arises;

the other piece is that the concept of a MA "style" as most know it is not inherently an American / Western construct: it developed in context of Asian culture (especially Japan, and to varying degrees in China), which is predicated on a different set of inherent assumptions about how society ought to be structured (e.g. - pick one thing to study; spend 50 years on it; realize the interconnection of all things by mastering that one thing)

the concept of MMA is based on varying curricula that evolve over time (although it will slow down at some point as various techniques hit the ceiling of efficiency / percentage and become the mainstays); you can call what you do "Joe's MMA" and pretend it's a style in the traditional sense, but the truth is that it's not; it's a set of techniques and methodologies designed to win fights that are structured under a highly permissive rule system; it also has a conditioning aspect which is appealing to non-fighters;

I think that the bottom line is to get past the whole "is it a style or not" and to continue to focus on the principles underlying what "works" in MMA (and other systems) why

[MightyB]

Close your eyes.


Clear your mind.


Say "ohhmmmmm" if you like.


Empty your mind...




Keep emptying it.....





keep it empty.....




Have a buddy say....





"Mixed Martial Arts"


What do you see?

[MasterKiller]

Ring girls.

[MightyB]

Ring girls.

Awesome! LOL

[Oso]

****, you guys just can't let go of the style vs. style argument can you?

[WinterPalm]

Judo is awesome for throwing in san shou and mma. I sparred with an MMA guy who just had his first fight and I took him down with a beautiful would-be crowd pleasing seoi nage...it was amazing...went straight into side control and started working a kimura.

Don't disprespect the judo!

My only complaint is it really smashes the body up in a gi and I found myself accumulating too many injuries.

[sanjuro_ronin]

Ring girls.

You sir, are a Yang man !

[Oso]

You sir, are a Yang man !

don't egg him on, he's got quite enough yang as it is