Originally Posted by
YiLiQuan1
I get a real kick out of the TMA/MMA internet squabbles. From my training experience and personal changes of opinion, the conflict arises when MMA nutrider tells TMA/CMA nutrider that "your deadly art sucks because..." The MMAist misses some pertinent points in his ignorant harangue, and the CMAist, more knowledgeable on the subject, takes offense and fires back with a rebuttal the MMAist simply can't understand due to a lack of reference.
But the exact same thing happens when TMA/CMA nutrider tells the MMA nutrider that "your sport art sucks because..." The CMAist, having virtually no time mounted by someone else, and quite likely without the first clue as to how some (if not most) ground fighting techniques are applied, misses some pertinent points in his juvenile adherence to Master Po's teaching, and the MMAist, knowing better, fires back a rebuttal that the TMA/CMAist is woefully unprepared to accept or understand.
It's an ongoing battle, fueled by the ignorance of both parties.
I've done TMA/CMA for 21 years now. I previously felt that grappling was a joke, a gimmick, and that a striker worth his salt would have no problem whatsoever dispatching a would-be "gh3y" grappler during his initial approach for a takedown.
Then I started doing some grappling training courtesy of the U.S. Army's Combatives program (coupled with some Judo/Jujutsu tutoring from a friend).
It boils down, very simply, to the fact that easily 90% of TMA/CMA folks will never test themselves in anything resembling an "alive" (Gods how I hate that word) manner. They'll accept the word of their sensei/sifu/sabum as Gospel and go with whatever he/she/it tells them, never once questioning for themselves. That's where they go wrong.
It's also a case of 90% of MMA folks giving absolutely no credence to a) styles with long histories of use and b) ignoring modern history. My favorite is "TMA doesn't work in the ring," and "reverse punches are bull." Especially when Chuck Liddell, a TMAist (originally) employs repeated reverse punches to knock the faces off his opponents with predictable regularity.
The only True Path (c) is to open your eyes, tuck your opinion in your pocket, and train without judgement. Being in the Mount rocks. Being mounted does not. I use my TMA/CMA just fine during stand up, and even when on the ground. But dominant position is dominant position, and MMA/TMA won't do you much good if you can't respond appropriately to what your opponent is force feeding you while mounted on your chest...
Enjoy.
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