as for sport arts being effective or not, here is a picture of usa and thai soldiers learning muay thai in thailand from a master. these soldiers arent training for mma/kickboxing matches either......
"Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is a self-defense technique that was developed and tested in battle by the ancient warriors of Thailand. Today, the Thai military as well as the U.S. SEAL teams and members of the CIA continue to use its effective striking techniques. In addition, it is also the National Sport of Thailand. "
"The Royal Thai Army (including Master Sgt. Satit Sitparsert in the center) shares the hand-to-hand combat art of military-style Muay Thai with soldiers from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corp as part of Exercise Cobra Gold '97 in Tak, Thailand on May 15, 1997."
http://members.aol.com/Thaiboxing2000/