The next trend in martial arts??

[Tom Yum]

Who would have expected Brazil to be one of the top exporters of Jujitsu? Most people in the US didn't know that Brazil had a large Japanese population, much less practiced martial arts. I never heard of Brazillian Jujitsu until I started seeing the Gracie Challenge ads in Black Belt magazine 1991, but they were indestinguishable from other ads like the muay thai video set from Pudpad Worawoot, Kenpo from Larry Tatum, Kicking from Bill Wallace and the Kajukenbo ad with a hand drawn picture of Grandmaster Adriano Emperado (anybody else remember these days?)

In 1993 and 1994, the first and second UFCs shocked the world as Royce Gracie, a lean and quiet fighter, dominated trash-talking heavyweight kickboxers, mammoth wrestlers and highly ranked Karateka black belts from Japan. Nowadays everyone is familiar with the importance of cross training not only for competition but for self-defense.

I predict that the next trend in martial arts will come from Europe, possibly Germany/Holland/Denmark in the form of a traditional martial art. There are guys from those countries (like our friend Chris, the UK doorman) who use the traditional arts for real on a regular basis, sometimes against wrestlers and boxers.

Anyone ever see Bouncers go to work in those countries ? They're not just big oafs; they will show a drunk bully what street karate looks like and give the easy work to the police.

Plus there are traditional instructors like Emin Boztepe, virtually unheard of who put their style into action while training security guards and women.

[Great Sage]

Yeah, I agree with you, Tom... Europeans soak up the martial arts. I predict a resurgence in striking arts that can counter grappling moves. I have already noticed JKD guys developing techniques specifically against BJJ. While BJJ took everyone by surprise, I think most people are revamping their strategy in terms of striking and cross training.

The final product of martial arts will probably be ONE style that everyone uses because it encompasses everything. When we arrive at that point, style or discipline will no longer matter—it will depend on conditioning.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Bring on the THUNDERDOME!

[fullcircle]

I agree, for every action there's reaction, for every counter there's another, etc. I was at the first UFC, I remember kind on chuckling to myself when Gracie came into the ring. Needless to say, the chuckle faded quickly.

[Tom Yum]

I think the next trend be a traditional striking art, it will be one that the instructor will have renewed the quality and refinement of the art, with an emphasis on footwork, reflexes and developing free responses to all ranges rather than raw power.

[nogard1980]

what is emin botepez fighting style?

[Grape_Ape]

Wing Chun

[nogard1980]

thought so

[Tom Yum]

I've heard a lot of good things about Emin Boztepe's application of Wing Tsun against muay thai, TKD, karate and wrestling. Then again, I've heard alot about a resurgence of traditional karate from Dutch fightsport.

Its a simple case of taking a traditional style and training hard and smart enough to make it work in the ring or on the street.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

I don't believe in traditional MA as being effective (wow, bet you never heard that from a Jiu Jitsu guy) but I guess time will tell. Unless of course time doesn't keep note of something that could fade into nothingness so quickly...

[Tom Yum]

I think allmost any traditional martial art can be effective if training is realistic.

Does it cover all ranges of fighting?
Can the practicioner accquire fighting attributes?
Does it address its own weaknesses?
Does it train with other stylists?
Is it simple enough to use in a non-choreagraphed, free response type environment?

Let's not forget that muay thai and judo are traditional martial arts. The reason why these don't seem like traditional martial arts is because they have snuck there way into the scene of combat sports like MMA/NHB.

I would argue that modern training in empty hand traditional styles such as kyokushin karate, shorin/isshin ryu karate, kenpo, wing tsun, silat, judo, hapkido, jujitsu and various styles of gong fu (chin na) are effective in terms of self-defense and fighting.

If you've ventured outside your comfort zone and sparred accomplished MAs in other arts, you realize that what you have never seen before is what defeats you - THIS is how the Gracies dominated the early UFCs.

A prime example of a traditional fighter who has done well is Manson Gibson. He's a black belt in TKD or karate, but has fought against thaiboxers with some impressive KOs for a non-muay thai boxer. He uses flashy techniques like spinning back kicks, spinning wheel kicks, axe kick and spinning back fists. In 1993, Gibson fought Hoost into ovetime in the K1 and lost by decision - considering whom he was fighting I think that says alot.

This is ring fighting though. There are instances where traditional martial artists used their skills to save their life. Perhaps some of it is luck, but alot of it is training and smarts.

[Nick]

I study Goju-Ryu, but to compensate for some of its weaknesses, I keep my guard higher and keep my chin down (after doing some Muay Thai). A lot of it is really the same when you get down to the bare basics.

Later...

[Tom Yum]

True. The basic of stand up arts are virtually the same. Ofcourse there are differences in stance - boxing vs. muay thai vs. JKD vs. silat etc.

Once you get deeper into the art you have greater variatons.

I think muay thai can be coupled effectively with most stand up arts; some better than others.