With the rapid rise in popularity, and subsequently number of schools, do you feel like the "JKD" or other taining that you do is on par with current MMA training available? D

Honestly no. My limited experience with MMA style training exposed some missing elements of my game. Now however, I've started working on them.

We fight the same way we train, so training should be intense and should cover everything you would like to be able to do if you got into a fight.

At it's highest, JKD should be identical to MMA. But as we know, this isn't always the case. Its my opinion that ANY art should (or could) be trained in an MMA context. Once its understood that MMA just means, combining your stand-up fighting with takedowns and ground work, it should be obvious that ANY art could include that approach.

Agreed, Jkogas.

What about schools that train different areas seperately? Monday its boxing, tuesday jujitsu, etc,.? What about these schools because I see many that take this approach and I think that perhaps this is a flawed approach due to the lack of transitional work from one range to the next and back again.

That is exactly what my old JKD school did. I also think that approach is flawed, if you never integrate them.

Cory,

Matt is right on. Without the integration, you end up with "cross training" which isn't as effective at the end of the day.

Its better than nothing, but without integration (such as allowing strikes during jiu-jitsu), your game can develop in ways that would be less effective for the integrative purpose (a real fight).

If you train a lot of jiu-jitsu without the strikes, your guard game will suck when the heat is on. That's just an example.


-John

Are there other approaches than simply progressive sparring? Drills perhaps?

Drills are used to sharpen techniques and make smooth transition but nothing really adds to realism that sparring does.

What I've founded is one needs to spar outside of your gym, we can get caught in doing things a certain way or staying away from certain techniques. Some feel kicking or jabbing lead to easy takedowns and this is true if started off without a combination or takedowns are key to fighting.

But spar a club that stress using combinations and countering takedowns or that takedown it can be a long day of abuse/learning.

Exploring the possibilities outside your kwoon/dojo/gym should be considered. Because even if you THINK you are practicing a formless method, you do get stuck in its safe to do it this way. IMHO.

I think my grappling game has a lot of room for improvement but I agree with the MMA context and integration.

I'm mainly a striker so its important to learn to how transition from a more upright striking position to dropping your weight so that you're ready for some kind of grappling action.

And I agree with the sparring sessions. If not full out, at least spar with some deal of integration, so that you get a feel of using other tools available to you.