Do you think that the techniques found in TMA have not been researched nearly enough by MMAist's? There is ALOT to learn in TMA regarding the training method's of modern MMA, I think MMA has lot to learn from those tradional Budo's which fall outside of sporting diciplines.

Maybe,just maybe, TMA should be researched more by MMA fighters to ad to their arsenal?

Could it be that MMA is now a closeminded skillset?

Thanks Ames!

are their any skills or tactics from TMA that you think would work in an MMA match? sometimes when i watch a MMA fight i "think" i see opertunities for leg sweeps, like Lyoto Machida and Kung Lee have been making use of in the past year or so. but, since i don't fight in MMA rules i can only guess, and i don't mean to tell them what "their missing". these leg sweeps are covered in kata as well as the ippon kumite i practice with my karate trainineg, it might be of use, or it might get your nose broken.

another tactic i feel confidant in using is the application of "timing" we use in traditional martial arts. the "sen" and "go no sen" stuff. i know for a fact that MMA fighters do practice timing and drill it to pices, maybe they might benifet from studyinhg it in another context?

these are a few things i think might fly well in the MMA ring. i do watch alot of MMA fights,BUT i don't think that gives me any sort of qualification though, lol.

as for MMA being a close minded skill set, alot of guys make it seem that way. like anything though, its as "closed" as the rules make it.

In my humble opinion, actual proof (applications of the technique) and studies (does the theory behind the technique make sense?) would re-enforce the faith of a technique, regardless of techniques in MMA or TMA or other styles or training methods.

IMO MMA training tends to be in too much of a hurry to get to the application of techniques. TMA are very good at developing a strong foundation but often fall short in application.

An MMA practitioner with a TMA background is likely to benefit from a stronger base (balance & strength thru stance training), more refined technique (developed through practicing the larger gross movements of form/kata, before compressing them into application so the subtleties are not lost), greater diversity of techniques (mma tends to focus on a relatively small number of techniques where tma gives much more techniques for the practitioner to chose from and individualize his style), more specialized attribute training (sensitivity training like push hands, stronger diaphragm thru chi gung for breathing capacity, specific body conditioning such as iron palm, etc…)

Optimally, a fighter will adopt the training methods of both TMA and MMA. I don’t think MMA training methods are anything new. I think what is new is the tendency to divide the two.

Michael

What's wrong with specializing in a small number of techniques?

Nothing is wrong with specializing in a small number of techniques. More techniques just gives more options in what techniques you want to specialize in.

I don't think having or not having a TMA background is or can be the deciding factor. It basically comes down to the individual training and where he trains at. There are many MMA schools that have more technique shown and that people will adopt if it fits their "personality". There are plenty of MMA schools that teach leg sweeps but that doesn't mean everybody will use them. It seems so simple but to some it isn't; much like a jab seems so simple but so many people cannot do it.

I believe as an individual you must find what works for you and then work at refining those skills. You should always be looking for "more" and that may come from TMA but not necessarily so.

And as a side note, I'm sure there are many MMA schools that are not worth a crap; much like TMA schools have. And also wanted to point out that TMA could benefit from MMA probably more then MMA could from TMA. MMA is so much application that I feel was the evolution of TMA whereas TMA doesn't use enough live training to benefit them and get caught up in forms, breaking and other stuff.

So Dereck,

What you are saying is that a MMA Don Knotts can't beat up a TMA Dolph Lundgren?

How about a TMA GSP against a MMA Woody Allen?