too martial arts being diluted into sports?

[fat_sumo]

Why Judo? Its really a sport, with techniques removed from JuJitsu?

Are we seeing too many martial arts being diluted into sports?

what do people think?

[lwbfl]

I'm not sure exactly what your saying, but we have this conversation all the time. Martial arts have been adapted for sports to keep them safe to practice and compete. How many people also think there are "unwritten" rules used in MMA competition. There are many techniques that are not used that are very effective, but really damaging.

[fat_sumo]

It is a broad subject that rages everything UFC or IFL is brought up. So these isn't a question that can really cover it I suppose?

But the element of 'damaging' is interesting. Does MMA for all its supposed superiority over other martial arts miss out, because of the adaptation from an art form to sport.

Even altering it to a sport also shifts a fighters intensity. Therefore many kickboxing clubs are watered down from its origina, and are really just a gimmick. Devaluing the real experience for the student?

For instance, is grading in martial arts just a money-earner, and short-changing students with a false sense of self-confidence???

[ThaiClinchER]

Originally Posted by fat_sumo

It is a broad subject that rages everything UFC or IFL is brought up. So these isn't a question that can really cover it I suppose?

But the element of 'damaging' is interesting. Does MMA for all its supposed superiority over other martial arts miss out, because of the adaptation from an art form to sport.

Even altering it to a sport also shifts a fighters intensity. Therefore many kickboxing clubs are watered down from its origina, and are really just a gimmick. Devaluing the real experience for the student?

For instance, is grading in martial arts just a money-earner, and short-changing students with a false sense of self-confidence???

Yes grading in Martial Arts is. And it is unfortunate there are still Traditional MA schools out there that do not teach what we now know is "real". So these people get their black belts and God forbid someday are going to wonder why their self defense move number 100 vs. a gun or knife didnt work when the bottle slammed them in the head out of nowhere in a bar or a restaruant.

Or why some untrained punk simply takes them down when they get in to their traditional..."CAT STANCE".....

Or why some haymaker catches them when they attempt to do "One Step Sparring".

It makes me sick that such schools i.e. McDojos still exist and make the $$$ like they do and true MMA gyms or schools are going out of business.

[fightme]

Many parents want to enroll their children in "martial arts" but want the structure so that it's a sport and not "fighting". And what the money wants...

[HellRazor]

Originally Posted by fightme

Many parents want to enroll their children in "martial arts" but want the structure so that it's a sport and not "fighting". And what the money wants...

That's an extremely good point. Parents enrolling their kids because martial arts is supposed to instill 'discipline', is really driving the industry in the USA, not self-defense.

This may even be a safety issue. Do we really want nine year olds being taught to keep their fingers relaxed when they spear someone in the eyes, so their fingers slide up the cheekbones into the eye if they miss? Teaching discipline is possible. Teaching judgement is another thing altogether. If I had known the techniques at 15 I knew at 35, I'd have killed somebody. I was just too emotional.

However, it's not martial arts that's being watered down. It's the value of a 'black belt'. Once upon a time, earning a black belt meant you could fight. Now it doesn't, pure and simple.