ness_fan25

...it is the best martial art? ? Why is it that since MMA has become popularized by the media, that people think its the best martial arts form? Its just amazing how a television, the media, and a single company can influence peoples mind so much, just to let you know, i like MMA and the UFC, this is just amazing how anything that is martial arts i hear about is related to MMA

john

I can remember when I first started doing Karate a lot of people were jumping on the Jeet Kune Do band-wagon because of Bruce Lee. Then when the Kung-fu television series came out a lot of people were jumping on that band-wagon. I recently had a newer, adult student say to me that if I changed my studio to a MMA type name and pushed that more heavily that I would have a place packed with students. I explained to him that I have been around a long time and that I was not neccessarily interested in just being one of those that jumps on the band-wagon of whatever happens to be popular just for money. If I incorporate something into my student's training or bring a new program into the studio it is because it has value for the students; not because it is popular or just to make a buck. I was teaching ground fighting twenty years ago before most karate studios would not generally consider it or offer it so that my students would be more rounded and better capable of defending themselves. That does not mean that they will be experts in BJJ or be able to defeat an all-american collegiate wrestler at his own game. Against an average guy though they can hold their own and then some. However many people do jump on the band-wagon of whatever is popular and it does make you wonder what will be next after MMA.