what the founders would think

[Lawrence Fisher]

Hi there.

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about the different fighting arts from around the world both old and new. The topic of UFC came up and I thought this was quite an interesting question, so I bounce it back at you, a far larger audience than a table of friends talking over a few pints.

What do you think the founder of your art would think of the Ultimate Fighting Championships that are happening?

Cheers all!

Lawrence Fisher.

[Josh Reyer]

Hi there.

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about the different fighting arts from around the world both old and new. The topic of UFC came up and I thought this was quite an interesting question, so I bounce it back at you, a far larger audience than a table of friends talking over a few pints.

What do you think the founder of your art would think of the Ultimate Fighting Championships that are happening?

Cheers all!

Lawrence Fisher.

"That's some interesting sumo."

[Aaron T]

The beauty of studying history is that it keeps us humble.

THe UFC or whatever, is just a modern twist on stuff that has been going on for years. Joe can likley point out some great sources for early century examples.

At its core budo is about beating the hell out of someone trying to do the same to you. As to what folks would think, I am not sure, some would enjoy it, others wouldn't.


Aaron Fields
Seattle Jujutsu Club, Hatake Dojo
Sea-Town Sombo
www.seattle-jujutsu.org

[Prince Loeffler]

Bah Humbug ! Just kidding. Ultimate fighting is not anything new under the sun. The only difference perhaps is that Ultimate Fighting has more rules and fighters makes money doing it than what our martial arts forebears have seen.

[JS3]

One would have to ask what did the masters think of similar events of their day.

Motobu entered the contest against the boxer so I don't think he would mind.
I believe most of the masters would see it for what it is, a match against two
opponents for entertainment.

I remember reading in Bill Hayes's book that Shimabukuro (Eizo) was worried
when he first heard of these events, but was relieved when he saw that they
were just sport fighting.

I'll post the actual passage when I get home later.

[mw17]

Hi there.

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about the different fighting arts from around the world both old and new. The topic of UFC came up and I thought this was quite an interesting question, so I bounce it back at you, a far larger audience than a table of friends talking over a few pints.

What do you think the founder of your art would think of the Ultimate Fighting Championships that are happening?

Cheers all!

Lawrence Fisher.

They'd probably think it was a very entertaining sport.

Matt White

[Chris McLean]

Great test cage, it’s a Petri dish, and wonderful entertainment.

[DDATFUS]

"Fifty ryo on that ugly one with the tatoos."

[Lawrence Fisher]

lol

Nice.

Lawrence fisher

[Prince Loeffler]

"Fifty ryo on that ugly one with the tatoos."

LOL.........This is hilarious !!!!!!!!!!

[John Lovato]

I think it would bolster their belief that westerners are barbarians.

[Robc]

Westerners barbarians for MMA fights? Because easterners are above doing that sort of thing? Come now. Name me an eastern culture that has not held sporting events as rough as MMA events. Thailand: muay Thai; China: San Shou, San Da; Japan: K-1, Pride, even Daido Juku/Kudo; S. Korea: Full Contact Hapkido/Pro Hapkido; N. Korea: God only knows. Other similar events in every Asian country I can think of.

But maybe you were being ironic and my sense of humor needs some fine tuning. If so, my apologies.

[John Lovato]

Yep, just being funny.

[Robc]

Doh! Sorry.

[gmanry]

Hmm, coming in a little late, but I am always mulling this over, being a practitioner of both koryu and gendai Japanese arts, as well as teaching a small Muay Thai/K1 style class for a friend's dojo.

I think the UFC/MMA field is coming full circle. I have been very interested in Anderson Silva, because he is basically handing people their heads left and right by using much more advanced timing and distance principles than many of the current UFC/MMA fighters can demonstrate.

I feel that he is one of the few real martial "artists" in that overall group.

People can poo poo it as sport all they want, but I think the statement needs to be made that they are still testing their principles in some fashion or another, while many so called traditionalists may have lost some of this (certainly not all).

I see a lot of JSA people who really aren't much better than tea ceremony with a sword, for example. Then they recoil in horror when you suggest that they actually know how to fight or kill with their weapon.

Certainly there are others who have great skill, but I feel they are starting to become fewer and fewer. Either we actively express and push these arts forward, or we let them die (historical preservation can be as good as death). The choice is ours, we are the practitioners.