The Re-Evolution of the Martial Arts: We are not speaking of a “Revolution, but a “Re-Evolution”. It is quite evident that the Martial Arts have, on a whole, become fragmented. I say “have become” because at the inception of the arts, all warring (martial) arts included the employment of a full arsenal of weapons. The military practiced weaponry kicking, punching, blocking, striking, throws and submission holds. As different instructors taught the arts, they had a tendency to focus on what they personally did best or what techniques and methodology suited their particular area. That’s a quick summation of Martial Arts evolution.
For decades there were always countless arguments on who would win a fight: boxers, wrestlers, kickboxers, Judo players, Taekwondo or Karate practitioners. There were several attempts in the 70’s to uncover the best art. The infamous fight between Mohammed Ali and Japanese Wrestler Antonio Inoki and Aaron Banks hosted a tournament in Madison Square Garden that pitted boxing vs. Karate, Taekwondo vs. Judo, etc… None of it ever caught on, until the emergence of the UFC.
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) had its rocky beginnings and then almost fell by the wayside a few years back. Now it is on the upswing and considered a main stream sport. As testimony to the popularity of the UFC now on Fox, along with the multitude of weekly smaller shows al over the country, MMA has become mainstream and has replaced boxing and eclipsed the WWE.
20 years ago, anyone who taught a “Mixed Martial Art” was chastised for not being a purist. Now, if you do not include some type of reality or ground fighting in your system people will overlook your school. Beware of simply adding a few chokes or locks into your system; it is not enough. You must adopt a full curriculum in order to apply the techniques in a useful manner. The Four Ranges of Combat and the transitions must be practiced. The three most important arts for MMA are Muay Thai, Wrestling and Brazilian Jui Jitsu. I am not short changing other systems and there are many great fighters with a variety of backgrounds, but in order to succeed - you need to practice the Big 3.
I have had the pleasure of working with Frank Shamrock. His system, SSF (Shamrock Submission Fighting), is a complete system that has abided by the Tao of Bruce Lee: “Absorb what is Useful”. The validity of his material as presented eliminates unnecessary movement, training methods and philosophies. The manner in which he presents the transitory fighting application is very succinct and direct. Moving from kicking to striking to takedown to submission, demonstrate why he is such a successful fighter.
You will soon discover that in order to finish an opponent, positioning is the key. If you have ever seen a couple of dogs fight, the one who wins the scramble, wins the advantage. Your movement must be perpetual and purposeful. SSF teaches you the submission positions and the transition from one range to another, as well as one position to another. These skills are developed through a series of drills and games. The drills and games are not only fun, but they develop the skills necessary for positioning during combat. As we all know, position yields control; not only ultimately of your opponent but more importantly of yourself.
Embracing the modern method of fighting and training is essential to your (and your students') growth as a martial artists. Open your mind to integrating elements of MMA into your curriculum. Your students won't be disappointed.
About the Author: Philip G. Ross has over 35 years of experience in the combative arts, has been instructing the arts for 25 years, is in 3 Halls of Fame, an 8th Degree Black Belt, RKC Team Leader, CK-FMS Certified and a High School wrestling coach. He is also the creator of the S.A.V.E. Self Defense Fitness Workout and the Advanced Russian Kettlebell Workout .
