Why do most western fights (e.g. wrestling, swordplay) seem like 2 bodies smooshing into eachother while eastern fighting (e.g. martial arts, fist fights) look compartmentalized and light?
In: Other
FWIW, eastern martial arts are overwhelmingly played for sport. The competitors are allowed to kick and punch, but they are prohibited from making real contact and “going to the ground.” There’s a reason you don’t see anyone show up to an MMA fight and use Wushu. While the gymnastics are great at building discipline and athleticism, they are not practical. Even people who have studied martial arts for many years tend to resort to basic punches, kicks, and holds because “basic” is what works.
If you watch MMA… and ESPECIALLY UFC 2, you will notice that many, many fights finish on the ground. People who want to do martial gymnastics aren’t interested in learning that. Sports like Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo, and Fencing all require the participants to stop once they score a hit or perform a throw. They don’t fight to the ground to beat someone’s face in or break a joint, which is why guys like Royce Gracie were dominant in the early days of UFC. People who grew up doing sport Karate were not prepared for an unstructured fight.
Latest Answers