I have been asked a question that has been eating at my Martial Arts core, "Which is better? Traditional Martial Arts (TMA) or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?"

Why has this been eating at my core? Well, I found this article relating to this subject below. Feel free to read it. I do agree with the author says. Nonetheless, I have been pondering my answer to that question, which I have been asked by just about every student/client/Martial Arts enthusiast since UFC has picked up steam in the last decade or so.

I have been in Martial Arts, in some form or another, for the last twenty years. I have trained in Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, Judo, Wrestling, Savate, Karate, Isshinryu, Golden Glove Boxing, and Greco-Roman wrestling. I have trained and learned from everyone ranging from Master all the way down to amateur. I have trained in anywhere from a formal classroom setting to the dirt basement of an old building. I am not bragging, I am merely stating the different training aspects and styles that I have encountered. The total of my past training and experience, then, make me who I am today, and help me to form my personal opinions on mixed, versus traditional, martial arts.

Now, to my feelings on the subject of TMA vs. MMA:

1. TIME INVOLVED: With all the forms, one-step sparring and perfection on form, TMA is much more involved. Normally, you have to learn one to three of each of those to advance to the next rank. This takes time, months to years of training to get the perfect form down to please the teacher(s).

   
   Time involved in MMA, is not totally attributed to form, it is attributed to conditioning, strength, and game-planning. This can also takes months to prepare, but is normally done in a much shorter time span. Most professionals have staff members in each part of their training regimen. Amateurs try to copy how the professions train, just to get a shot at the big time. Most people can get into cardiovascular shape and learn basic moves very quickly, which can sadly lead to over-confidence. Which leads me to my next point.

   
   

2. MENTALITY: Both disciplines need to be mentally tough. A person cannot be anything but mentally strong to be successful in either path. In TMA, a student must be mentally tough to successfully and perfectly learn the forms and methods to advance in their style. In MMA, a participant must be mentally tough to get through the grueling training and matches that the sport entails. Since I have trained and participated in both styles, I can fully admit and appreciate how tough they truly are.

   
   

3. INSTRUCTORS: This is where I have some problems with both styles. In TMA, I have seen some great instructors. But sadly, most of them are extremely single-minded. Their style is the best, "none are better than mine!" I thought that once when the only thing I knew was TKD. I was so sure of it until I started doing open style kickboxing tournaments. That was a sad, but enlightening time. I learned that maybe it was worth my time to train in different disciplines. I am not disrespecting my past and present teachers, but all I am stating is that maybe, just maybe it's o.k. to branch out as TMA instructors. I have met two instructors in the past twenty years that actually embrace that notion in their classic dojo setting.

   
   In MMA, I have met some of the most open-minded and extremely closed-minded instructors. Less than a handful embrace all styles, while most of them "are the best at what they do." Now, I am not saying I was better than them in any one thing, but they did not deviate from what they thought was the "right way."

   
   In order for both Traditional and Mixed Martial Arts to stay true to themselves is to branch out. It's an oxymoron but, to adapt is to survive.

   
   

4. DISCIPLINE: Discipline is not the same thing as toughness. Discipline comes from doing what is necessary to achieve your goals, no matter what happens. TMA does a great job at instilling discipline in it's students. This is why parents put their children into TMA schools. One must have discipline to do the same move hundreds, thousands of times to get it almost perfect. One must have discipline to do the same forms hundreds, thousands of times before they get it almost perfect. The most honorable trait of someone who has discipline is this, they realize that they will not get it perfectly, there is always room for improvement.

   
   In MMA, one must have toughness to get through the grueling regimen of workouts, training, and fights. I know plenty of fighters that have great discipline. But, I have also met people that are just in MMA to be called a Mixed Martial Artist. This is not what Martial Arts is for, it's not meant to be something you can hang on the mantel or place upon the wall, it is meant to be something that makes you a better person inside and therefore, a better person on the outside to the world.

   
   

5. TRADITIONS: All TMA have some form of traditions, be it with forms, moves, animal connections, or with a certain "father" of their style. These traditions help link the style to the student and to give the student some sort of guidance in the training. Traditions are a very important aspect of TMA. With MMA, true Martial Artists use the traditions of their combined styles to create their very own personal traditions. This helps connect all they have learned to their own fighting style and lives. This is a very important and necessary part of TMA that MUST transfer over to MMA in order to keep the student focused upon how they are to truly live their life. Without traditions, there is no past, and when there is no past, there is no future.

   
   

6. VENUES AND SPORT: TMA is usually done in a dojo or a general meeting place. I have truly enjoyed the training I received in a dojo or a place that had minimal equipment or frills. These places were steeped in traditions and personal enlightenment. I gained the most knowledge of myself when all I had to train with is what I had inside my soul.

   
   In modern times, in order to be an effective athlete, you must have the most effective and modern equipment. Most of the most successful participants in MMA have the best training equipment, teachers, and supplements. I am glad to see that some fighters still use old-fashioned training methods, but they truly rely on modern technology. Being a techno-geek, I really have a great appreciation for the modern training styles, as long as they include their traditional foundation. Because like I said before, "if there's no tradition, there's no past, and where there's no past...."

All-in-all I believe that both TMA and MMA are superb. I want to see more respect to tradition in MMA and more of a liberal thinking in TMA. In order to survive in our society, they must both evolve and change with the times. To say which one is better, it is like asking me to pick which one came first: the chicken or the egg. Both are great and useful in their own right. Both are superb to train in. Both are doing well in these modern and unpredictable times. I will continue to learn more about each of them. I will continue to find new teachers and gel my teachings into a style that works best for me because that is what is important. It's crucial to find what works best for you! Some of the best MMA fighters travel from facility to facility learning from over a handful of teachers. It's important to find what you best at and what your worst at. Then train your weakest part as hard or harder than your best aspect of your personal style.

I am sure I will see some of you in the ring/octagon and hope that you keep in mind what is important, your peace of mind. Live in the moment, don't let anyone put you down, especially yourself. You are your best tool and weakness. You are the one that needs to understand what you are capable of and what you must work on harder to become more capable. You must will yourself to never, ever stop learning, working, and living to the best of your abilities. If you find you hit a plateau, only you can break through and pull yourself up and keep climbing!

Remember: Mixed Martial Arts is just that MIXED. Don't be fooled into believing one way is the best. Learn from multiple teachers. Never go down one path all the time because someone else already went that down that way. Forge your own path but remember where you came from to make sure you are going forward, not in a circle or even backwards.

I want you to take this information and ponder them. Think about what you need and want to get out of your training and achieve it! Nothing, noone, or situation will stop YOU!

Live in Peace, Health, and Zen,
Derek

Article Source: EzineArticles

Disclaimer: These are strictly my thoughts on this subject. I want to give my interpretation of the subject. This is purely informational and (hopefully) helpful for you.