Wingchunner fights in amateur NHB

[Thai Bri]

They do use just one art.

They call it MMA.

[Mephariel]

They do use just one art.

They call it MMA.

Mixed Martial Arts

[fire cobra]

Muay thai has great grappling,just not on the floor,but they can handle and excell at stand up grappling(and striking).

[Red Rum]

Muay thai has great grappling,just not on the floor,but they can handle and excell at stand up grappling(and striking).

It also has the ability to strike hard/kick out to a grappler whilst they are looking for a submisssion.

I would say that it isn't really a grappling art though. Like wing chun it has clinches, but if you want to grapple, train BJJ

[fire cobra]

Please dont underestimate the stand up clinch in muay thai,it has a lot more at a high level than just the standard neck clinch,of course for takedowns wrestling and for ground work bjj rule.

[Red Rum]

That's what I said. The clinchwork in wing chun and Muay Thai are excellent. But if you realy want to wrestle/grapple then you need to do another art

It leads back to the whole ant-grappling debate that wing chunners advocate. It is silly to try and make an art cover other areas when it isn't designed for it. Like fitting a square peg into a round hole

Doing wing chun, I noticed there were gaps in floorwork and for long range so I started doing MT and followed my Sifu's advice in doing BJJ to cover the floorwork.

[fire cobra]

Then we are agreeing!,your sifu was wise in giving you that advice,and you were wise in taking it!.

[Tom Yum]

That's what I said. The clinchwork in wing chun and Muay Thai are excellent. But if you realy want to wrestle/grapple then you need to do another art

It leads back to the whole ant-grappling debate that wing chunners advocate. It is silly to try and make an art cover other areas when it isn't designed for it. Like fitting a square peg into a round hole

Doing wing chun, I noticed there were gaps in floorwork and for long range so I started doing MT and followed my Sifu's advice in doing BJJ to cover the floorwork.

I believe Jun Fan gong fu (Bruce Lee's interpretation of JKD) consisted of boxing, wingchun, judo and savate/taekwondo?

Kind of sounds like what you're doing.

[Thai Bri]

Precisely.

Nothing wrong with that... unless these other arts keep being referred to s Wing Chun.

[Red Rum]

Yeah. I train BJJ, kickboxing, CKD and boxing at the moment, but those are separate. I am not too keen on the whole MMA concept - for me as an instructor it is important to teach arts separately. I have been to a few MMA gyms and the people didn't impress me. The arts were so muddled that the instructor didn't seem to know what they were teaching. I find that if you want to mix your martial arts do so, but at the same time work in specific areas.

ie If I want to work on grappling, I'll go to the Gracie academy. If I want to work on standup (keeping my feet) I'll go to my wing chun schools. If I want to work on cardiovascular and smashing/kicks/punches I'll go to kickboxing. boxing and TKD.

What is the point in going to an MMA gym where all the arts are diluted??

I am sure there are extremely good MMA gyms around but I still think training the arts separately is better

[Tom Yum]

Redrum, I understand where you are coming from. By learning from an expert in one style, you progress faster in your collective martial arts experience.

There are many great MMA gyms out there, but I too have observed what you mentioned. It boils down to quality of instruction.

[Thai Bri]

So let me get this straight.

In a fight you're in kicking range, so click into Kickboxing mode. Using their structures and tactics. If he gets in close you mind flick into a totally different art..... chi saoing your way. But wait! Another mind flick into yet another art if it goes to the ground!

Nah. You need to train somewhere that puts those techniques into one art, into one set of concepts. You cannot rationally flick about from one art. So what if there are some crap MMA clubs? There are some crap clubs from all styles.

But I don't see two many people winning that style of competition from any other styles, no matter how much they flci from one style to the other mid fight.

[Red Rum]

So let me get this straight.

In a fight you're in kicking range, so click into Kickboxing mode. Using their structures and tactics. If he gets in close you mind flick into a totally different art..... chi saoing your way. But wait! Another mind flick into yet another art if it goes to the ground!

Nah. You need to train somewhere that puts those techniques into one art, into one set of concepts. You cannot rationally flick about from one art. So what if there are some crap MMA clubs? There are some crap clubs from all styles.

But I don't see two many people winning that style of competition from any other styles, no matter how much they flci from one style to the other mid fight.

Not at all. You completely misunderstand. For training, I train the arts separate, but in a real fight, if I am out in long range I will fight MT and keep fighting MT

If the fight starts off in a close distance then I will use wing chun or BJJ

You can move from one art to the other efficiently.
And you will find that most UFC guys train this way.

MMA is like trying to sell ice cream that has every flavour. It may sound good, but after you start eating you find that you can't taste or process the different flavours. MMA gyms are usually run by a couple of guys who have tried to teach everything under one banner, so that the arts themselves get diluted

There is no point going to a gym where the trainer flits between arts hoping that you will catch something.

When I teach at Kamon, I teach wing chun, that is all. There is no point trying to cover BJJ and boxing in the lessons. It will spread yourself too thin

If my students want to train BJJ, I train them privately or get them to go to Gracie Barra.

[Red Rum]

I would hope that common sense would teach them that!!!!

If I throw a ball at you and you catch it, you might throw it or kick it

You don't need to click a switch to do either - you do what feels right at the time

I understand that you are talking about flowing from one art to the other, but that should come naturally. It does for me.

[Red Rum]

Transitions don't just mean covering distance. Sometimes it's good to drill progressions and spar using all of the ranges (with most of your tools).

Garland I have just realised that you look like my brother!
That is spooky and probably frightening for you!!

Anyway, getting back to topic. I just find that the transition should feel natural (ie once you get so close, it should feel right to strike in a certain way etc). This is developed because you have developed ceratin arts in certain distances