Official IWS Traditional Martial Arts Thread

[SPX]

Announcing Michael Page -- Sport Karateka turned MMA Fighter . . . Britain's Anderson Silva?

[Ludo]

I'd like to see him fight someone who wasn't making they're MMA debut before we start toting him as the UK's Anderson Silva. Honestly he looks very rough around the edges, even with all that distance he still almost got taken down after trying to sprawl the length of the cage.

[SPX]

Well to be fair it was his debut as well.

What I don't like is that he seems totally disrespectful. I hate it when fighters do that shit. Not only is he a showboater, but after the fight his opponent came up to him and he basically just ignored it. What a douche.

[Ludo]

Well to be fair it was his debut as well.

What I don't like is that he seems totally disrespectful. I hate it when fighters do that shit. Not only is he a showboater, but after the fight his opponent came up to him and he basically just ignored it. What a douche.

I get that it was his debut as well, but people saying he might be the next Anderson Silva when he just fought one time against another total rookie is a huge leap. And yeah, that showboating bullshit is going to get him knocked out against anyone who knows what the fuck they're doing most likely. Let him get tagged good and see how fast those hands come up and he gets serious.

[SPX]

I think the Silva comparisons are due to a similarity in styles, not necessarily ability. Silva also likes to showboat, act a fool, and use weird, flashy techniques.

[Ludo]

I think the Silva comparisons are due to a similarity in styles, not necessarily ability. Silva also likes to showboat, act a fool, and use weird, flashy techniques.

I agree there, but Silva is doing it to top guys in his division and even in the division above it.

[SPX]

Indeed.

Well I have mixed emotions about the guy. Since he comes from a TMA background that makes me want to support him . . . on the other hand I usually like to see showboaters get knocked the fuck out.

[Ludo]

Indeed.

Well I have mixed emotions about the guy. Since he comes from a TMA background that makes me want to support him . . . on the other hand I usually like to see showboaters get knocked the fuck out.

I don't like him.

[SPX]

What you need to like is talking to me about muthafuckin' Kenpo!

[Ludo]

What you need to like is talking to me about muthafuckin' Kenpo!

I watched those videos. It looks like it has good intentions but I really don't see as much practical use as they would like for us to think. Some of those maneuvers look just fine but some of those "finishing moves" look highly unlikely to work unless your assailant is just remaining still. Those "half step" stomps and glancing stomps just leave you off balance if the attacker does anything.

I will say that the basis of the combinations do have merit. But the "finish" portions of those strung together techniques just wouldn't translate. It really looks like the guy tried to take a veritable hodge podge of techniques and smush them together like a casserole that doesn't jive. I'm not impressed.

[SPX]

Yes, well the most common question surrounding kenpo has to do with whether or not the techniques could be pulled off against a non-compliant opponent.

Personally, I think the interesting thing is that Ed Parker--who had learned Kenpo earlier in his life in Hawaii--modified the style significantly based upon his own real-world fighting experience. Like Bruce Lee, he was known to get into tussles on the street and he developed his "American Kenpo Karate" to be effective based upon his real-world encounters.

In the beginning it looked a lot more linear and karate-like, but as time went on he added in a lot more kung fu-based circular movements and he built the techs to flow according to the natural movement of the human body.

Recently, Jeff Speakman--the guy who starred in The Perfect Weapon--further modified the Kenpo that he learned from Parker to account for boxing-style punches and he also added in some SD oriented submission grappling.

Personally, Kenpo is fascinating to me. I'm not sure how realistic it is, but I'd like to learn it one day if only because there is such an interesting history behind it and the theory behind the system is compelling.

[Ludo]

Yes, well the most common question surrounding kenpo has to do with whether or not the techniques could be pulled off against a compliant opponent.

Personally, I think the interesting thing is that Ed Parker--who had learned Kenpo earlier in his life in Hawaii--modified the style significantly based upon his own real-world fighting experience. Like Bruce Lee, he was known to get into tussles on the street and he developed his "American Kenpo Karate" to be effective based upon his real-world encounters.

In the beginning it looked a lot more linear and karate-like, but as time went on he added in a lot more kung fu-based circular movements and he built the techs to flow according to the natural movement of the human body.

Recently, Jeff Speakman--the guy who starred in The Perfect Weapon--further modified the Kenpo that he learned from Parker to account for boxing-style punches and he also added in some SD oriented submission grappling.

Personally, Kenpo is fascinating to me. I'm not sure how realistic it is, but I'd like to learn it one day if only because there is such an interesting history behind it and the theory behind the system is compelling.

Yeah, when he started using back foot crossing is when he lost Me in that second video. Like I said I like how it all starts off, the catching of the hand and then going to the groin or ribs but the moment he starts letting go of the arm or not controlling the body with the head/neck is when I see holes in things. Personally I thought almost every single technique he did to a "grounded opponent" was pure horse shit. Half steps and sliding heel stomps with your back turned to the guy is completely ridiculous.

When he strayed from straight arm strikes is when he really started to get into the "high level" type stuff and the more he got into that territory the less viable it became for real world use. As far as fusion styles go it started off in the right direction, but seemed to deteriorate in the spirit of trying to be something more than it needed to be. Alot of wasted motion there.

[Ludo]

I also didn't like his analogy between western boxing and "Oriental boxing". Especially since many traditional martial arts stances don't allow for as much power to be harnessed in the strike itself. Boxing may be a more simplistic style that focuses on two "poisons" or points of contact, but it also produces a sort of specific expertise. Even in various martial arts you get guys who excel in one area. Like how some jiu jitsu guys are choke guys, while others are top control specialists. Or how some guys are great with kicks while others are brilliant counter fighters. I felt his view on western boxing in that regard was particularly disrespectful. He came off as smug to Me in that portion of the interview.

[SPX]

Did you ever see The Perfect Weapon?

[Ludo]

Did you ever see The Perfect Weapon?

I don't remember that one, no. But Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is pretty much a staple from any martial arts film back then.