MMA also known as Mixed Martial arts has become one of the fastest growing sports. Once considered a cult sport and human cockfighting, it has grown into a competition and display of awesome athletic talent
Although MMA had its roots elsewhere, it became most prevalent with the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the early 90s. The first UFC tournament challenged martial artist from different styles, comparing their skills when faced with competition from a foreign style. The results were alarming and shook up the martial arts world. As it showed many fighting techniques were unpractical and only worked in theory. And those theories fell short when attempted on a hostile unpredictable attacker. Now many UFC tournaments later (At the date of writing this UFC 93 has just passed), the face of martial arts is very different from the pre-MMA world. Resulting in the credibility of many traditional martial arts being battered.
Although many traditional martial arts reduced in their popularity, internal arts and its concepts received a significant attack to their credibility. Resulting in the internal arts being dismissed for practical combat by many MMA practitioners. Although, the concepts and internal arts history has always been surrounded by controversy, MMA reduced its respect in the public eye.
Since its inception MMA has been in a constant state of evolution. In the beginning, the superiority of grappling arts were touted and praised. Often the striking arts (Such as Kickboxing, Karate, and Muay Thai) would not fare well in MMA competitions.
However, moving into 2009, striking arts shared a strong resurgence in MMA. Showing to be a more efficient use of cardiovascular energy. Whereas failed grappling attempts (Such as missed takedowns) can make a competitor tire very quickly. Additionally, many of the current champions such as Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre, BJ Penn and Rashad Evans all show significant strength in the striking arts. The standard has shown itself to be a moving target, whereas previously proficiency in grappling was all that was required to succeed. Could the raising standard of MMA result in resurgence of the internal arts?
Readers growing up in the MMA era may not be familiar with exactly what the Internal Martial arts are. Internal Martial arts avoid the use of techniques which predominately use the means of physical force to win. Many martial arts have an internal component to them, such as karate KIA when striking (A loud shout which includes using the breath to increase ones power). However, two styles most familiar to the public using predominately internal force are Tai Chi and Aikido.
While Tai Chi is thought to be from a form of exercise for old people, its purpose was not originally meant for this, as it was originally used as a martial art. With technique sped up, it closely resembles Kung Fu.
However, Aikido more closely mirrors its combative form, having its roots with Jui Jutsu. (With some similarities of the joint locks and grappling techniques seen in UFC). Although what makes Aikido (Or any internal martial arts) vastly different from Jui Jutsu is the concept of Chi.
Morehei Ueshiba - Founder of Aikido Demonstration
While there is no direct definition that perfect translates into English of what Chi is (Known as Ki in Japanese and Prana in Sanskrit. While Chi is the Chinese derivation) it can be best defined as such:
Chi - the circulating life energy that in oriental philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health
The concepts of Chi also form the theories of other metaphysical arts such as Reiki, Acupuncture, Shiatsu and Yoga. The subject of chi is focus of many other articles and books itself. So space will only permit us to touch upon the nature of this force lightly.
It is believed that manipulation of this life force allows one to be capable of many feats which defy the normal bounds of human strength. Unknown to most, in Hollywood the concepts of Chi was described in the movie ‘Star Wars’ and referred to as the force. Though exaggerated in its theatrical style, its basic essence is the same. Some examples of using Ki power are the following which may or may not be true:
- STRENGHTH IN A RELAXED STATE: A common demonstration in Aikido circles is the “Unbendable arm”. In this demonstration the arm of a practitioner holds his or her arm straight out parallel to the floor. This arm despite having many people pulling on it won’t bend. What makes this technique surprising is the arm is in a relaxed state. Contrary to expectation, as often tension is required to create muscular force.
- GROUNDING / ROOTING: The ability to not be thrown or lifted off the ground by forcing ones energy into the earth. Could be applied to takedown offence
- IRON SHIRT: Ability to sustain an attack and not get hurt.
- PRESSURE POINT: Attacking sensitive chi meridians which can cause sudden injury.
- NO TOUCH THROW: Being able to throw someone without physically touching them.
- DIM MAK: Touch of death, striking a vital point which would instant cause death.
Some of these techniques, particularly the Dim Mak and no touch throw have been accused of fraud and have been highly questionable.
In my personal experience as a martial artist for over 20 years, I have no first hand experienced of a martial artist using Chi in its most extreme form such as the Iron Shirt, No Touch Throw or Dim Mak. However, I have met a few Aikido masters who managed to throw me such force and power that it defied regular muscular force that I’m familiar with. However, those at that skilled level are few and far between. So personally I do believe Chi and its usefulness in martial art application do exist.
Chi in martial arts is similar to other occult arts such as Astrology, Psychic Mediumship, Numerology in its stance with credibility. Undeniably there is deception, fraud and flakiness in the occult arts; But within that lies a small percentage of truth to the matter.
Whether Chi is real or not is subject to age old debate. However, as the reader you can find ample information elsewhere on the Internet to fulfill your opinion on that debate.
However, assuming you’ve read this far, some part of you accepts that Chi is a real phenomenon or at least a possibility.
Chi origination in martial application was not just used to perform cool party tricks and demonstrations as it is mostly seen now. It had the practical purpose of how to overcome an opponent who is stronger than you.
As Morehei Ueshiba(Founder of Aikido), stumbled on the internal arts concepts to overcome his teacher Sokaku Takeda. Takeda was much smaller and much less muscular than Ueshiba. Yet Ueshiba found himself always defeated by Sokaku Takeda. As a result Ueshiba studied Daito-Ryu Jiu Jutsu under Takeda. Daito-Ryu used the concepts of Chi, however in a brutal combative manner in order to defeat the opponent. It was with Ueshiba’s adaptation and vision of creating a martial arts for peace, the brutal techniques softened to stop the opponent without seriously hurting them in Aikido. Chi in martial arts we’re originally used for the practical purpose to stop opponents who are physically more powerful than you. However, its practical purpose has been lost in the demonstrations we see of the Internal Arts today.
However, the concepts of chi in martial application did not begin with Takeda and Ueshiba. It was warriors such as the Samurai and Shaolin monk who expedited the process of integrating chi with martial arts. As both the Samurai and Shaolin developed their physicality to the furthest limits(Relative to that time, taking into account differences in Nutritition, Medicine and genetics). And therefore integrated internal arts concepts to add to their already complete physical skills.
So thus it maybe very well possible, internal arts may be reborn by the same manner which they we’re originally created. By reaching the upper limits of physical abilities, therefore searching for new ways to reach combative advancement. As MMA competitions are stretching the limits of human physicality by the standards of today.
Perhaps the more conservative methods will be been seen in MMA competition in years to come. Having submission techniques from Aikido added to the already vast arsenal of commonly accepted MMA submissions. Or implementing rooting techniques to add the developed array of takedown defences.
MMA has been a surprisingly evolution of martial arts changing year over year. Who knows what will be needed at the growing level of competition. As competition influences improvement and standards as a whole. Or perhaps internal techniques will be left to the grave? Proven to be inefficient and irrelevant to combat today. Only time will tell. |