- Brief Outline of Paper
Martial Art is a trade that has been deeply valued both within and without the United States. Various sectors such as law enforcement and the military encourage recruits to have skills in martial arts (Heath & Hudson 67). This is because martial arts are used as a way of not only protecting themselves but also to protect the general public. Martial Art entails skills that might injure an individual and therefore discipline is one of the virtues that are emphasized by instructors of martial art. In order to maximize the usefulness of Martial Arts, there has been the evolution of mixed martial arts. This paper will describe, explain, define, and give historical background of Mixed Martial Arts. The paper will also Compare and contrast a good example of the mixed martial arts and a bad example of the art form. In addition, the paper will also illustrate the important contribution of mix martial arts makes to society.
- Introduction
Martial arts have been a skill that has been embraced for many years especially in the Asian world. However, it is important to realize that the world have over the years become a global village. Technological and communication advancements have made it possible for nations around the world to be able to trade and share ideas. Cultural ideas such as Martial Arts and other Asian ideologies have been able to be exchanged around the world (García &Malcolm 49). This is the reason why many people in the United States learn Martial arts which is not a trade that is indigenous to North America. This illustrates the importance of culture and the richness that the world has to offer. Despite the spread of cultural skills and ideologies from different territories around the world, it is important to note that some of the skills that are learned from the foreign world are amalgamated with some of the domestic ideas so that the new cultural ideas are acceptable to the people. This has been the case with Martial Arts. Societies in Asia that are the originators of Martial Arts based their skills on a purist’s perspective. This means that there martial arts that was passed through generations remained the same in its form and practice. Over the years new styles have been combined with the purist standard of Martial arts to create what has been referred to as mixed martial arts.
Mixed Martial arts are considered a combination of two or more styles or martial arts. In order to truly be called martial arts, the sport must originate from Asian traditions and the participants trained in the physical, mental and spiritual ways of the art. To be trained in only one aspect is not acceptable. Therefore, many other forms of combat sports such as boxing or wrestling are not considered martial arts. As times change however, so do martial arts. Western influence has slowly crept in over the years, and simple fighting has taken the martial arts name without the proposed value system. The combination of traditional martial arts techniques with street fighting is growing in popularity despite the dismay of martial arts purists. However true mixed martial arts combines both Eastern and Western influence to create a new art form.
- Comparing and contrasting good and bad example of the Martial arts
As with any art, there are both good and bad forms of mixed martial arts. Respect is an important concept in this form of fighting. In the mixed martial art’s world a “pirate” is someone who takes or comes up with a move and implements it into their training without doing the proper research about how to perform the movement or if it even fits in with the discipline they are practicing (Rooney 29). They take a movement and claim it for their own. For example, to fit with the media’s violence obsessed culture, some teachers add in street fighting techniques that do not really fight within the discipline or are practical. This is simply a ploy to attract an audience, not continue with the traditions of martial arts that are the basis of the sport. Techniques are often modified to fit audience expectations. For example matches may be designed to last for a long period of time for the entertainment of those watching instead of teaching how to perform a quick effective take down that would be practical application. This goes against the core concept of mixed martial arts. Cheating is also a significant problem. The use of “dirty fighting tricks” in order to make it easier to win a fight has been a rampant problem in the mixed martial arts today (Wells 51).
The proper form of mixed martial arts is designed to develop not only skill, but character as well. Dirty fighting tricks are not conducive to positive character building. There are many problems with taking shortcuts in mixed martial arts. For one thing if a person does not truly understand the difference between fighting and self-defense, using these techniques in a real life setting is downright illegal. It takes a long time for a student to build up muscle memory, if short cuts are taken with training a student risks injury or simply limits their ability to perform additional movements. The only way to truly learn mixed martial arts is through lots of practice.
- Important contribution of mix martial arts makes to society
Mixed martial arts have many benefits to society. First of all, many societies in the West such as the United States have continued to struggle with problems such as obesity. The lack of exercise has been one of the causative agents that have been attributed to Obesity. The involvement in sports is one of the ways in which obesity in western nations can be avoided. Therefore, mixed martial arts, as a sport, contributes to society by enhancing fitness among the people thereby reducing the prevalence of physical challenges such as obesity (Plyler 56).
Secondly, it is important to realize that the notion of security around the world has changed. Traditionally, insecurity within nations was a result of state to state aggression. However, this notion has evolved over the years such that individuals have also become threats to the state and the fellow citizenry. In this way, there is a need to empower individuals so that they can be in a position to protect against aggressors. One of the ways that the citizenry can be able to be empowered is by being taught basic skills such as the use of martial arts in the case of emergency situations (Dimic & Miller 39) Women in many societies for example have been victims of social evils such as rape. This is because most women do not have the basic skills of protecting themselves. This leads to situations where their attackers conduct various atrocities on them and escape scot-free. However, with more women learning mixed martial arts they can be able to protect themselves and others from various form of evils that have been subjected to them by aggressors (Mirele &Christensen 44). In addition, mixed martial art like any other sport provides entertainment. People pay for shows and watch movies that employ styles in mixed martial arts. This shows that this sport provides entertainment for society (Kim 111). Considering that mixed martial arts has been seen as a form of entertainment, the youth can make a living through the mastery of mixed martial arts. There can become instructors or entertainers in the sport.
In conclusion, personal growth, health and fitness are all positive contributions that mixed martial arts can provide to society. With these concerns it is no surprise that more people are taking an interest in mixed martial arts both a form of entertainment and as a sport. Mixed martial arts help teach skills for protection from physical, emotional, and mental external attacks, and also assist in learning different techniques that are both steeped in tradition but with a modern twist. Body language, verbal skills, and psychology can also be learned through practicing mixed martial arts. Immense changes that have taken place over recent years to these various art forms, mostly towards the positive, growing interest in this art on a worldwide scale.
Works Cited
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Mirele, Mark, and Loren W. Christensen. Street stoppers: the martial arts' most devastating trips, sweeps, and throws for real fighting. Santa Fe, NM: Turtle Press, 2009. Print.
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Wells, Garrison. Mixed martial arts: ultimate fighting combinations. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company, 2012. Print.
