[MrMcFu]

I think this has been touched on in another thread before, but I wanted to see if it can delved into a bit more. Secifically, I noticed in my Shooto class there are generally people who are good on the ground with weak standup, weak on the ground with good standup, or very crappy at both. Only the trainers seem to be good at both, and I myself have a preference for the ground so I do BJJ as well.

I want to get better at my standup (better than just through Shooto), but I just don't have the time to throw in kick boxing as well. Of course, this probably isn't too much of a problem unless I want to open my own gym or start teaching, but it still bothers me. It's almost like taking a Shooto or Vale Tudo type class just spreads the person too thin to be good at ground and standup. Does anyone else have this experiece? Does anyone find fighting Shooto/Vale Tudo people easier because of this?

[by-the-throat]

Well, you have to be kind of wary of a martial art that says it will make you good at everything. It's like trying to sell a car that offers you all the features of a compact car, a pickup truck, an SUV and a motorcycle. (That, interestingly enough, is paraphrased from one of Stephen K. Hayes books, where he says to beware a martial art that does everything-but he then goes on to say that his martial art does everything) So yeah, I can see that happening in a Shooto class. But most of my shooto\vale tudo classes have focused on grappling, with maybe an 80-20% distribution in favor of grappling. Maybe 10% being stand up grappling. Most of the strikes were used in transition to grappling maneuvers-in short, they're priming you for UFC\Pride fighting.

[by-the-throat]

A side note: To be fair, the guy that taught my shooto classes (which were about a year ago) was also a BJJ teacher, so it might be that he was just not much for striking.

[Ronin]

You will always have a preference for one or the other.
BUT, you should be effecient in ALL facets of the MA.
If you feel your striking is lacking, work on it more.
Striking is much simplier than grappling, a couple of kicks and 4 punchs, thow in knees and elbows and voila !!
Its mixing them UP that is the hardest part, the transition from EFFECTIVE striking to EFFECTIVE grappling, and the other way around, is the hardest thing, maybe because it requires a different "outlook", maybe because its a different "feel".

[PizDoff]

I just want to add....

Specialisation is best. Just look at top Pride fighters.
Yes they have to be well rounded but they usually are best in one area.

[milwaukee cop]

pizdof, i was gonna say that!, you stole my thunder!

[The Wastrel]

Shooto is gay.