A Face of a Brutal Sport Is Trying to Change Its Image

[PizDoff]

A Face of a Brutal Sport Is Trying to Change Its Image




Thoughtful, even philosophical about the sport he dominates, Jones is the perfect ambassador for a polarizing sport.

During a break between interviews, I asked Jones why he thought society needed another brutal sport.

Jones answered by underlining the merits of martial arts.

�Teaching martial arts is moving us toward a more peaceful society,� he argued, �because fighting creates confidence, and confident people tend not to make dumb decisions. They tend to feel more comfortable in their own skin and not feeling like they have to prove anything.�

Those involved with M.M.A. are on a crusade to promote the sport which, they argue, is no more brutal than football or boxing.


Excerpted from full article.

What do you guys think? Do you agree?

[ghost55]

His appearance in Fight Church makes him a sub-optimal ambassador in my view.

His appearance in Fight Church makes him a sub-optimal ambassador in my view.

[ghost55]

I feel that religion is like sex: you keep it in the bedroom and away from children. Having an ultra-christian going around saying that MMA isn't a meathead sport feels a bit like trading one evil for another.

I feel that religion is like sex: you keep it in the bedroom and away from children. Having an ultra-christian going around saying that MMA isn't a meathead sport feels a bit like trading one evil for another.

[MikeD81]

The imagery of the chainlink 'cage' is quite emotive. It suggests fights in playgrounds, or some kind of Mad Max future death sport, to me at least transfer the sport in to a boxing ring and it gains a air of civilisation. The ring, with all it's cultural meaning, adds credibilty

The cage reinforces the image of brutality

And ironically the cage makes it a safer sport for the fighters and also the crowd. But I think I have a solution. They just need to build a big enough one of these...

http://www.kmart.com.au/sku/41790038...FWTlwgodIx4Axg

The imagery of the chainlink 'cage' is quite emotive. It suggests fights in playgrounds, or some kind of Mad Max future death sport, to me at least transfer the sport in to a boxing ring and it gains a air of civilisation. The ring, with all it's cultural meaning, adds credibilty

The cage reinforces the image of brutality

And ironically the cage makes it a safer sport for the fighters and also the crowd. But I think I have a solution. They just need to build a big enough one of these...

http://www.kmart.com.au/sku/41790038?gclid=CJTl9eSk_r0CFWTlwgodIx4Axg

[Eddie Hardon]

His comments seem perfectly fine to me. How often do we hear of trained MA/MMA/Boxers getting involved in street fights etc? Not often. The training inculcates a sense of discipline with an understanding that with knowledge comes responsibility.

Once you've embarked on The Journey, you learn how easy it is to seriously injure another person. That tends to encourage a willingness to allow a vexatious/argumentative person ramped on their own Ego/Testosterone to 'win' a 'discussion'. Or offer them a Guinness to save their Face. (It's cheaper than serious injury on either side). Let them wallow in a misplaced sense of 'Victory'; it might just be that other things are in play and they are expiating some Anger from an unconnected event.

At a past Coaching Course, Sensei Terry Parker, outlined a situation in which youngsters were causing difficulties at a train station in Essex. He asked what we thought should be the solution. The Dan Students started to bridle but he cut them short and told us that we should get off the route a station early and so avoid (aggravating/contributing/starting) Trouble. Quite the best answer, I thought.

In short, most people who train tend to be nice, sensible and TRAINED. It's the idiots who haven't suffered etc, who have a false sense of Self and cause the problems.

Just a minor thought on my part. Feel free to slaughter me.

His comments seem perfectly fine to me. How often do we hear of trained MA/MMA/Boxers getting involved in street fights etc? Not often. The training inculcates a sense of discipline with an understanding that with knowledge comes responsibility.

Once you've embarked on The Journey, you learn how easy it is to seriously injure another person. That tends to encourage a willingness to allow a vexatious/argumentative person ramped on their own Ego/Testosterone to 'win' a 'discussion'. Or offer them a Guinness to save their Face. (It's cheaper than serious injury on either side). Let them wallow in a misplaced sense of 'Victory'; it might just be that other things are in play and they are expiating some Anger from an unconnected event.

At a past Coaching Course, Sensei Terry Parker, outlined a situation in which youngsters were causing difficulties at a train station in Essex. He asked what we thought should be the solution. The Dan Students started to bridle but he cut them short and told us that we should get off the route a station early and so avoid (aggravating/contributing/starting) Trouble. Quite the best answer, I thought.

In short, most people who train tend to be nice, sensible and TRAINED. It's the idiots who haven't suffered etc, who have a false sense of Self and cause the problems.

Just a minor thought on my part. Feel free to slaughter me.

His comments seem perfectly fine to me. How often do we hear of trained MA/MMA/Boxers getting involved in street fights etc? Not often. The training inculcates a sense of discipline with an understanding that with knowledge comes responsibility.

Once you've embarked on The Journey, you learn how easy it is to seriously injure another person. That tends to encourage a willingness to allow a vexatious/argumentative person ramped on their own Ego/Testosterone to 'win' a 'discussion'. Or offer them a Guinness to save their Face. (It's cheaper than serious injury on either side). Let them wallow in a misplaced sense of 'Victory'; it might just be that other things are in play and they are expiating some Anger from an unconnected event.

At a past Coaching Course, Sensei Terry Parker, outlined a situation in which youngsters were causing difficulties at a train station in Essex. He asked what we thought should be the solution. The Dan Students started to bridle but he cut them short and told us that we should get off the route a station early and so avoid (aggravating/contributing/starting) Trouble. Quite the best answer, I thought.

In short, most people who train tend to be nice, sensible and TRAINED. It's the idiots who haven't suffered etc, who have a false sense of Self and cause the problems.

Just a minor thought on my part. Feel free to slaughter me.

[Sovvolf]

You're preaching to the choir here Pizz

Part of MMA's problems, I think, come the hyperbole of promotions like the UFC. IMO these guys promote the 'Human Cock fighting' image of the professional sport to fill seats and get paid

Sure boxing has similar BS involved in the professional area, but it also has a well developed ammature scean, and importantly, the Olympics to add credibility to the sport. Same with wrasslin' On the one hand you have the spectacle of WWE, on the other a long noble tradition of college wrestling, and till recently at least, Olympic credentials

I once suggested on a forum that maybe you could get MMA in the Olympics with a mix to the rules. Most of what I got back was "Hell no, its just human cockfighting" or "You'd have to change so much, it wouldn't be MMA" Though some of these idiots were suggesting pro wrestling be and Olympic sport so...

I honestly think it could work on the same levels as Boxing in the Olympics. Using something similar to the amateur ruleset for MMA, pads, head gear, no head contact for ground and pound, no knees to the head and such.

I mean, they have boxing, judo, wrestling and even TKD. MMA at it's very basics is an amalgamation of those sports (yes an over simplification I know but I'm sure you see where I'm coming from) I think it would do wonders for the sport and it's image.

However in order to get in the Olympics it, ironically enough, as to improve it's image. Now I'm not calling for a change in the rules, I think they are just fine, but possibly a change in how it's marketed, as Doofaloofa pointed out, it's still pretty much marketed as human cock fighting, as gladiatorial to the death combat and that's still how people see it.

Though I honestly don't have a solution for this, its really a double edged sword. You start changing the image and then you may start losing the fans, who tend to come to these shows cause of the human cock fight appeal. Then you lose money and it comes falling down on it self.

[ghost55]

Just use modern Pankration rules. Hell, you could even call it Pankration. Is there a sport more olympic then that?

[W. Rabbit]

Those involved with M.M.A. are on a crusade to promote the sport which, they argue, is no more brutal than football or boxing.

Excerpted from full article.

What do you guys think? Do you agree?

MMA is not as or less brutal than boxing or football. No fucking way. I can't remember the last football or boxing match I can remember that left the ground or mat completely covered in blood.

The most brutal maneuver in (American) football is tackling, which comes in many forms but it is carefully regulated to avoid career ending and life altering injuries like the 2-man chop block that paralyzed Mike Utley's of the Detroit Lions decades ago.

Boxing has to be one of the most formalized combat sports in history. Cuts can end boxing matches. In contrast blood and MMA go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

Is MMA brutal from top to bottom? No, because of the grappling/sub components, there are many ways to defeat an opponent that don't involve drawing blood or cutting flesh. But I can't agree with him that MMA is not, at times, a far bloodier sport than both football and boxing.

MMA is still the closest thing to Vale Tudo allowed by US and state law that I know of.

[karma2343]

I think it depends on our definition of "brutal" here. MMA is definitely bloodier than most sports, but is that the metric to use? To me, when I think of brutal, I think of long term injuries, specifically brain damage that leads to neurological disorders. As far as I know, the jury is still out on that one conclusively (which makes since, considering MMA as we know it hasn't been around very long).

To be clear, I'm not saying your criteria is wrong or anything, because blood is definitely brutal. We just need to be clear on how we're defining everything, and that might not be the same for everyone.

Also, I agree with the marketing problem. Organizations like the UFC can't keep pushing the thrash metal, "as real as it gets" Xtreme!!! cage fighting thing and expect people to view it as a credible, respectable sport. Can't have it both ways.

[W. Rabbit]

I think it depends on our definition of "brutal" here. MMA is definitely bloodier than most sports, but is that the metric to use? To me, when I think of brutal, I think of long term injuries, specifically brain damage that leads to neurological disorders. As far as I know, the jury is still out on that one conclusively (which makes since, considering MMA as we know it hasn't been around very long).

There's this.

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=122820

[Mr.HoneyBadger]

Bottom line

The guy is Champ!

Your argument is invalid

On the other hand his faith opens the idea of human cock fightin', to a whole new demographic. Excellent buisness strategy

I have considered this idea of MMA being percievedas a brutal sport and I have come to the conclusion that MMA is nor percieved as such. However "Cage Fighting" is

The imagery of the chainlink 'cage' is quite emotive. It suggests fights in playgrounds, or some kind of Mad Max future death sport, to me at least

transfer the sport in to a boxing ring and it gains a air of civilisation. The ring, with all it's cultural meaning, adds credibilty

The cage reinforces the image of brutality

In the Combat Sambo vids I've seen, they compete on wrestling mats, so I think there are many different platforms that could be utilized for MMA comps.

[Tranquil Suit]

Thoughtful, even philosophical about the sport he dominates, Jones is the perfect ambassador for a polarizing sport.

How about NO

[BKR]

How about NO

Yeah, drug addict, DUI driver, leaving scene of injury accident (alleged).

Great ambassador for sure...

[Tranquil Suit]

Yeah, drug addict, DUI driver, leaving scene of injury accident (alleged).

Great ambassador for sure...

Scratch "alleged".

[W. Rabbit]

fighting creates confidence, and confident people tend not to make dumb decisions. They tend to feel more comfortable in their own skin and not feeling like they have to prove anything

How about NO

You know what's truly brutal?

Irony.