Does anyone else think that mixed martial arts is ruining the name and purpose of traditional martial arts?

I agree with you completely. It is nice to see that I am not the only one. There is more to martial arts than just kicking someone's butt.

I am a Traditionalist with a firm believe in the Old Ways of Character Building in Martial Arts as a general factor. This would mean that fighting for fighting sake is wrong, but if they are in the practice of their Way in the fighting well , it's ok as it is Randori.

When it becomes an issue of finance it enters a new arena not with the same values. MMA can be a great and is on the way possibly to being a great benefit to Martial Arts. We need management with an understanding of the values that have always been a part of the combatives. MMA is guilty of separating them as todays fighters are taught if it doesn't hurt someone it has no value.

Martial Arts should be personal first, about building your character and person, solving problems due to a new life in an old way. Many find Martial Arts a way of life as they fail in other ways. And MMA allows them to express their warrior spirit, which is the Martial Way. How they and their representatives carry themselves during this is the key.

Both the "traditionalists" and the "MMA" folks have their own reasons for studying a style. In addition each side have people who should not be representing martial arts as a whole.

The MMA folks are actually following a long line of students of Martial Arts that are out there proving how effective their skills are. This has been going on as long as martial arts has existed regardless of how people try to link martial arts with Buddhism (Zen). Sure MMA is going to have some punks that do not have respect.

That said, I see more disrespect from the "holier than thou" traditionalists towards MMA than the other way around. For some reason they think because they dont see these guys out there doing katas and praising former masters that they are inferior. In addition these fights that the traditionalists condemn so much are consensual, and regulated much like other events that the traditionalists compete in. It is just that the MMA events are much more physical, and require the fighters to use multiple styles to be effective.

As I said before, each side has people that should not be speaking for the whole though. I don't want to sound to down on traditional martial arts though. Respects works both ways though.

I think in some instances the sporting event venue and today's concept of MMA has appealed to folks who have no interest in Budo. I also think that the most virulent people attacking the TMA's are also the ones who just started training, or trained for a couple of months... at some point in their life. Armchair quarterbacks if you will. Many of the serious mma'ers are very respectful of singular arts

Some of the sporting aspect is positive though. I think it helps raise awareness in people looking for good martial arts training. I think it gets rid of the idea that one martial art is "deadlier" than another.

Finally, the martial arts have been around since man first picked up the club. Traditional martial arts have been around for a few hundred years, growing and evolving. They aren't going to disappear anytime soon, nor should they.

I think you get out of the martial arts what you put into it. If I come to a karate dojo looking to master a formal art and to experience budo, then I will likely find that. If I go to the same dojo and look to improve my striking game so that I'm a more effective cage fighter, then that's likely what I'll away from my time there.

Is one right or wrong? I don't really think so. If I choose to study something, my reasons for doing so are my own. And also, I don't know that all MMA practitioners are ignorant or disrespectful of their roots. Many BJJists, for example, will readily trace the roots of their art back to Kano and Judo.

I think there's a fair percentage that do. I'm not a fan of MMA sports but I think there's a few of the guys that do MMA sports that uphold the roots of the styles they've trained in. And, as the poster above pointed out, a person's reasons for studying a style is their own. There are no martial arts police and shouldn't be. Bruce Lee would have been arrested for what he was doing in the late sixties and early seventies if there were.

i think the mixing of a martial art is a good idea however mma only allows for arts like bjj and muay thai, etc... . because the other more traditional arts are based around kill shots, the only real way to test karate, or tkd is to go back to the old japaneese type tournaments and let these guys go in and kill each other.

i know that sounds violent but if you want to kno how traditional martial arts and new age martial arts stand up against one another its really the only way.

in karate you wouldnt let these bjj guys take you down because on the way down youd be snapping there neck or breaking there arm, and i dont think thats allowed in mma fights.

MMA isn't any certain type of martial arts, it is just that mixed and it really does teach you more respect bc your opponent probably very well rounded. And as far as the whole respect things goes, mma fighters are some of the most respectful people around and if you want to argue then you are ignorant and need to really watch the sport and learn it.

Traditional MA and MMA need each other.

Traditional MA teaches a way of life, form, discipline, and inner strength.

MMA or sport MA, takes Martial arts and test it's functionality in a real life stuation.

So we do need both. I do agree, however that too many people just want to learn to hurt other people though.

I disagree. I train in a traditional manner. I am also a fan of mma and UFC. Many of my friends at the school are also fans.

I think there is room for traditional arts as well as new innovations in the arts. Plus I really enjoy the entertainment value of mma events.