I'll Hit It! 8.08.07: Verbal Sparring
Posted by Don Abato on 08.08.2007
One side argues street fighting and the other argues sport. Mixed Martial Arts looks so violent and barbaric it is simply defined as two human beings attacking each relying on nothing more than emotion and raw strength. There is no obviously no skill on display unlike that we see from the sweet science of boxing. If you feel this way 411mania's Don Abato had you in mind when he wrote this letter.
To no one in particular:
Art is such a hard word to define. I can think of two primary definitions. But because of its subjective nature the word transcends my simple efforts. At first thought most people would likely define art as the creation, manipulation and production of materials into tangible form to appreciate. The result is "something" appealing to the human senses regardless of medium or sense. Art is also viewed as the organization of methods, ideas and actions to create a system. Think of it almost as a craft or ability.
People aprreciate "art" from the first definition in countless ways. Paintings, pictures, writing, music and dance are all ways to see art in a substantive form. In the second definition chefs would argue there is an art to what they do just the same way a carpenter would convince you there is an art to carpentry. In the end it all boils down to point of view and understanding.
Art can be anything and everything. Sports is a field where both viewpoints on "art" have merit. The graceful movements of a gymnast doing the floor excercise or twirling in the air can be a breathtaking beautiful sight to behold. The performed program is woven together into a piece of art to enjoy by the crowd, just as an audience at the theatre would take in a ballet. But there is also the art of gynastics, learning and knowing all the accumulated techniques as well as the ability to functionalize and apply it all.
All sports have an art element to appreciate. All sports also are an art or craft because of the skill needed to play. However in order to really appreciate it depends on a person's point of view and understanding.
Boxing is an art and is also scientific because it depends just as much on tactics and strategy as it does the physical ability to punch. Anyone can throw a punch or hit someone else. It's one of most basic and natural movements. Even animals can swing and try to hit each other. When you introduce art into it, suddenly there is a proper way to throw a punch. And when you look at it from an artistic perspective, a punch thrown at the right time or place can be a thing of beauty watch.
The counter to the art of boxing would go something like this: It's just two guys with gloves on trying to outslug the other, nothing special in that.
It is obvious the person claiming such argument cannot appreciate the art because they don't understand what's really happening. They don't see the timing, the bobbing and weaving and all the other nuances that make up the art. It's also obvious this person won't ever understand because he/she has selected a stance to take, against, and it's unlikely this person will move to a neutral stance in the middle and learn what's really going on. Boxing is not art to this person because they do not have the necessary understanding and a biased point of view.
This is what is happening with mixed martial arts. If MMA were not an art then you would see two contestants engaging each other out of sheer rage and emotion without respect to tactics, compusure or controlled movement. But there is an art to MMA and thus it is a sport. But if you don't understand what is happening then you obviously cannot appreciate it. And if you have decided on a point of view without taking a full understanding of both sides then you are forming an incomplete conclusion. What good is that?
So to no one in particular, just all those who say "so-called" mixed martial arts and think this is streetfighting, I ask you to bring point of view and understanding into the equation. Put yourself into a position where you are neither "for" or "against" MMA and learn what is actually going on inside the cage or ring.
Are the two competitors merely embraced trying to drag each other down to the ground? Or is one of them attempting an ouchi-gari?
You see one simply holding the other by the neck and repeatedly kneeing him. There's nothing special or scientific about that? Ask any practicing martial artist, regardless of style, about Muay Thai.
Why does everyone talk about Brazilian JiuJitsu? I thought JiuJitsu was a Japanese martial art?
The problem is there is no single source to refrence these movements. It's a difficult task to try and research this all because so many different disciplines go into the performance of this sport. But that is not an excuse, so try and dig a little.
Do you form opinions without knowing about the background and history of the particualr issue in question? Is knowing the proper backstory important when selecting where you stand in a debate? Why would you vote or argue against something you did not fully grasp or understand?
I bring all this up for your own good. You can maintain this stance on what it is you think MMA is or isn't, but you should know all the people who've used some of their brain power to learn a little know the truth and have formed a proper conclusion based on a little investigation. The ignorant only look more foolish in the eyes of the informed.
One more informed person is also one more person who can appreciate and enjoy the art to be found in MMA.
