tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812140053300767334.post6998539768908535486..comments2024-02-13T01:37:19.590-05:00Comments on My Karate Kicks: Is Taking a Break a Good Idea?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812140053300767334.post-53265972255926143982014-12-14T21:06:11.471-05:002014-12-14T21:06:11.471-05:00ALEX CHAMBERS LOSES @ TUF 20 FINALE:
"Okinaw...ALEX CHAMBERS LOSES @ TUF 20 FINALE:<br /><br />"Okinawan Master" here reporting on the outcome of another karate-trained MMA fighter, now competing in the big time, the UFC.<br /><br />Alex Chambers. A very intelligent, dedicated thirty-something woman MMA competitor with a history of karate in her youth.<br /><br />I love karate fighters in MMA dearly, so it hurt when she lost to Rose Namajunas (conventional MMA firecracker) in the semi-finals; AND to Aisling Daley (preliminary card) @ the TUF Finals. Both by Submission.<br /><br />As Okinawan Master, I have something to say about Alex's fighting strategy. Seems she had abandoned karate and has been for the past 20 years practicing Muay Thai, the MMA style of choice by many....<br /><br />Recently this year, Alex took the position that see wants to fight with karate because it gives (you) one "timing" that MMA opponents can't handle. I saw the bigger problem was that Alex's striking wilted against her tough opponents, exposing her to takedowns.<br /><br />My feeling, as Okinawan Master, is that Alex didn't lose her matches by choosing Muay Thai over karate. Where Alex failed was that she succumbed to the MMA mindset that one can go out and practice some karate exercises & acquire Lyoto Machida's 'mystical' timing ability.<br /><br />What's more significant is Alex's critical thinking error is exactly how the MMA community attempts to embrace traditional karate. A conglomeration of physical postures & techniques.<br /><br />Traditional karate is a discipline where critical foundational skills must be practically mastered. As M. Meredith instructs, its a forging process. Putting karate on hold for 20 years and attempting to regain black-belt level fighting skills in months is the 'cut & paste' MMA approach.<br /><br />Traditional karate is both a treadmill &an incline to a mental platform for fighting. If you stop or jump off, you either go downhill or fall down before your realize effective, functional skill.<br /><br />Cut & Paste doesn't cut it in traditional karate. Alex Chambers learned that lesson @ TUF 20, x2.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com