| While you can find much in common across various | | | | assess its effectiveness in comparison with another |
| fighting systems in terms of teaching methods, | | | | system with a similar goal. If, for instance, there are |
| techniques, and goals it is also possible to find many | | | | two fighting systems that include hand to hand |
| ways in which each system is unique. It is often | | | | fighting, they can agree on a set of rules and engage |
| difficult to make direct comparisons between | | | | in sparring to assess the best fighter in that moment. |
| different fighting systems as there is no standard | | | | The Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United |
| format for making objective comparisons. It is | | | | States during the 1990s is an example of a major |
| important to recognize that the physical component | | | | tournament that allowed participants from various |
| is just one aspect of many fighting systems, as | | | | disciplines to complete under a limited set of rules to |
| many also include a strong philosophical or spiritual | | | | help answer the question of which fighting system |
| ideal. Examples of this are the Confusion principles | | | | was most effective. The rise of mixed martial arts |
| behind the teaching of many Japanese, Korean, and | | | | has led to an increase in other organizations similar to |
| Chinese systems. Other example are the systems | | | | the Ultimate Fighting Championship. |
| which are more sports oriented and have a unique | | | | Modern martial arts cross training is often referred to |
| set of rule that conflict with many other systems, | | | | as mixed martial arts, or MMA. The practitioners of |
| including Washu, Judo, and Tae Kwon Do. Systems | | | | this form of training believe that they will become |
| which place most of their emphasis on self-defense | | | | better fighters by becoming competent in a wide |
| are often called "reality based" and include Defendo, | | | | variety of techniques and disciplines. This increased |
| Kombato, and Jeet Kune Do. As you can see | | | | popularity in mixed martial arts training has led to an |
| different forms of martial arts can have dramatically | | | | increased emphasis on fights between individuals |
| different goals, making it almost impossible to | | | | rather than against competing systems in |
| compare them using any objective standard. | | | | tournaments such as the UFC and Pride Fighting |
| It is possible, however, to assess the effectiveness | | | | Championships. Mixed martial arts allow students to |
| of a martial art that claims to be successful at | | | | incorporate a wide variety of techniques into their |
| teaching a particular fighting discipline. Examples of | | | | personal training regimens, as well as providing a form |
| this are systems that focus on use of a particular | | | | of sport competition with organization-specific rules. |
| weapon, unarmed combat with two fighters, | | | | There are many complicated modern fighting styles, |
| escaping harm, defending yourself against multiple | | | | "ground and pound" and "sprawl-and-brawl" for |
| attackers, and more. The particular goal of that | | | | example, which incorporate a wide variety of styles |
| martial art can be used as a lens through which to | | | | including wrestling, boxing, jujutsu, and Muay Thai. |