| It is no secret that Asian martial arts are incredibly | | | | enthusiasts of generation X can largely trace their |
| popular in the United States. Any given town may | | | | martial arts influences to the Karate Kid movies.Yet, |
| have two or three Korean Tae Kwon Do schools, a | | | | through all of the decades of martial arts practice in |
| few Okinawan karate schools, a Chinese kung fu | | | | America, martial arts remained firmly rooted in its |
| school or two, and a handful of Judo, Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, | | | | oriental culture and tradition. Classes began with |
| and other schools scattered about. The prospective | | | | salutations in Japanese or Chinese, and the same |
| martial arts student can pick and choose which style | | | | languages were used to count out punches and kicks |
| appeals to him or her most and is even free to | | | | during drills. The more closely the American martial |
| combine elements from multiple styles. Such was not | | | | arts schools held to the traditions of their forbearers, |
| the case in the founding days of the martial arts, | | | | the more the art was respected. Schools that |
| when arts were passed on from student to teacher | | | | integrated oriental martial arts with American boxing |
| in a direct lineage. It was not always easy to find a | | | | and wrestling were often viewed as having |
| teacher, and the student had to spend a lifetime | | | | somehow "watered down" the traditional nature of |
| mastering the art. There was no "picking and | | | | their art.Those views have been slowly changing over |
| choosing", no shopping for styles and masters. So | | | | time, and mixed martial arts (MMA), which combines |
| how have the martial arts integrated into western | | | | striking arts with wrestling and grappling arts, has |
| consumer culture? Quite well, actually. The freedom | | | | become an accepted class of martial arts in its own |
| to pick and choose has allowed the blending of styles | | | | right. This has been particularly highlighted by the |
| that have been separated for centuries. In the end, | | | | success of the Ultimate Fighting circuit, which is as |
| we are seeing the emergence of a truly American | | | | close to no holds barred fighting as you'll find in |
| class of fighting styles. This conglomeration of fighting | | | | modern sports. The early Ultimate Fighting |
| arts is a melting pot, much as America itself is.It | | | | Championships featured competitors who were |
| should be pointed out early on that this article makes | | | | essentially one dimensional. Someone might be a |
| many sweeping generalizations that are not true of | | | | boxer, a grappler, a karate practitioner, or something |
| many particular martial arts schools and styles. Some | | | | else, but rarely did you see true mixed martial artists. |
| schools proved to be adaptable to local influences | | | | However, the one dimensional fighters soon found |
| almost immediately, while others have retained their | | | | themselves outmatched by the more versatile MMA |
| traditional characteristics for decades. This article is | | | | competitors. This was most stunningly highlighted |
| not intended to say that one way is better than | | | | recently when Royce Gracie, Jiu Jitsu master and the |
| another. It is just an observation of how the martial | | | | winner of three of the first four Ultimate Fighting |
| arts scene, overall, in America is changing.The first | | | | Championships, was defeated soundly in his return |
| wave of the martial arts boom in the United States | | | | match by Matt Hughes, a modern MMA fighter.Does |
| occurred in the years directly following World War II. | | | | this mean that traditional martial arts have been |
| American servicemen stationed in the east | | | | supplanted by the new breed of MMA styles? |
| discovered the strange, effective fighting arts of | | | | Absolutely not. Rather, it just goes to show that, |
| Japan while based in the region as part of the post | | | | even in the martial arts, there is not one size that fits |
| war occupational force. The primary martial art that | | | | all. Clearly, if you are fighting three five minute rounds |
| was introduced at this time was Judo, which was | | | | in a chain link octagon, then MMA might be the way |
| popular in mainland Japan, along with some forms of | | | | to go. However, who can say what would work best |
| empty hand martial arts from the island of Okinawa. | | | | in a real world confrontation? Besides, as any true |
| These Okinawan arts are collectively known by their | | | | martial arts practitioner knows, the true value of |
| Japanese name--the words "kara" meaning "empty" | | | | studying the martial arts comes not in finding ways |
| and "te" meaning "hand" combine to form the now | | | | to beat your opponent--rather, the real challenge is |
| common word "karate" or "empty hand." The second | | | | to face down your own failings and become the best |
| wave was an interest in Chinese forms of martial | | | | person you can be.Gary Russell is a freelance writer, |
| arts (kung fu), largely popularized by the | | | | martial arts practitioner, and software engineer. He is |
| demonstrations and movie and TV roles of Bruce | | | | the founder of TopSearch Consulting, a full service |
| Lee in the nineteen-sixties. The martial arts | | | | web content and keyword article provider. |