Karate Making a Comeback? (UFC 98 Spoiler!)

So I watched UFC 98 last night, and noticed how much praise they (the commentators) were giving towards Karate, after the son of a Karate Master (big guy over in Brazil apparently) defeated the brothas' pride Suga Rashaad Evans, with a knockout victory.

Usually the commentators pissed on Karate styled fighters, because they had no success in today's world of MMA competition. They usually failed in the Octagon against the kick-boxers and boxers, because of the relentless assault those disciplines have, as compared to point-style, Karate tournaments, where you are trying to land that one blow, to do damage with and get a point for.

But this guy, Lyoto Machida, adapted his karate with grapping and other fighting styles, and is now drawing praise for it. He still fights with a wide stance and with his hands farther out, like you would learn while taking TKD or Karate, instead of the more common boxer stance, that many fighters take on.

After his win, one of the commentators (Joe Rogan), made the comment that there was going to be a sudden explosion of Karate schools (like the similar explosion of BJJ schools) and jokingly said 'Cobra Kai!.'

Karate Kid fans know all about Cobra Kai, and I laughed my ass off when he said that.

'Sweep The Leg'

 

Karate never left. It's just been bad teachers in the US that gave it a bad rep as well as Taekwon-Do. Let's not get started on kung fu. Most schools don't teach the fighting aspect. Mainly forms or wushu. There are good traditional schools in the US, you just have to search for them.

 

+1

I don't like the cookie-cutter, big chains to be honest..

I like the old guy, preferably who's actually asian (because I assume that he would be more inclined to carry over tradition) over an american instructor.

For instance, under a Korean TKD master, we actually spoke the language during class, and had to take home papers with Korean terminology on it. The last instructor I had (good guy, taught some grappling as well as striking) said we wouldn't be using Korean terminology during class, after I asked him about it.

Takes away from the learning experience TBH.