[Daochild]

I won't say anything - but what do you think are the strengths of IMA vs. MMA.

Do IMA stand a chance vs an MMA fighter, and vice versa?

Please refer me to the spot if this has been discussed before.

[Northwind]

Again with the trolling bs...

[Alex]

The answer to your question is less trolling and more training.

[Aksijaha]

Do what ever you like best.... "effectiveness" is a moving target.

More effective at doing what task compared to what else?

If you like doing IMA.. do that. If you like doing MMA do that.

If you have enough talent to get paid to do MMA and you love doing it.. then you should definitely do that.

If you have enough talent to get paid to do IMA somehow.. and you love it.. then you should definitely do that.

I've done both. I don't have time to do both anymore. All I have time for is IMA and a bit of boxing.

You should do what you love. That way there is a better chance you will keep doing it long enough to get good.

[chun]

it really doesnt matter, its all about the mind, body, and spirit of the inidivdual

just because someone trains MMA, doesnt necesarily mean he knows how to fight

and just because someone trains IMA, doesnt necesarily mean he has the skills you read about in history books

[Daochild]

I don't know what "trolling" means.

I only ask because I have a choice - it's been my greatest dream to study IMA intensively for an extended period of time. And in the next 6 months I will have that ability. But if I'm only going to come back after 3 years of training Bagua 5 hours a day, and then realize I have a major Achilles Heel, take up BJJ, and say that is that - what is the point?

[Andrew H]

"just because someone trains MMA, doesnt necesarily mean he knows how to fight"

Actually, it almost always does.

[Ian C Kuzushi]

Alright, I see no original ideas here. Nor original questions.

Continue in the appropriate place.

And Dao, just find the best teacher you can and let that be your deciding factor (this is just my opinion).

[Aksijaha]

"just because someone trains MMA, doesnt necesarily mean he knows how to fight"

Actually, it almost always does.

Yes yes.. but will you know how to heal? Teach the infirm? Relax and stay healthy? Tell stories about old masters?
Use weapons? Know exercises you can do just by sitting or standing? Will you understand deep philosophy and how it helps your art be more meaningful?

There is alot more than knowing how to fight... if it was just about fighting.. I wouldn't train. My hands and my head are my livelihood.

Sorry.

[Jaskey]

I don't know what "trolling" means.

I only ask because I have a choice - it's been my greatest dream to study IMA intensively for an extended period of time. And in the next 6 months I will have that ability. But if I'm only going to come back after 3 years of training Bagua 5 hours a day, and then realize I have a major Achilles Heel, take up BJJ, and say that is that - what is the point?

There is no MMA style really... Okay there are MMA gyms, but how many UFC fighter you know train striking, throwing, and ground fighting all in one gym? (If they are that's not really MMA is it? it's {insert name here} style of training) MMA just means practicing multiple MA to cover up a weakness or have another angle at a thing that you already have. In that sense we have many MMA ppl in this forum already.

BTW, what's wrong with training bagua and then learning BJJ? I mean unless you really hate BJJ, in which case learn judo. (or the dog style kungfu if you want the out of the way style) As long as you don't end up regreting learning a style because you had a horrible teacher you should be able to something of a value out of it.

[Daochild]

That's true, thanks for the replies all.

[Ian C Kuzushi]

[quote]but how many UFC fighter you know train striking, throwing, and ground fighting all in one gym?/quote]

First off, I don't know any ufc fighters. However, I do know some mma people and they all train all those things at their respective gyms. You can also go on youtube and look at vids of training at these gyms and see all these things you mention.

[ironrogue]

Depends who your teacher is and how much you put into it.

[Juz]

if you want to roll around on the floor with your man- MMA
if you just want to hold hands-IMA

whats the point? Everything is pointless...invest in loss.

[Aksijaha]

if you want to roll around on the floor with your man- MMA
if you just want to hold hands-IMA

Juz with the fatality!

[Interloper]

The way most people train IMA, they don't have the fighting skills to handle all-out fights. But there are some guys with internal skills -- structure, power generation -- who train MMA and are really dangerous. I've yet to see any of them go into sport competition, though. Most are fed up with the limited scope of school environs and have taken the internal methods they got there out into Teh Real World to actually get some experience applying them in high-stress situations.

So, in conclusion, take internal skills and apply them to MMA, and you'll have two very valuable skillsets that are a natural fit for each other.

[Alex]

I remember the advice my teacher gave me when we asked him about the difference between IMA and MMA. He answered by saying the only difference is that they train harder than you do. He said historically IMA was harder to train not because you had to train physically harder but you had to train just as hard as the MMA guys and yet stick to certain principles the art requires.

[trapper]

It could be the wine talking, but I think it is a matter of context. There is no "better". It is just a matter of what suits you. I went into IMA with "oh I love the kill kill kill die die die" of all of it. Now, I find myself saying that I will get to that aggressive part of it with time.
I am just saying that it depends on what suits you.

[Jaskey]

"but how many UFC fighter you know train striking, throwing, and ground fighting all in one gym"

First off, I don't know any ufc fighters. However, I do know some mma people and they all train all those things at their respective gyms. You can also go on youtube and look at vids of training at these gyms and see all these things you mention.

I meant that in the higher levels where convenience to your work hour does not become an issue, because I usually see different coaches for different ranges in UFC. but then again I might be completely wrong. the point is, when you have that kind of a gym they are really teaching a whole new style of fighting.

It's like when IMA was coming together. you see many cma styles that have similar technique to the IMA and that's because the generations of style that existed before them came together to form these new styles(that are quite old now). similiarly contest of mma is starting to bunch of new combinations and new styles, but the term mma says that they can't be a new style but just a combination of old style so they don't brand themselves as new styles. they just claim to be from ______ gym, training under _______, which is "I train _______ style with master ________."

... I just lost track of my arguement while trying to explain my train of thought... If there is anything different in your point of view from mine please feel free to enlighten me, I'm totally for trying new point of views.

[J.T. Hurley]

In an MMA fight, if either person gets hit in the eye, the fight is stopped. If the person hit can't recover in time, the fight is either postponed until a future date, or the person who did the hitting is disqualified.

That's the only place where getting poked in the eye counts as a "win."

Determine what you think is a "win," and make a plan to get there.