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