[RJ Powell]

wtf u really think that was sarcasm? He was giving a levelheaded assessment of the arts themselves. He did have a few snide remarks in there, but the rest of it was serious. I think you are just butthurt.

I have achieved 1st dan and have prior experience in all of the arts he mentioned, and i believe what he is saying is a pretty accurate portrayal. Being effective in fighting isn't everything there is to martial arts, there are other aspects like spiritual development and cultivation of a winning attitude. You act like the sky is falling just because someone said your art is a little less efficient in terms of ring combat than other styles that have been ring tested again and again.

I hate when people discredit the ring fighters that are training their asses off day in and day out, they deserve their credit for being willing to actually test out their arts in a controlled environment. If you ever went to thailand you would see the pure determination that these guys carry in their hearts along with they're exellent conditioning and overall toughness. It's like you guys want to have your cake and eat it too, well you can't unless you prove yourselves time and time again.

EDIT: and for the record, my "TMA" training did help me a little bit physically when i decided to train in boxing and muay thai, my TKD and Kyokushinkai training gave me more effective high kicks, unlike MT high kicks, i chamber mine and whip it to my opponent's temple, it is a little bit weaker, but faster and easier to recover, with JUST ENOUGH power to KO someone, i just think the MT method of coming over hard and chopping down the neck is overkill, it doesn't take too much blunt force to KO someone with a headkick. But that is just me.

I also mix chambered roundhouses with Thai roundhouses when i spar just to mix things up and confuse my opponent, with quickness one time, and power the next time.

But imagine how much time i could've spent training in Muay Thai and Boxing and SPARRING instead of doing katas. I would be much better off now. I would trade all my years of fancy low percentage kicks for a clinch game, masterful basic techniques, and just plain fighting experience any day.