[cassini]

I've seen threads about how white people are into MMA and blacks & Hispanics prefer boxing. But one thing I have not seen is non-Japanese Asian MMA fighters. I mean look at any martial art academy in the US and you'll see a handful, if not a lot of Aisan American students. I've seen them taking top prizes in martial arts dance/demo competitions but not even one dude in the current UFC. I've many Aisan Americans in LA whose families run dojos for generations. But no one was interested when I mentioned MMA. It's ironic because when you think about martial arts, you think of Asian fighters. But what we see most often are images of them breaking boards, doing fancy dance moves but not actually kicking ass. May be this kind of fighting is against their culture? Thoughts?

[ShogunPENN]

Originally Posted by cassini

I've seen threads about how white people are into MMA and blacks & Hispanics prefer boxing. But one thing I have not seen is non-Japanese Asian MMA fighters. I mean look at any martial art academy in the US and you'll see a handful, if not a lot of Aisan American students. I've seen them taking top prizes in martial arts dance/demo competitions but not even one dude in the current UFC. I've many Aisan Americans in LA whose families run dojos for generations. But no one was interested when I mentioned MMA. It's ironic because when you think about martial arts, you think of Asian fighters. But what we see most often are images of them breaking boards, doing fancy dance moves but not actually kicking ass. May be this kind of fighting is against their culture? Thoughts?

1. You know theres more to Asia than just Japan right? I'm sure you do but your title leads one to believe otherwise.
2. There are asians in the UFC dude.

[cassini]

Originally Posted by ShogunPENN

1. You know theres more to Asia than just Japan right? I'm sure you do but your title leads one to believe otherwise.
2. There are asians in the UFC dude.

Don't be silly, I said 'outside Japan' so people wont mention the Pride fighters. Who are the Aisan fighters in the UFC?

[chickenthigh69]

They're out there, just not in the UFC or Pride.

[ShogunPENN]

Originally Posted by cassini

Don't be silly, I said 'outside Japan' so people wont mention the Pride fighters. Who are the Aisan fighters in the UFC?

Okami and Nakamura (not the LHW from pride) are just the 1st 2 to come to mind.

[phizban]

Japan is the most westernized asian country.

I think its just a simple matter of culture, things that are popularized here don't neccessarily catch on with non-Japanese Asian cultures as much or as fast.

[cassini]

Originally Posted by phizban

Japan is the most westernized asian country..

I think you have a point. A lot of the stuff I see coming from Japan are very 'un-Asian'. For example the big WWE style production thing in Pride. That would be frowned upon is most Asian cultures where they value being humble and low key.

[Randleplexed]

Theres on a chinese dude on the Ultimate Fighter

[cassini]

Originally Posted by Randleplexed

Theres on a chinese dude on the Ultimate Fighter

You mean this upcoming season? he's any good?

[Benzine87]

MMA is very popular in korea and japan, but is unheard of in china, which of course is the biggest asian market.
i do think some of the traditional asian martial arts frown upon MMA, which is why it might not have taken off everywhere in asia, but the reason there arent any asian-americans in the UFC is just because the sport hasnt been poopular long enough, 5 years ago there werent even many MMA dojos, let alone students