Why Mixed Martial Art Fighters Are Guilty of Pursuing Sport And Not Art
Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
by Al Case
http://www.alcasebooks.com/
I know that whenever I write one of these articles on Mixed Martial Arts I am going to get hate mail, but the truth is the truth, and one can only hope to rescue the misbegotten. That bit of humor aside, I actually love MMA, especially the UFC grudge matches. There is just enough Roman in me to enjoy the circus.
Now, the main reason such venues as Strike Force and the venerable Ultimate Fighting Championships aren't art is because of a lack of control. When Joe Beatemup is mounting Billy Mouthpiece and the announcer is praising his control, take it with a grain of salt. The contest, you see is real, and the control is pretty shaky at best.
This is like the difference between a housepainter and a Van Gogh. Yes, the house painter deals with paint, and he may even get a calm and peaceful and artistic feeling about what he is doing. But he is not controlling the brush in any manner comparable to Van Gogh.
Now, let's not take it away from the MMA-ers. To say there is no art in the execution of their technique is silly. But, and this is a big but, it does lead to the big and most important difference between the Mixed Martial Arts Masters and the True Art. The difference is that in the true art there is no contest.
In the true art an opponent is considered only as a training aid. The contest is not to beat up one's fellow man, you see, it is to quell the desire to fight (and have enemies). And here comes to mind the old saying, 'To know yourself is to know your enemy.'
If you are busy beating people up...you are not seeking peace within your own soul. And, one can hope that, eventually, the young turks of the gladiatorial ring will one day renounce their brutality and embrace the true art. They will seek to understand their desire to contest with others, and realize that the truth is to be found within themselves.
Then all of their mighty potential will be turned to beneficial ends. Then their sport will make the transformation into art, and the circus will become an event of significance. The real joy for this writer, you see, is when one of the Mixed Martial Arts fighters has an artistic moment, and the true art does shine forth.
Are you a brute or a delicate gentleman? If you are a delicate gentleman, go on over to Monster Martial Arts. If you are a brute (grin), go on over to Punch 'Em Out .
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