Unfortunately, a consequence of the sports growing popularity and a rise in the number of small events. It seems ever bar room, bear muscle, knuckle head now wants to be the next ultimate fighter. Having the will to fight is fine but you must also have the disciple. If you really want to test you man hood, then don't waist anymore time. I'm sure you can find someone in the hood,  the barrio, the local biker bar, or some good old boy that will gladly hook you up. Some trainers and promoters have taken to bottom feeding. Allowing the dregs of society into their gyms and rings. Not only does this create a problem with diseases  It only serves to undermine the future of the sport and art. Reputation is everything!  The oxy cotton addicts, the punks how just want to punch someone, and ones that juice their way into MMA MUST GO! The arts the sports future depends on training professional athletes that have the same determination, the disciple of the ones who developed it. The ones who put the time on the matt.

A common misconception is that today’s  Mixed Martial Arts started with Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. In modern times J.K.D was the first to incorporate different systems. The first composite system utilizing punches, strikes, kicks, knees, elbows, throws, and submissions from various different arts. These techniques were then placed within a philosophy based on universal principles of fighting. The purpose was to provide practitioners a means of self discovery and self expression, that assumed all forms, not bound by doctrine or limitations. Today practitioners of Mixed Martial Arts commonly study and incorporate different martial arts. This is considered Cross-training, a basic precept and the foundation of Jeet Kune Do. Bruce Lee has influenced every corner of the martial arts, from karate’s point fighting to the UFC. The true magnitude of the effect Bruce Lee has had on the martial arts cannot truly be quantified. Many consider Jeet Kune Do to be the precursor of MMA. Even UFC president, Dana White, considers Bruce Lee as the "father of mixed martial arts.

For over 10 years I listened to different MMA guys talk about the traditional arts. Stating that they do apply to MMA Thanks to Lyoto Machida I no long need to listen to  the ignorance  Here is something I wrote 6 years ago. I used Lees' discovering the cause of ignorance as a premise. There is a growing perception within the mixed martial arts community that anything Traditional is ineffective in a real fight. This perception is false and is begging to develop a whole new level of ignorance. Some MMA instructors even think they have created something new. You have only rediscovered that which has always existed. What is it that you think you are training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu’s lineage can be traced back to 13-14 century feudal Japan Thai boxing is over 800 years old. You are training the traditional arts the only difference is you are learning how to apply them. Do not disregard that which you do not understand continue to research in-order to discover the cause of ignorance. The fact is The True Traditional Arts were about life and death. If the artist did not learn how to use what they learned they were dead. In ancient times the arts were not about tapping someone out, they were about taking them out.  If MMA is considered the sport evolution of JKD then its representative, practitioners, and instructors must continue explore and incorporate all arts never professing that they have found the almighty way. In-order for the truth to be seen you must always keep an open mind and an empty cup. Now take a look at a common boxing or MMA hand combination Jab, Cross, Hook, now look a combination from karate Back fist, Straight Punch, Ridge hand. If the backfist is directed to the front of the face these combinations effectively follow the same lines of attack. They also follow the same principle of entry attack and follow up combo or ABC in JKD they are in fact equally effective if trained properly. Finally anyone reading this must understand the nature of the martial arts is that it evolves and adapts it always has and always will. Primarily the evolution of the arts has taken place do to the will or the needs of its practitioners. Some traditionalist deny this believing in the so-called purity of the arts, that the arts should not be incorporated, that the mixing of Arts undermines the integrity of the arts. Many who would profess such ignorance come from a Traditional Karate background. Ginchi Funakoshi is considered to be the father of modern day karate. Funakoshi studied two different forms of Okinawan Te under two different instructors. He then blended the two systems as he developed what today is called Shotokan.  Korean tang so do is Shotokan based. Tang so do developed during and after the Japanese occupation of Korean during WWII. The Korean practitioners and instructors then went on to instruct their own versions or interpretations of the techniques and forms. This is why similarity between the two arts still exists today.. Every art trained today is a blend of arts philosophy’s and principles. The purity of the arts is found within the pure self expression of its practitioners. The integrity of the art is defined by the caricature of those who use it. While MMA gains notoriety and popularity it is imperative that its practitioners do not create a new doctrine of ignorance. The arts are vast with a wealth of knowledge has yet to be discovered or incorporated into the ring. All that the martial artist must do is to train the knowledge into an MMA format. If the study of JKD is to in-part discover the cause of ignorance then perhaps as you travel the path you will learn the art if you explore it you may one day understand it when you do you will find there is no art there is only the artist. Never subscribe to the doctrine of ignorance no matter what guise it uses to manifest itself seek the truth were ever it may be found  The arts will continue to evolve the direction they take will be defined by recreating ignorance or by seeking the truth. Choices wisely, and thank you Sensei Machida