XMA

[MasterH]

Below is a clip from the latest MA fad, XMA (Extreme Martial Arts). It's a mix of traditional MA (Taekwondo, TangSooDo, Shotokan and others) and gymnastics. Some people feel it takes away from the true martial arts others see the skills as the "next step". How do you feel?


66.98.222.90/~stevet/xp3/videos/videos/mkst.wmv

[Aefibird]

I think practitioners of XMA are talented gymnasts and are very good at performing 'tricks'. I wish I could do flips and spin kicks like some of those guys! (yes, I know it's not practical or traditional , but think of the kudos... ;D ;D)

I think that as long as XMAers understand the difference between their 'martial art' and any other martial art then that's fine. It's when people train in XMA and expect to be able to use it realistically in self-defence or even in competition fighting that I think is the worrying thing.

As long as XMA practitioners aren't 'deluded' that XMA is the (so-called) 'real thing' and will help you in a fight, then fair enough. It's not for me, but that doesn't automatically make it wrong. I've never shown any interest in taking up boxing, but that doesn't mean that boxing is wrong either.

A lot of people downcry certain sections of the martial arts community because it's not what they would do or it's not what they see as being 'realistic' and therefor it is no good. People have a million and one different reasons for doing martial arts.

If the primary aim of a 15 year old who trains in XMA is simply to win tournament medals then fair enough. It's not my cup of Earl Grey, but my training would probably not be their thing either.

There's summat out there for everyone in Martial Arts, whatever your reasons for training.

[AngelaG]

What she said ;D

[MasterH]

How XMA came to exist was "the Karate Kid" and the"Ninja Turtles" believe it or not.

Back in the 80's and 90's martial arts became popular to youngsters, I was one of them, because of television show shows like the such. As they grew, unfortunetly, they became bored with the traditional form of MA, all of the sudden it was uncool and a waste of money. Some went to MMA, others quit. To keep them into TMA, a group started mixing the gymnastics with TMA, kind of emulating the Korean Demo teams to a point, and put it all to music. With most of the XMA (or the like) teams, you must have earned a black belt in some traditional art, be between a pre-teen (10) and young adult (oldest I've seen is early 30's). They have tournements all over the place. If you want check them out:

www.xmarevolution.com

Also check out some clips from the discovery channel special:

dsc.discovery.com/convergence/xma/video/video.html

[random]

Put the word extreme with anything and I THINK OF DANGER, not in this case, although it was very very good, but not really extreme. But if it this thing that floats your boat go for it. None of what they were doing involved anybody else, some might say they might injure them, or bore them after yet another back flip, but big up for them, you can not do that sort of thing over night ( and yet I am quietly envious).

I'd fight him, while he was jumping and spinning I would go home for my tea. ;D

[MasterH]

In most casses, a game for the young. They do have a breaking comp, and those commpetitors seem to be a bit older.

[Aefibird]

masterh said:

With most of the XMA (or the like) teams, you must have earned a black belt in some traditional art,

There's been a recent rise lately in certain clubs near me of schools offering XMA to non-black belts. The last open competition I went to, there were more non-black belts in the creative forms divisions than black belts. Some of those kids were extremely talented too and certainly deserve recognition and respect for their hard work.


It was due to Power Rangers that XMA came about - the creator, Mike Chat, is an ex Power Ranger. ;D

[MasterH]

Mike Chat has changed the rules, on another forum someone pointed this out as well. Originally he would only allow black belts..........in which case we should shut'r down! I think it's great side training to your prime MA. But you need a foundation before you add the gymnastics........someone sold out.

I'm unhappy with this.

[rosiesdojo]

I think most freestyle practioners know that this kind of stuff aint gonna help you defend yourself in a fight, however it is tremendous fun.Like Martial arts it takes a lot of dedication and skill to be good at it, and is exstremley hard work, make no mistake.
I think there is too much gymnastic element in mike chatts group, however i love watching it.
I prefer the Silver Dragons, whilst they have some gymnastic stuff in to wow the crowds it is based on a solid grounding in a traditional martial art, kinda mix between the two,but then i am biassed as we are part of the silver dragons junior display team lol.
Rosie

[maskedman]

one thing that astounds me is the misuse of the kiai, there lack of understanding...it is not an intimidation tactic! Yet when they kiai it seems to be a big waste of precious air!

*bows respectfully*

[MasterH]

maskedman said:

one thing that astounds me is the misuse of the kiai, there lack of understanding...it is not an intimidation tactic! Yet when they kiai it seems to be a big waste of precious air!

*bows respectfully*

It shows spirit, important in MA training. And it actually creates power by the breathing out action.

[andym]

I think it would look good at demonstrations and shows, or as a team/syncronised event but how useful is it really?! Looks more gymnastics based than MA to me.

[Aefibird]

masterh said:

maskedman said:

one thing that astounds me is the misuse of the kiai, there lack of understanding...it is not an intimidation tactic! Yet when they kiai it seems to be a big waste of precious air!

*bows respectfully*

It shows spirit, important in MA training. And it actually creates power by the breathing out action.

That's very true, but a lot of XMAers (especially at the lower-level competitions) seem to think that just screaming on every other technique is displaying spirit. It isn't - and it isn't helping with the breathing either. It's just noise.

XMA is great in the hands of someone who has a good background in MA and trains hard at the XMA technques. However (and I can only speak for the UK), a lot of competitors these days don't seem to have any real sort of understanding of the techniques or the principles behind them.

Now, I'm not talking about the principles behing using a butterfly kick on the streets but I am talking about power generation and how to do even basic gymnastic movements properly.

I've seen competitors - with and without blackbelts - looking unsure at how even to do a simple handstand.

I'm not griping about the martial side of XMA - I think we all know that it is for show and nothing else - but about the flashy aspect to it. If you're gonna do a demo/ competition form with XMA then surely you'd at least want it to look extreme?

There was a guy (in the adult divisions) who was at a competition I went to in Sheffield a while ago. He was in the Creative/XMA forms division and twice in his form attempted to leap up into the air and perform the splits as a landing. Twice he failed. His punches and kicks looked good, but the whole routine was spoilt by his lack of finesse and knowledge at how to put an XMA form together. The worst part of it was, he was the instructor of many of the other competitors who were performing XMA/Creative forms!

I suppose it's like anything else - there's good and bad in XMA schools, just as there is in the rest of martial arts.

I just find it a bit sad that XMA emphasises the gymnastic aspect of forms and yet there are people training in it who seem to just have no clue about it at all.

I agree with Master H - surely a basic knowledge of MA training (and a degree of flexibility!) would be better for XMA practitioners. Whilst there's people who don't see the value of it, surely high standards are what we should all be striving for in MA, whether that's XMA, Karate, Kickboxing, TKD or whatever.

[MasterH]

Agreed, Aefibird. And a good post.

[Aefibird]

masterh said:

Agreed, Aefibird. And a good post.

Thank you!