What should replace karate-type styles in public imagination?

I never bought the choreographed nonsense in the movies about the striking styles of kung fu, karate, tae kwon do etc. I knew they were developed as a way for unarmed people to fight opponents weighed down by armor. After MMA fights became popular, and these striking, high-kicking styles always lost, I figured people would wise up. Instead there's even more absurdly choreographed movies (like Kill Bill, Kung Fu Hustle, Jet Li movies), worsening the public fantasy about the usefulness of these styles.


A style that people actually win with in free fights ought to be promoted to dispel the myth. What should it be - what is the most effective free-fight style, that can also capture people's imagination the way karate did?

What should replace karate-type styles in public imagination?
i think a combo of boxing and wrestling is great if the guy is big but not to slow and a strong puncher and i agree with you that stuff is lame and is usaully unsuccesful in fights
Reply:"After MMA fights became popular, and these striking, high-kicking styles always lost..."


Mirko Cro-Cop has been very successful with a striking, high-kicking style(coupled with a good take-down defense).





Don't judge the effectiveness of a style by how it is portrayed in the movies. With a few exceptions, fight choreography for movies has always been exaggerated and ridiculous.








Due to MMA, people are beginning to see that Muy Thai is a truly effective stand-up style and that BJJ is most effective for grappling. I think these two styles will dominate in MMA and also for self-defence. And we could see in movies and TV action heroes who employ Muy Thai and BJJ skills.
Reply:they look good though and the movies are all about entertainment. i am a bjj guy but even ill admit that fighters like wanderlie, liddell,crocop, Anderson Silva, gsp, shogun are the most popular fighter because they kick peoples teeth down there throat , its more exciting for the general public to see rampage vs Silva kick **** out of each over then renzo Gracie vs Carlos newton giving a grappling clinic, its just the way it is





but we no that bjj rules so thats ok
Reply:I'm afraid it will never get better. There will always be choreographed MA movies. But not because the moves won't work in real life but for the safety of the actors/stuntmen. Yes there are a lot of movies that use fake choreographics and even after being in karate for ten years, I would prefer a gun over my hands/feet. But in the times that we are living in, you got to think. " What if I don't have my gun on me when I need to defend myself?".


Oh and by the way, I don't know about Kill Bill and Kung Fu hustle but I do know that Jet Li is an Awesome martial artist, like Jackie Chan and Stephen Seagal. Their stuff really works. I know, I've studied and practice it.
Reply:Kill Bill and Kung Fu Hustle are SUPPOSED to be ridiculous. Kill Bill is all about paying homage to those crazy MA movies, and Kung Fu Hustle is the same. Plus, they were both comedies. It's like saying that Looney Tunes provide a negative stereotype of the use of anvils and dynamite.





Jet Li movies are a different species altogether. He and his choreographers know what people want to see when they watch a MA movie, and they give it to them. It's all about business.
Reply:Jet Li did wushu, which more of a dance, not kung fu. Kung fu refers to Chinese Martial arts in general, with some styles being more effective than others. Also, karate and tae kwon do are more like sports true combat arts, but they are just easier to learn for little kids, as opposed to BJJ or Muay Thai. Little kids are also intrigued by watching flashy displays of breaking boards in karate and tae kwon do, even though it doesn't have anything to do with fighting ability.
Reply:Real self-defense encounters are ugly things. They are fast, dirty, sloppy, violent encounters.


Movies are made for entertainment. The crowd wants to see the good guy beautifully destroy the bad guy. Then the hero runs into a little bit of trouble and overcomes the adversity to save the situation and win the admiration of the people.


Real life doesn't go down like this which is why we enjoy it as escapism.


Also in real life people don't go on extended missions where by they fight evil for an hour with nothing but there fisticuffs skills.








Art is art. Real life is another matter.
Reply:It is acctually a matter of public opinion, and as we can all see you are definitly a part of the public.
Reply:i personally think a tire iron is the best and you dont need to waste money on lessons.