Why do you think Kung Fu has done so poorly in MMA and can it still serve...

[samuelrockseer]

...as an effective self defence art? Well it seems the verdict is in. After many years of modern MMA tournaments Kung Fu ( to my knowledge in all its forms) has proved to be a no show, and when it has a no go. To my knowledge not a single victor of a major tournament has been a Kung Fu practitioner. But why is that? Watching the UFC it isn't as if they're using moves I don't know. It isn't as if Kung Fu people don't condition or work out. And even if we don't have the greatest repore for ground fighting surely people would have cross trained. I'm not sure I understand it, and that's where you guys can help me out. (I'm not looking for its too deadly for sport. Unless your telling me that not a single move is permissible in, say, the UFC Kung Fu folk should be able to have some showing.)

As a bonus question, given that it has failed so completely in MMA, do you think it can still serve as an effective street defense? Thank you in advance!
Just so we all understand one another, I train at a Hung Gar dojo. I love traditional Chinese martial arts, love them in such a way that I doubt I’ll be able to train in any other system. When my friends all went to train an MMA place as the style dictates I stayed right where I was. In a way I can’t understand saddened when I learned Kung Fu wasn’t doing as well as I expected. My question was motivated by a sincere desire to understand. Why don’t the practical skills I learn at my dojo translate into MMA? And what can I do to work around these problems both to become a martial artist and make our dojo look better. If you constructed this as an attempt to damage traditional martial artists it was not, rather a sincere attempt at understanding. And your right, I am ignorant, but so is everyone else at some point. What matters is we try to grow and learn.
Thanks for the videos everyone, and I look forward to more comments and suggestions.

 

[katana172]

Many people have pointed out that traditional arts ar not like MMA. Most traditional practitioners I know do not feel the nedd to go and show off. traditional arts don't teach that. Another thing that you do not consider is it generally takes much longer to get good at say karate or kung fu then MMA. that is because it is designed this way, so that your instructor can gage your charicter before you get to a level where you get proficient. Most MMA schools can't say that.

Also as mentioned San Shou is an excellent style, and chinese san shou fighters regurly dominate Muay Thai fighters fom thailand.

It is also this question was only meant to insult traditional artists, and fan flames. Ignorent people like you are the reason that most true practitioners on here, of both traditional and Mixed martial arts, do not like your kind. You re-enforce the stereotype of the beer swiiling ignorent MMA fan, and I would like to thank you for living up to that reputation.

I generally find that people who make statements like you or ask questions like you don't even train, so remember this, the lowest belt in the biggest McDojo is better then you, because at least he doe not feel the need to tear others down.

You are ignorent of the way things truly are.

 

[somewhat_alarming]

There's a vietnamese Sanda fighter that does well....I think he's Cung Le.... not sure, anyways, many forms of Kung Fu aren't combat sports, many are killing arts, so, with the intention of many attacks being to break bones, hit pressure points, and really damage, it's not meant for subduing like Muay Thai or BJJ. Besides, there isn't any such thing as a superior martial art, just better artists, truthfully, many of those that are great at Kung Fu tend to avoid things like MMA, it's just a mentality thing....hmm....I still stick my hands into bags of rice and beans..... I do tend to receive odd looks when I tell people that but I think an Iron Palm fighter in MMA would definetely be effective.

 

[themoment305]

MMA and traditional martial arts are two way different things. You don't train Kung Fu and expect to enter an MMA fight and win. Modern MMA athletes are trained for sport/combat where as KF is artistc/self defense. Against the average street guy KF will work great! But realistically there are some monsters out there who with little or no training can still kick a well trained martial artists butt. There is no self defense against a sucker punch!! haha.. plus really check out this video on Youtube of the Gracies using BJJ against a Kung fu guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=215Ai-2dFIU

 

[AntiThesis]

4 words: San Shau kung fu.

Hybrid style of kickboxing and devastating takedowns. Watch cung le and tell me kung fu can't be used in mma.

 

[Alex]

Cung Le is doing pretty well with San Shou (Kung Fu's version of kickboxing).

Also, check out this video of a wing chun kid schooling an mma wannabe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GsaFUHrIHo