Okay, I'll cop to being a Machida-phile. The guy's fantastic and has an understanding of maia and combat that goes way beyond standing toe to toe and smacking each other. That last UFC was one of the best I've seen in years.
A few thoughts on Machida's style. First, anyone who's been around for a while would see that he started classic martial arts training at a young age. The lack of telegraphing and balance are the key give aways. He knows where his feet are – his sense of balance and ability to move are exceptional. You can just see it in the way he moves.
Second, his hands – they're often held low, not locked into a boxer's classic position. He's not worried about having to cover up because he's going to move before you can smack him in the face, either by going back or at an angle. That's characteristic of his entire approach – don't be where the other guy is punching.
Watch his hands, too, when he moves. They often counterbalance or initiate movements by shifting his balance or by shoving off from his opponent and converting his opponent's motion into movement in a different angular direction. It's easier to use and deflect that power rather than block it or initiate movement independently. It's like watching a dog use its tail to keep its balance.
As impressive as Machida's sense of maia is, most traditional martial artists have at least some sense of how that works, as contrasted to most of the UFC fighters. The BJJ guys who started VERY young have a similar sense of distance and angles ON THE GROUND, but it doesn't seem to translate into their stand up games.
Tennessee's got a deep and wide traditional martial arts culture, especially as one of the centers of Isshinryu karate. It'd be great to see skills like Machida's showcased more often in Tennessee MMA – no reason it can't be – as opposed to developing a culture of just brawling.
Not saying the fighters don't do that well, too – but let's take it to the next level.
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