There is no “karate” in Machida

Now that Machida unofficially lost, it turns out that Karate is not back (or it was only back for a while and then gone again, I don’t know!). Vitor Belfort will have to toss his blue belt in Karate and start training in whatever style that this Shogun guy trains in.

Why not? didn’t Machida’s success at the UFC highlighted by wins over Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans mark the “return” of Karate?

No if you ask me, the way that Machida fights is not the way regular Karatekas fight. It certainly is not Karate.

The Iceman, Georges St-Pierre and many other notable mixed martial artists and world champion kickboxers also come from a background in Karate, yet we don’t often see anyone fighting the way Machida does, not even Lyoto’s father and brother.

So don’t rush to your neighbourhood Karate school, it is unlikely that you’ll learn how to fight like Machida there.

And  just to be clear, do I think Karate really doesn’t work for MMA? Absolutely not, as i said earlier many champions come from a background in Karate, it seems to work pretty well (see the video below).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQlQKUtkwk[/youtube]How is that for Karate doesn’t work?

My point is, Karate is a lot like Kickboxing, Boxing..etc, Fighters choose to be defensive , counter punchers, aggressive or elusive in Karate just like they do in Kickboxing, Boxing or any other striking discipline.

It is wrong to say that Karate is THE BEST style because of Machida just like it is wrong to say it doesn’t work because some Karate fighters didn’t do very well in MMA in the past. Karate is not the reason behind Machida’s success, Machida is.

Originally posted on my blog MMAStaredown.com