This article is part of a far larger effort by MixedMartialArts.com to understand what really works. The focus is not on what happens in the arena, but rather what happens on the street, or in this case, in the gym. If you enjoyed it, check out more stories on:
1. Martial Arts on The Street
2. Dojo Storms
3. Karate For Real
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enjoys a more laidback student-teacher relationship than do traditional martial arts. However, there are still rules, like, you never ask a black belt to roll, they ask you.
Warrior’s Dojo on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, teaches Goju-Ryu karate from Okinawan, and supplements it with other fighting styles including Capoeira Regional. Being a traditional dojo, the Sensei (Japanese for teacher) occupies a highly respected, even revered position in the dojo (school).
Warrior’s Dojo is run by Master Omar El. One of his older students wanted to sponsor a young man, an aspiring MMA fighter, to get him off the streets, and do something positive with his physical talents. The older student brought the younger student to the dojo.
Master Omar advocates for patient learning and taking time to develop true skill, rather than relying on raw athletic talent, which can readily be overcome by hard-earned competence and experience. Master Omar cautions that true skill, unlike natural talent, comes via constant, consistent, and guided hard work. The aspiring MMA fighter thought that way of thinking was poppycock, that natural talent could overcome.
So first, the student challenged Sensei Johnathan Brown. That video, which is blurry, can be watched HERE. While Sensei Brown defeated the student handily, the student did get some licks in. That emboldened him to the point where he challenged Master Omar himself.
It lasts just 11 seconds.
What Happened
The student is at right, wearing headgear. Master Omar is in a bladed (sideways) closed (both are orthodox) stance. Like everything, there are advantages and disadvantages to being bladed. The disadvantages are that it can be challenging to defend against low kicks and takedowns, and it is harder to land heavy strikes. The advantage is that in and out distance management is greatly enhanced, which is useful both offensively and defensively.
Master Omar remains just outside of striking range, while feinting a jab; because of the distance he is maintaining, he doesn’t need to hold his hands high. The student is not dictating the distance, but, not understanding the circumstance he has asked to be in, he holds his hands low too.
Master Omar is getting reads on the other man’s speed, reflexes, reactions, etc. At the first feint, the student reaches far out with his lead hand, leaving himself open as he blocks something that wouldn’t have landed anyway. His rear hand too is too low.
There is a rule in fighting – never respond to the same attack the same way more than twice. The student breaks that rule, badly. The fifth time the student reacts the identical way to Master Omar’s feints, Master Omar knows where the man across from him is going to be, and what the man is going to do. At that point in this fight, in any fight, it’s over.
Master Omar throws a controlled spinning hook kick to the face, and it lands cleanly.
That’s it, you hear the cameraman say. “Get a towel, he’s bleeding.”
The Aftermath
Could Master Omar have thrown the kick and had it just touch?
Yes.
Would the student have learned from that?
No. He doesn’t even know enough to know when he’s beaten, unless it is made abundantly apparent. His attitude would remained unadjusted.
Could Master Omar have thrown the kick much harder?
Yes.
Would the student have learned from that?
Maybe, but maybe after recovering from surgery to repair his broken orbital socket, he would have soured on martial arts for life.
This one was like the Goldilocks and the Three Bears tale – the kick was just right. Warrior Dojo co-owner Cleophus Cavin reports that after some contemplating, the aspiring MMA fighter returned, apologized, and became a student of the arts.
Share your thoughts about what happened on the StreetGround forum at MixedMartialArts.com.
