This article part of a long effort by MixedMartialArts.com to understand what works in martial arts, by observing what happens on the streets, or in the dojo, rather than what happens in the cage. If you enjoyed it, check out more best of stories on:
•Dojo Storms
•Martial Arts on The Street
•Style vs. Style
Jake Paul rode YouTube fame to making many tens of millions of dollars in combat sports millions. However, he walked in the steps of other figures, like the guys from VIEWZTV. The group of four friends from Buena Park, California decided to put down the milk they were chugging until puking, set aside the balloons they were booty busting, and challenge local professional MMA fighter Christian Gonzalez.
In this, the mildest of dojo storms, they told the fighter not to take it easy. Gonzalez took it easy, but then again, easy is a relative term.
What Happened
As soon as the first leg kick lands you know how it’s going to go. Leg kicks may not look like much to your average joe, but there is a lot of technique that goes into just learning how to take one. For one you don’t want to put too much weight on your front leg as that amplifies the damage. Also checking leg kicks by lifting your leg up gives back some damage to your opponent and prevents them from throwing them again.
It’s remarkable how easily Gonzalez is able to dispatch these guys. He is never in any danger whatsoever. He is in complete control of the distance and easily moves out of the way of incoming strikes.
Towards the end of the video Gonzalez lands a couple brutal kicks on these guys, including a liver kick which drops the YouTuber like a sack of potatoes. He also lands a head kick which sounds like a gun shot going off. He definitely didn’t go light on these guys but I’m sure that was what they requested, for some reason.
The Lesson
The difference in skill level and ability between a professional MMA fighter and your average Joe is dramatic, to say the least. Most people have no idea just how vulnerable they are against these modern-day gladiators. For whatever reason, no one looks at Michael Phelps and figures they could hang in the pool with him. But when it comes to fighting, well, there are levels to fighting, and the average guy isn’t on any of them.
Perhaps the most important thing is that the VIEWZ crew learned who they are. A couple learned they are game, if unskilled. A couple learned they are neither. There is little wrong with the latter, unless you don’t know it.
