UFC Stephen Thompson Talks How Karate Works for MMA

[@kevionrogers2605]

People seem to forget that a kyokushin karateka named Gerard Gordeau came in second place in UFC 1, and that practitioners of Kyokushin Karate such as Bas Rutten, and George Saint Pierre have been champions in the UFC and have consistently been in top 20 such as Ryan Hall.

[@skindred1888]

It is what it is. Lean to heavily in one art and the rest suffers.

[@Diddyty_MMA]

Ryan Hall is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wizard, not a karateka. 🤣🤣🤣

[@kevionrogers2605]

@@Diddyty_MMA I originally had Uriah Hall from Tiger Schulmann lineage, which is World Oyama derived before focusing on Kickboxing. I don't when the change happened. My fault for the confusion.

[@Diddyty_MMA]

@@kevionrogers2605 , okay definitely a typographical error.

[@tom4od]

Love his fighting style. It reminds of the old fighting games how everyone has a really unique style.

[@JeffSainlarVisuals]

Definitely a different and a unique skill set

[@professionalname5298]

Go home and be a family man

[@alechendrix9367]

Yea he has that tekken fight style or like from a video game. It’s badass lol

[@brianknauls9880]

Shout out to Thompson for being original. Lot of fighters look the same nowadays

[@Gh0st_0723]

The *sidekick* is our "jab" lol 🙏

[@jdashhop]

Exactly!

[@RyFol717]

One of the most entertaining fighting styles out there

[@panosts6178]

Great insight. Props to Wonderboy. He is an amazing fighter

[@suhasbanik6961]

A great person both inside and outside the octagon.

[@LuCa8_]

Technically with the hands down it is easier to be more evasive. If some didn’t know that’s why some ppl put their hands down when evading head kicks

[@JeffSainlarVisuals]

Helps with movement 100%

[@ray.n_l]

It helps to see too when his hands aren't in the way on his field of view

[@hso_ijaz8834]

Love these videos

[@JeffSainlarVisuals]

Thanks!

[@EarthtoAdam95]

Karate is a perfect foundation to build upon for MMA as it utilises most aspects of fighting; punches, kicks, grappling, throws, sweeps. Plus the movement you get from a karate stance is perfect for dipping in and out of range rather than your typical orthodox boxing stance that you see

[@benk3716]

It’s trash you have extremely predictable timing & zero defence

[@jawondsmmajourney7392]

He definitely is representing this beautiful art well

[@ryanantonellis1335]

What I would love to see is a Jon Jones with a background in karate. Imagine a 5th grade Jon Jones with a primary background in karate and wrestling. People think it wouldn’t be effective but the dude would never get touched. He would be much different and no elbows, but watch prime wonderboy or lyoto and then put an athlete like Jon Jones in that training. My god hed be beautiful to watch

[@markwalker4142]

You’ve never seen the very best from the karate world in MMA, so the likes of machida and Thompson are rare . Many excellent fighters never make that transition . Also don’t think that grappling isn’t part of traditional karate . It’s always been there to a degree but was removed by funakoshi as part of the Japaneseation of karate .

[@memysurname7521]

Everyone say that tho. "The Best don't make the transition". Then you have someone like Satoshi Ishii making the transition and getting his ass kicked hard. Be the best in one discipline doesn't mean being anywhere good in MMA.

[@markwalker4142]

@@memysurname7521 he’s a Judo player . Very different game to high level karate and their striking ability , speed , fitness and power .

[@ajmjl9102]

@@memysurname7521 but some do like gsp,mcgregor,chuck liddell, and mvp

[@SpiceBoy7UK23]

Leon Edwards has the most aesthetic physique while Wonderboy has the most aesthetic style and body language.

[@elijahburnett9633]

UFC karate: George St Pierre, Lyoto Machida, Sage Northcutt, and Stephen Thompson 🥋

[@jimmadelo3893]

Eeeeeyyy MOA in Manila!!

[@TerrellThinks]

I practice Nesei Goju Karate🥋 Karate as a whole gets a bunch of shit. But no martial art is superior overall. Personally I’ve beat other mixed martial artist from different backgrounds. But it depends on the fighter way more than the style.

[@harrymail7]

"No Martial art is superior" that just isn't the case dude. Ufc 1 and 2 proved that. There are some legitimate techniques in Karate that are useful but the issue is it's been watered down and commercialised so much that 90% of Karate is bullshit nowadays. I repeat there is legit and effective karate techniques and practitioners but they are few and far between especially in the West. It still is an inferior Striking art to western kickboxing and Muay Thai in my opinion. Also a Karateka stands little to no chance against an advanced grappler of any art. I guess that also would be the case for all the striking arts. Again however UFC 1 and 2 proved this.

[@kofi3526]

Gerard Gordeau a Karateka was runner up in UFC karate includes eye strikes which is in the kata and groin strikes a main part of striking ..for MMA yes but on the street two conditioned thumbs in your eyes are diff