The things TMA/TKDers criticize the ring for usually are the following: a referee, a cage (ie a nice environment with no glass on the ground, no asphalt, no 2x4s lying around), no weapons, and no multiple attackers.
Well let’s take a look at what most (generally) TKD has in its sparring/tournaments - point tournaments (WTF and ITF):
A judge or a master or coach to oversee - like a ref
A layout of the floor with boundaries - like a ring
One on one competition - no multiple attackers
Definitely no weapons
So TKD is just about as real as the ring right? WRONG. Let’s take a look at what these same tournaments/sparring have that is different from the ring:
Not continuous, stop after first hit.
Protection - foam gear, hogus, etc.
Usually restrictions on techniques - no throws, clinching, knees, elbows, grappling
Usually restrictions on targets - sometimes no face (depending), no shots to the legs, sometimes no shots to the back/groin (depending)
All these things make TKD very ineffective, and not realistic. Are these things in ring/cage NHB fights? Absolutely not. Even though the street isn’t the ring, its closer to it than your average patty cake skip kicking maxipad hogu wearing TKD dancing.
- Alot of other MA like JKD, Wing Chun, Kenpo, Shaolin Kung fu aren’t in UFC shit. To suggest they are also ineffective is ridiculous
JKD, Kenpo, and WC have been. I think the first two have done ok. Even if they aren’t in UFC, that’s because changes have been slow in adapting to modern combat (most are still struggling to hold on to tradition).
We don’t criticize systems based on performance in the ring. We criticize based on the lack of alive training and the spreading of bullshit not backed by evidence which is rampant in those styles you mentioned.
Do we go as far as to say they’re all ineffective? No you stupid troll we don’t. JKDChick does JKD. Das Moose does Chum Sut WC, we got a couple kenpo guys on here. They get respect. The difference between our guys and your mainstream JKD, WC, Kenpo? Our guys go out, make sure their shit works in a resisting environment, and overall train with aliveness.
If you don’t do that, sure you might own up some drunk noob with no fighting experience at a bar but go up against a seasoned fighter and they’ll beat the fuck out of you and stuff your damn hogu up your ass.