Will We Start Seeing Chinese People Compete in MMA Soon?

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Throughout the history of Pride Fighting, the UFC, and other Japanese and North American mixed martial arts competition, I have not seen, heard, or read about a single Chinese fighter.

Ever since the early days of MMA (NHB-no holds barred as they once called it), there have always been speculation about when we would see a Chinese fighter in a mixed martial arts event and how they would do.

There have been Kung Fu trained fighters in the UFC, but not a single Chinese fighter (that I know of) in any known competitions.

Well, just the other day I stumbled across MMA China.  It’s a website promoting the "Art of War Fighting Championship", the Beijing Jiu-jitsu Academy and mixed martial arts to fans in mainland China.

They’ve already had a few MMA tournaments, and Wanderlei Silva, Rickson Gracie and even Dream Stage Entertainment CEO Sakakibara was in Beijing to check out the Chinese MMA scene.  (Here’s an interview with Wanderlei Silva and MMA China: http://www.mmachina.com/en/?q=node/77).

From the looks of it, it appears as though MMA is growing in China, and the day when we’ll see a Chinese fighter in the UFC or Pride FC seems inevitable.

As for the question about whether “Chinese” people will do well in mixed martial arts competition, I think that’s an irrelevant question. Here's why…

Some would assume that because a fighter is Chinese and is from China, they would only use Kung Fu.  I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few stubborn Kung Fu fighters who take pride in their art who would do this (reminiscence of the early days of the UFC), but when it comes down to results, a mix of time-tested martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling etc. will be used…simply because it works.  (In fact, MMA competitors in China are already training in those arts).

The Russians don’t use strictly Russian martial arts, the Japanese don’t use strictly Japanese martial arts, the Koreans don’t use strictly Korean martial arts and the Brazilians don’t use strictly Brazilian martial arts (although it would be cool if someone KO’d someone else using a move from Capoeira) and I’m sure any Chinese athlete or a Chinese MMA team (Chinese Top Team anyone?) who’s serious and wants to be successful in this sport will cross-train in multiple fighting styles as well.

The other issue is one of race, but as Genki Sudo would say, “We Are All One”, meaning we’re all human, no matter what the color of our skin is.  The subject of race would not be a factor for anyone who wants to compete in mixed martial arts (unless we’re talking about pygmy people entering an open-weight, “David Vs. Goliath” MMA tournament).

As long as someone is physically and mentally prepared, have the will to win and the determination to make it in the sport of mixed martial arts, they’ll have a chance of succeeding.

It’s awesome to see that there is MMA in China.  We’ve already seen Yao Ming join the NBA, and it seems like a good possibility that sometime in the near future we’ll see a Chinese fighter (or fighters) in the UFC, PrideFC or some other popular MMA event.

Check out MMAChina.com, and bring on the Chinese Top Team!