Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is the still the "big thing" in the martial arts world. Many said it would just be a flash in the pan, and then go away, but then simply isn't the case. I think its here to stay...and I hate it.
I don't hate it for the reasons you might think. Running a traditional style martial arts school, I know that I am missing out on a pretty big demographic (males, age 18-32 ) that watch the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter. They usually have no desire to train in a traditional martial art (kung fu, karate, etc). But that's not why I hate MMA.
Why I hate MMA
1) Standing on the shoulders of giants - much of the techniques used in MMA have roots in traditional arts like Jiujitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, Kempo, etc. Those techniques deserve respect because they have been tested, practiced, and honed for hundreds of years. The teenage kid who walks into an MMA gym will not give it any respect, or realize where it came from. They will then likely attempt to explain to me why MMA is so superior to "XYZ" style of martial arts. No respect for the heritage or history.
2) MMA makes TMA (traditional martial arts) look bad. Let's face it, the MMA crowed often gets into the ring with a kung fu, TKD, karate practicioner and owns them. Watch the first handful of UFC bouts, back in the early 90's. It gives the TMA's a bad name. We get owned, but not because MMA technique is better. Quite simply, they intensity with which they train makes them outclass most TMA fighters with regards to strength, endurance, muscle/technique memory, and perseverence. If TMA students trained as hard and as long as these guys, I think there would be more balance in the matchups.
3) The average MMA guy's attitude truly sucks. I once heard a funny bit of advice, "You know the guy in the car in front of you is an A-hole if he has a "TAPOUT" sticker on his back window".
Now, there are obvious exceptions to the rule (George St. Pierre comes to mind), but by and large, you see an overwhelming number of these guys acting agressive towards others, losing their temper, and sometimes picking bar fights in an effort to test their grit. They also tend to shout as loud as they can to the world "Traditional Martial Arts suck and are worthless!" Values and Character Development is not something that is taught in the MMA's as part of the curriculum. It sometimes seems like quite the opposite.
so that's it. I hate MMA, but I sure do like to watch it.