Jackie Chan Dislikes MMA

[Lustful Butchery]

During a recent roundtable interview to promote THE SPY NEXT DOOR, international martial arts action star Jackie Chan was asked if he liked mixed martial arts and as always he spoke his mind.

“I don’t like to see ‘ultimate fighting.’ As a martial artist, I find it too violent putting them in a cage,” said Chan “At the end, it’s not fighting anymore. That’s not the martial arts. Martial arts is about respect. When somebody is knocked down, stop. I really respect Sugar Ray Leonard. Come on, [when a guy is down,] stop. Don’t fight. That’s not the spirit. When you’re down, I’ll grab you up. Are you OK? Should we continue? That’s the martial arts spirit. That’s what I want.”

His answer shouldn’t be a surprise. Chan comes from a stage performance background with no experience in competitive, full-contact fighting or defensive martial arts. Also, unlike Bruce Lee and Donnie Yen, he never developed an affinity for ground work in his choreography.

http://www.kungfucinema.com/jackie-chan-says-he-doesnt-like-mma-12943

Damn, Chan has some bad taste, but I respect his opinion on this.

 

[Bolt]

Somebody posted this on a martial arts filmmaking board I frequent and it was treated similarly there. I think he just dislikes the macho-soap-opera, smack-talking "sports entertainment" aspect of MMA and not the concept itself. After all, he is famous for implementing various styles of martial arts into his choreography by design. I enjoy MMA every now and then (although not so much the cage stuff), but he's right, it ain't martial arts.

And what do you mean he has bad taste?

 

[Lustful Butchery]

I should've been of more specific, I meant he has bad taste in American movies, but he's doing it for a reason.

 

[KaenBurakku]

...I kinda agree with everything he (Jackie Chan) said. :sweat:

 

[Kamen_Sentai]

I agree with Chan 100%

 

[KAGEKI]

^ Same as above. I don't watch much MMA, but I've seen enough to know that what Jackie said is true.

 

[DigDoug]

Pretty much how I feel about that sort of stuff as well. When your opponent is knocked down, you've already won, there's no need to humiliate him for the sake of the audience.

You shouldn't forget honor just because you're on TV.

 

[Kazuma]

I should've been of more specific, I meant he has bad taste in American movies, but he's doing it for a reason.

I read somewhere a while ago, one of the reason he does American movies was to use the money he gets pay with to fund his production company in China.

 

[MetalSymphony]

I can see where he is coming from, the point of martial arts is to galvanize the mind and body, the ability to kick ass is a byproduct. It's not to beat the **** out of another person.

Then again, looking at the stinkers he has put out since he has gotten older (his recent family-friendly films that are more comedy than action), it might be age-related jadedness.

 

[Inui Takumi]

I agree that even though its called Mixed Martial Arts, its not really martial arts. Sure, the combatants train. But from waht Ive seen, they throw a few punches and kicks, then man-handle each other on the ground for like 10 mins. This is an exaggeration, but it just doesnt seem to embody what Martial Arts is about.