Wing Chun And MMA?

MMA has become one of the most popular sports in the world and is known for its exciting and intense matches. However, not all martial arts are allowed in the sport, with Wing Chun being one of the most notable arts to be banned.

This is due to the more real-life applicable techniques taught, such as eye gouging and throat grabbing, which are illegal in MMA. Regardless, modern MMA fighters have taken to the idea of taking whatever is needed from each style to become the best warrior possible.

This article will delve into why Wing Chun is illegal in MMA and discuss the implications this has for the sport.

MMA has grown tremendously over the last 15 years as a sport. Fighters from all over the world compete in various art forms. Hence the name mixed martial arts.

The most famous art forms known by the general public are Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai, and boxing. Every once in a while, you will see lesser-known art forms such as Kempo, french savate, and even capoeira. There have even been a couple of instances where Shaolin kung fu has made an appearance.

That’s the beauty of this sport. While MMA as a sport has been around for over 20 years, MMA as a vision was officially “born” when Bruce Lee came on the scene. He taught me to take whatever is needed from each art in order to become the best warrior possible.

Wing Chun Banned From MMA

Modern MMA fighters have embraced Bruce Lee’s idea of taking whatever is needed from each style to become the best warrior possible; however, his origins in Wing Chun are still banned from the sport. Despite having some practical applications, this martial art form is not allowed in MMA due to its more real-life applicable techniques, such as eye gouging and throat grabbing. So, why is this art form banned in the sport, and what implications does this have for MMA?

Remember, even though mixed martial arts are all about warfare in the octagon and trying to an opponent’s submission or TKO your opponent, it is still a competition.

Unfortunately, there are some techniques that work against the principle of MMA, such as eye gouging. While eye gouging is illegal in MMA, it is widely taught in Wing Chun and can be a very effective tool even in real-life situations.

However, it should only be used when absolutely necessary, as the consequences could be serious, even leading to prison. It’s easy to see the implications this technique would have for the sport of MMA, as the sport takes eye gouging very seriously and drills its legal status into the brains of its fighters.

Even a seemingly harmless poke to the eye during an MMA match can lead to points being deducted.

The MMA gloves are designed to stop fingers from straightening out, which is done with eye safety in mind. Getting poked in the eye can cause severe distortion in terms of distance, as being able to see and judge how close things are to you is a big deal. However, there is a difference between accidentally getting poked in the eye and getting gouged; gouging is intentional and can lead to a fighter being fined and possibly banned for life.

Throat grabbing is illegal in MMA. Another technique taught heavily in Wing Chun is to grab someone’s throat. It is trained for use in a deadly street fight or self-defense situation, but in a competitive format such as MMA, its use is considered highly dangerous.

The idea of grabbing the throat is similar to eye gouging; if a person decides to use the fingers during such a technique, they could make a claw-like grip and cause serious damage to the trachea. With enough power, it could even lead to death. Again, this move is banned from the MMA.

Clean And Competitive Fights

For equally obvious reasons, as the goal of MMA is to have a clean and competitive fight, the limited finger movement allowed by MMA gloves works similarly in this situation. Although possible, it would be incredibly difficult to use this technique in the cage. So, here’s the real question: yes, these techniques are illegal for use in the sport, but why is the entire martial art banned? Couldn’t a fighter make sure not to use illegal techniques?

Here’s the best way to explain it:

Though a martial artist can compete in MMA and apply some Wing Chun techniques, a true Wing Chun practitioner is not eligible to compete. So, what’s the difference? The difference is the way these techniques are engraved into Wing Chun’s practitioners’ instincts. Of course, Wing Chun has plenty of techniques that are not illegal, from fast punches to leg kicks, all of which are totally okay to use in the sport. However, it’s the illegal moves, such as the throat grab and the eye gouge that are ingrained in the mind of a true Wing Chun practitioner, making it incredibly difficult to not use them, as is commonly known.

It is much harder to train a habit out of a person than into them, which is why having a true student of Wing Chun in an MMA competition would be an incredibly dangerous prospect. There is one more thing that needs to be considered, which reaches slightly outside of the throat grabbing and eye gouging.

There are other techniques practiced in Wing Chun that are not necessarily illegal, but are highly frowned upon and almost viewed as taboo. An example is the oblique kick aimed to stomp down onto the knee of the opponent.

Even though it’s not illegal, it’s easier to tell why many would despise this technique and those that would exploit it. This technique could induce ruptures or tears in your opponent’s ligaments, such as the ACL. All standing leg kicks are currently permitted in MMA, but this rule may need reconsideration. You don’t see many fighters using it, but it has been used in the octagon.

Take UFC champion Jon Jones as an example. Jones has used this kicking technique to damage the knees of other fighters to get the advantage during a fight. Even though he’s gained a few victories, the technique has made him one of the most detested combatants in the UFC.

What does this have to do with MMA and Wing Chun? The most important thing to remember is that MMA is a sport and not a real-life combat situation; no one in the sport is fighting for their life.

In closing, Wing Chun is banned from MMA due to the illegal techniques taught, such as eye gouging and throat grabbing. While this may seem harsh to some Wing Chun practitioners, MMA is a sport that is meant to be a competition and not a real-life combat situation. Modern MMA fighters have taken to the idea of taking whatever is needed from each style to become the best warrior possible, while still adhering to the rules and regulations of the sport. Ultimately, MMA is a sport that encourages healthy competition and respect, and it is important to remember this when discussing the implications of Wing Chun in MMA.

UFC combatants aren’t attempting to butcher or disable each other. At least, they shouldn’t be. Every sport, including MMA, promotes healthy rivalry, and a specific class of esteem amongst peers.

Wing Chun demonstrates how effective and lethal it truly is. When a sport known for having some of the most brutal techniques bans a martial art for being too dangerous, you know that’s saying something. Want Wing Chun in the MMA? Or you don’t think Wing Chun belongs in MMA? Comment below!