Can you understand the technical aspects of MMA if you don't train?

[FATM]

Here's a serious question that I've always thought about. If you don't train MMA or any specific discipline, to what degree is it possible to understand the technical aspects of MMA?

I've only been watching since MMA late 2014 but have pretty much watched every UFC event since then. I feel like I can judge an MMA fight pretty well but there are some fights that I've scored incorrectly compared to consensus, i.e. Bisping/Anderson, Condit/Lawler, DC/Gus. However, all the nuances with footwork, striking technique, grappling and BJJ technique are all pretty difficult for me to understand.

 

[chunglii]

To a point, yes. I try to read and watch as much about striking as I can because I don't train any stand up. I'm not an expert, I don't think I can become one without hands on training and real practice, but I think I have a better understanding of the technical aspects of striking than I did when I first started watching MMA.

The best way to understand is to train. If you can't, just keep watching lots of fights and reading breakdowns. Your understanding will definitely get better.

 

[WSOFool]

In terms of judging it's up to the individual judges...there are going to be differing opinions. Also training in a particular discipline can make one bias...I'm prone to giving wrestlers more credit for takedowns and top position than I am for someone landing a series of crisp strikes that don't noticeable injure or stun an opponent...my old man who has a boxing background sees a guy on his back not really getting hurt and say that takedowns don't hurt a man like punches...

Then there is that bias no one wants to admit when we fans judge...personal bias based on being a fan of one fighter or wanting to see another lose...you can focus too much on what one guy/woman does and ignore the other fighter's work...rogan and his sidekick sometimes do this when they favor or hype one guy

 

[Brock Tober]

Yes. Even little kids understand tippytoes:

 

[muaytao]

depends. take downs doesnt look like it hurt but sometimes they do hurt and it knocks the wind out of you, depending on how the other guy lands on you.

 

[FATM]

BJJ is the hardest I feel to understand if you don't train in that discipline. Knowing what the set ups are for different submissions and understanding what the fighters are doing to defend them seems so hard to understand.

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

Here's a serious question that I've always thought about. If you don't train MMA or any specific discipline, to what degree is it possible to understand the technical aspects of MMA?

I've only been watching since MMA late 2014 but have pretty much watched every UFC event since then. I feel like I can judge an MMA fight pretty well but there are some fights that I've scored incorrectly compared to consensus, i.e. Bisping/Anderson, Condit/Lawler, DC/Gus. However, all the nuances with footwork, striking technique, grappling and BJJ technique are all pretty difficult for me to understand.

Gotta train to truly understand the goings on

 

[deltapapha]

yes

 

[FATM]

Gotta train to truly understand the goings on

I see people throwing out the general analysis, like "He needs to throw more leg kicks" and I feel like any moron can regurgitate this rubbish.

 

[Mixedfights]

Ask Cus D'Amato


Thats a boxing reference but still...yeah some people are just great trainers...and most great fighters are terrible trainers.

 

[DoopidyDawesome]

I don't think you need to train but it wouldn't hurt. The best football and hockey coaches were not the best players when they were able to play. I think the same is true for boxing and MMA. But all of them played or trained to some extent or another.

 

[MsMiniSkirts]

Do you even play UFC 2 on xbone, bruh?

 

[Humbaba the Terrible]

I try to touch as many butts as I legally can, and it has definitely enhanced my understanding of movement.

 

[lecter]

Just look at sherdog. A lot of people say they train and still don't understand shit.
That should say enough.

 

[Sgt Smith]

BJJ is the hardest I feel to understand if you don't train in that discipline. Knowing what the set ups are for different submissions and understanding what the fighters are doing to defend them seems so hard to understand.

Yes, and many of the judges don't understand the nuances either. And do a inadequate job scoring it for that reason.

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

I see people throwing out the general analysis, like "He needs to throw more leg kicks" and I feel like any moron can regurgitate this rubbish.

"There's more to the picture, than meets the eye....Hey Hey, My My..." -Neil Young

Someone that trains understands angles, cage cutting, nuances of the grappling game and positional awareness in general. An avid viewer maybe as yourself can get the idea from watching, but there's a lot of wiring under the board.

 

[Drake]

You don't need to train UFC to be a hero...!

 

[Donutdude]

I've done bits and pieces of training over the years and feel like I have a better understanding of martial arts basics than the average joe. I also love reading the Jack Slack breakdowns and Gracie Breakdowns and understand them to a point. But I also understand that mine isn't a practical knowledge yet, and likely won't be until I practice.

 

[Davey Crockett]

I thought I had a good understanding until I saw JackSlack break something down, it blew my mind. Literally nothing is random to that guy. But I still feel I'm more "tuned in" than a casual fan. Watching a fight these days I know what one fighter is going to try to do to the other. If they change it up come fight night - it's a welcome suprise, otherwise it's fairly validating to be proven right in terms of who's going to be shooting for the takedowns and who's going to keep it standing.

 

[discrawg]

It is possible to understand the technical aspect without training, but only in general/broad terms. If you watch a lot of fights, and read/watch breakdowns, then you are obviously going to understand more of what you are watching compared to someone who doesn't do those things at all.
Even people that watch/read/AND train, are a lot of the time still missing huge key points when watching a fight. MMA is so deeply complex, so you are only ever going to understand the technical aspects in a very general sense if training is not something that you do regularly.
The person who is untrained, but watches a lot of fights, will probably understand which position is advantageous on the ground most of time, (e.g: mount is good for the person on top). However the same person will not fully understand why this is the case, how the fighter on top should maintain the position, or what the fighter underneath has to do to escape.
In real time while watching the fight; the untrained person (and even a lot of trained people) won't be able to identify different types of escapes for (e.g.) different mounts, what the fighters are doing, how the escape plan is changing due to punches, elbows, blood, sweat ext. Or even how they are both adjusting and setting each other up for certain techniques.

For the untrained person to understand a little bit of the complexity with regards to the ground game specifically, watch the gracie breakdowns. If you are untrained and you watch a gracie breakdown, it will give you a new appreciation for the intricate details that are hidden within the fight that you are watching, it will open your mind & help you understand that there is so much happening that is invisible to you. Where as if you TRAIN for long enough, these intricacies are reinforced in your mind, you will understand these and recognise them as they happen in real time while watching the fight. BIG DIFFERENCE.