You have, are doing a fine job of defining issues and looking into the issues. But to take just one point of your excellent discussion post, this is COMPLETELY WRONG. And I can see how you are coming to this conclusion. It's easy to have this confusion. I'll post another homework question, two videos. Good luck.
Taikyoku Shodan Shotokan Karate Kata
529,397 views
Karl-Hans König
Published on Mar 12, 2009
Taikyoku Shodan, performed by Dennis Kipper, 1. Dan, posted by Sensei Karl-Hans König, 7. Dan,Fudokan and 7. Dan Shotokan Shotokan Karate Kata, Shotokan Karate Dojo Maulburg, www.shotokan-karate-dojo.com
So why is karate starting white belts with this kata, a Shotokan rendition? When you can answer this question, you will have answered all I have proffered about karate tradition and it's effectiveness in MMA. Moreover, there are varying renditions of this by other Shotokan stylists and by other styles all over the internet, including the full contact kumite Kyokushim karate. Why all the variations? Just expanded the homework assignment much more.
One practice in training kata is to have the instructor voice a command & count for each step. Here the practitioner does the kata without any count, on his own. Why have a count and why not have a count? That is only one the the many & myriad aspects of traditional karate training & kata practice.
MMA constantly and continually pans thils kata as overly-simplistic, impractical, and for kids learning to do some basic techinque. "Kiddy kata," they ridicule it. The Okinawan Karate Master who created Shotokan karate, the most popular and practiced karate on the planet, advocates the opposite. WHY? Who's right, MMA or the originator of Shotokan karate?
No one posed these questions to me when I started karate. The point being one has to invest themselves into truly understanding the art. Firas and Miletich can't do if for you.
Post note: BTW, Sage's super TAM training taught him nothing about 'flow,' not that boxing can't. The guy's anxioulsy evading, attempting to move away from Cosmo putting up NOTHING in the way of any effective technique. NOTHING. And TAM sports two recent UFC Champions, now ceremoniously both dethroned and scrambling to return. Guess they got out-flowed....