Why isnt there more Karate in UFC?

You need to go back to GSP explain his karate base in mma. You'll get a better understanding of it. All techniques and styles have to be adjusted for mma. You can't use those specialized style exactly the same as you would in mma, every martial arts style has to be adjusted for mma.
I remember he talked about how he learned to judge and close distance etc from Karate, and I'm sure he did but he could have learned the same from other martial arts as well. I agree Karate is a legitimate martial art (at least real Karate with sparring) and GSP did sometimes show his Karate background, and to be fair the fact he could mix it up once in a while probably did help to keep his opponents off guard more than if he purely boxed and wrestled. But other guys like Machida are better examples of someone who used Karate techniques (adjusted for MMA) way more than GSP who mostly used boxing and wrestling techniques (also adjusted for MMA).
 
I remember he talked about how he learned to judge and close distance etc from Karate, and I'm sure he did but he could have learned the same from other martial arts as well. I agree Karate is a legitimate martial art (at least real Karate with sparring) and GSP did sometimes show his Karate background, and to be fair the fact he could mix it up once in a while probably did help to keep his opponents off guard more than if he purely boxed and wrestled. But other guys like Machida are better examples of someone who used Karate techniques (adjusted for MMA) way more than GSP who mostly used boxing and wrestling techniques (also adjusted for MMA).
The timing he learned from karate and the in and out movements he wouldn't learn from any other martial arts except for boxing. But that would have to be from a boxing style that focuses on footwork, which isn't used by all boxing styles. So GSP did need the karate base for that type of footwork and timing because he wouldn't learn it from kickboxing/muay thai and certain styles of boxing. This is why you don't see that type of footwork from most fighters in mma or boxing. In mma if they have that footwork it's because they have a traditional martial arts base, in boxing it's because they are a slick style boxer.
 
In b4 Robbie Lawler is a karateka.
I don't think I ever claimed that but he did train Karate as a kid. Never got to blackbelt tho.

My list is a list of blackbelts. It's up to you if you want to call them Karateka or not.
 
What is the benefits karate fighters have in MMA besides they are not thrashtalkers?

Is it their Good timing with kicks?
 
I think the issue is most MMA schools focus on MT and boxing to the point that they both translate better to MMA. It’s the transition from striking to grappling.
 
yeah he did because that was his first martial art and where learned the basics, but his style was based on boxing and wrestling. Basically nothing he did was a Karate technique.
Dude are you serious? What are you talking about? Have you ever even watched a GSP fight? His traditional martial arts background in Karate is evident.


Look at his spinning hook kicks, back kicks, side kicks, front kicks, roundhouse kicks, straight punches, ability to fight both Orthodox and southpaw, timing. Where do you think he learned all this from and acquired his unique style? You clearly know very little about martial arts and are just talking nonsense. Even the specific way he performed these techniques was Karate based
 
I love karate and other traditional arts in MMA, but using it effectively requires a background and extra steps most fighters don't have or aren't willing to do
  • You need to be very competent in a good (not strip mall) karate/TMA style
  • You need to effectively cross-train and find a way to use your TMA effectively in MMA
Machida, Wonderboy, Cung Le (San Shou), Anderson Silva (TKD) and Pettis are all examples of this. Others like GSP may use it in more subtle ways, as some here have mentioned. Roy Nelson even claimed kung fu helped his punching power. But you can't just take 1 year of karate lessons when you're already an MMA fighter and expect it to be very helpful.
 
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