Question 118: Horizontal v. Vertical fist

Soft martial art techniques include using deflecting soft blocks rather than using hard blocks that stop an attack. I never see MMA fighters using deflecting blocks. I rarely see them block at all, like boxers, they usually bob and weave and slip attacks, or get hit. Soft martial art techniques include stepping to the side to avoid an attack and then using soft attacks such as wristlocks, wrist and arm leverage throws, or pressure point attacks, as used in Aikido. I never see MMA fighters using these techniques. MMA is basically just punches to the head, kicks to the thighs, knees to the head or body, and a few arm and leg locks or chokes and strangles that lead to submissions.You are right that Jujutsu may be considered a soft style due to its use of locks, bars, chokes, and pins, so I modified my statement in the article to include Jujitsu. However, MMA style fighting was created to highlight the 

Brazilian version of Jujitsu and the rules are biased toward the use of Brazilian Jujitsu techniques, just as Taekwondo tournaments are biased toward Taekwondo techniques.Kano created Judo as a sport and it is still a sport. It has roots in Jujitsu, but, while certain aspects of it may be used in self-defense or fighting, it is still a sport. Just because a MMA fighter has trained in Judo and sometimes takes an opponent to the mat, it does make the throwing technique a Judo technique.

I agree with your statement that all martial arts are basically hard. While Judo (the gentle way) is a soft art, since it uses no punches, kicks, or blocks, there is nothing soft about being thrown to the mat and having an opponent of equal weight land on you.

I enjoyed discussing the subject with you.