Ground and Pound

Having spent many years punching and kicking opponents in the head in competition and training for kickboxing bouts I have crossed the paths of a number of martial artists. I have trained with them, been trained by them, travelled with them and socialised with them. They are my sparring partners, instructors and friends past and present. It is a fact that martial arts are political. The main debate centres around whose techniques or systems of training are better. 'Better' in the world of martial arts means more effective in a combative situation. A martial art is a system of codified practices and traditions of training for combat with the objective of physically defeating other persons and to defend oneself or others from physical threat. So it stands to reason that over the passage of time, pitting one artist's wit against another would be the ultimate answer to these debates. These competitions have been documented from as early as the Greek Pankrations in 648BC. More recently the popularity of mixed martial arts has increased exponentially with the spread of skill and knowledge within the sport growing alongside. And whilst from an outsiders point of view, particularly as I've been in that ring a number of times, i am able to appreciate said skills.....i simply cannot condone the blood thirsty and totally unmartial element of 'ground and pound'. I don't care what discipline you come from, there is no way to verbally defend that technique from a sporting nor martial perspective. No where in martial arts promotes the lack of respect nor humility as this technique so openly flaunts. In a combat situation you may need to apply a submission lock or deliver an effective strike or combination. But you do not need to straddle your opponent on the ground and smash them unintelligenty and repeatedly around the face wearing nothing more than a skin of leather over your fist and claret everywhere until they nearly lose consciousness.