What happens when you pit a Tai Chi master who claims he “can’t be hit” against a multi-disciplined MMA fighter?
See for yourself as Tai Chi master Wei Lei takes on MMA fighter Xu Xiaodong:
Well, that was quick.
Here’s a short play-by-play of the quick match:
After a quick explanation of the rules by the referee, both combatants assume their respective fighting stances. The Tai Chi master‘s hands are far from his face, while the MMA fighter keeps his guard high and close.
The MMA fighter inches closer and closer as he gauges distance while the Tai Chi master slowly moves back-and-forth. The MMA fighter‘s footwork is visibly more active and nuanced as he moves back-and-forth and side-to-side, a stark contrast to the Tai Chi master who only moves forward and backward.
Once the MMA fighter finds the proper distance he throws a series of quick 2-3 combinations (right cross to left hook). Most of his punches connect, leaving the Tai Chi master dazed and on the ground. The MMA fighter follows up with some ground-and-pound and the ref mercifully stops the one-sided beatdown.
What exactly happened there? To fully understand one must first learn about the 2 dueling styles.
Tai Chi is considered by the modern world as less of a martial art and more of a hobby for old people hanging out in parks. The art of Tai Chi dates back to ancient Taoist and Buddhist monasteries, where monks practice its slow, methodical movements as a form of self-defense.
MMA, on the other hand, is fairly new. It stands for mixed martial arts and is an amalgamation of different fighting styles across different cultures. The sport of MMA started in the 20th century, although its roots can be traced back to ancient Greece.
The fight between the Tai Chi master and the MMA fighter harkens back to no-holds-barred bare-knuckle brawls that gained notoriety back in the early days of the UFC, the world’s most popular MMA organization. The clash of styles was a common sight back then, as multi-disciplined fighters were rare.
Nowadays, with the prevalence of sport MMA, fighters who train in various styles are not just more common, they’re the norm.
The MMA fighter won because he had more tools with which to beat his opponent. Although, it certainly helped that he was faster and stronger than the Tai Chi master.
Despite the brutal beating he took, Wei Lei had this to say to Legal Evening News: “He didn’t hit me when I was standing. I only got hit when I fell on the floor, and I didn’t get hurt.”
What do you think of this fight? Do you believe that MMA is the most dominant martial art today? Share your opinions in the comments section! Don’t forget to share this on Facebook!
SOURCE: Youtube
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