Kwokushin vs other styles (Sanda)

[Martin H]

I have always tought that the ultimate test for a style is not inviting outsiders to fight in your tournaments, but going out fighting others under their rules. Win or lose, it gives more than defeating guest competitors fighting at a serious disadvantage.

Kudos to Kyokushinkan (who has sent fighters to the sanda vs kyokushin events in china) for doing it, even if the have not come out on top -yet.

[SHIDOKANATLANTA]

having fought under several styles myself, i know that i would be at a disadvantage competing against another style without seriously training under their format of competition. sure there is some carry over of technique. it would be difficult for a karate fighter to fight a kickboxer and have great success without training and competing in that style (or look at early UFC's where a smaller brazilian fighter defeated bigger fighters from other styles, because they were inefficient grapplers). if events are created for one style to fight another, the should modify the rules to have competitors compete perhaps under one rule style and then compete in the others. what happens is that when one style loses to another, that style is called weak (i.e. the video, Fighting Black Kings depiction of kung fu fighters).

[Kansetsu]

I don't know...this is my opinion. A martial artist trained in any martial arts and is a good martial artist, then they should be able to adapt to any rules or environments. If one is a Kyokushin Fighter trained in Kyokushin rules fights in an MMA / Sanda environment, then they should be good enough to adapt to it's rules, and move the hand up from mid body to head to protect themselves from face punches. Also, be prepared to be taken down, and have it in mind that they should do whatever they can to avoid the take downs.

Am i wrong in this?

Shindokanatlanta: I think for the Early UFC, the bigger fighters lost to the Gracies was because like you said inefficient grappling skills, but i honestly don't blame the fighters for that one. At that time, the fighters didn't really know what was going on. Gracie's fighting style was very new to most of the competitors and some never even saw that type of fighting style. Back then it was either brawling or stand up fighting like the movies. Of course wrestling and grappling existed in the world, but it wasn't as high profile as it is today. Heck, i'll admit when i first saw the Gracie's doing what they do, i was kinda annoyed at them. I thought it was cheesy, and somewhat cheating. But now i understand better.

[SHIDOKANATLANTA]

the only problem is that most of the time i see these videos of style vs. style, the opposing style is usually up to par with their opponents. what they have to do is train with someone proficient in the style they are going to compete in as opposed to adding some head punches, throws, etc. and trying to go fight a seasoned sanda fighter for example.

[Setsuna162]

I think the real problem of Kyokushin is the lack of ordinary head punch and grappling training. Fighting with head punches and grappling is very different from the Kyokushin style of full contact. When fighting with head punches and grappling you have to be much more careful, timing and distance also become significantly different.
The way you train can really affect your fighting style. If you only train under Kyokushin full contact rule, you will become confused when fighting with head punches and grappling. It is the same for a Kickboxer or Sanda fighter or MMA fighter when fighting under Kyokushin rule. I have a lot of problems sparring using only body punches and kicks (I am a Sanda fighter).