I would add systema to the list. Good for rolls, which I didn't truly understand how important they can be until I received some tuition. Also good for thinking outside the box - i.e. using whatever is available to you in that precise moment rather than trying to conjure up some sort of 'plan' (some sort of pre-rehearsed martial arts combo or the like).
MMA is unfairly dismissed by a lot of guys - "oh that is not what a real fight looks like". The things you've got to keep in mind is:
1. MMA is primarily oriented towards competition, NOT self-defence. I guess that the worst criticism of MMA is that it is centred around one-on-one competition fights under 'fair' and relatively safe conditions (although getting slammed onto your spine in a position where you can't break your fall and by a professional athlete isn't exactly safe!).
2. MMA is one of very few systems that combines striking AND ground work/grappling. Of course in real life situations you should avoid groundwork at all costs (particularly situations where you are faced with multiple opponents). But, sometimes you have no choice!
3. Better to know MMA AND fight dirty, than to just know nothing and try to fight dirty anyways!
4. Because MMA is a competition sport, you actually get to practice full-contact sparring (i.e. striking combined with grappling) in a relatively safe environment! If you do a traditional martial arts system like jiu jitsu (not brazilian jiu jitsu), you don't even get to practice sparring until you get to black belt. If you do regular boxing, muay thai, wrestling, taekwondo, etc. you only get to practice certain 'elements' of sparring (e.g. in wrestling, you don't even practice full submission grappling, mainly just takedowns and pins). This is only good for if you are a complete beginner and need to break MMA down into it's substitute parts.
Having said that, full-contact systems like Systema and Krav Maga are ideal because you get to practice techniques for literally everything: ground work, throws, striking, weapon control, dirty fighting. I haven't done Krav Maga yet, but I would love to. Krav Maga, from what I understand has more similarities in terms of foot work and blocking systems to MMA. Systema uses patterns that are highly relaxed/energy efficient and very, very different ... and that's why it's good to practice it!
I did a few karate sessions once. Coming from a muay thai background and doing a little taekwondo as well, I couldn't stand it. The kicks just seemed incredibly weak and ineffective and most of the blocks ... well you already get most of those in taekwondo. Maybe the tutor just wasn't very good but that's the way it seemed to me. _________________ Not interested in pick-up anymore. Please do not message this account.
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