MMA Fighter Discovers Karate Grappling

MMA Fighter Ramsey Dewey and Jesse "The Karate Nerd" Enkamp discuss Karate grappling applications for self-defense.

These techniques are found in kata ('bunkai'), because Okinawan Karate has tons of wrestling techniques and takedowns. But in the modernization of Karate, the long kumite fighting range was established to fit into the preexisting mold of Japan mainland Budo styles. This is what fighters like Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Kyoto Machida adapted to the UFC.

Modern Karate can seem incomplete for MMA and cage fighting. But when you look into the traditional forms, you can discover their practical applications - just like Ramsey Dewey did. @RamseyDewey

☯️ BIO: Jesse Enkamp a.k.a The Karate Nerd™ is a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, National Team Athlete, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Carrot Cake Lover & Founder of Seishin International - The World’s Leading Karate Lifestyle Brand.

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WARNING: The advice and movements shown in this video are for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a health professional before engaging in any exercise or martial arts program.

[RamseyDewey]

It was great talking with you Jesse! Thanks again!

[videtowitelpavo]

Hol' up, i wasn't expecting this crossover

[kitsuneoga]

My two favourites, didn't see this one coming

[VovoDoMetal]

On my Black belt exam we were asked to demonstrate one application for every kata up to bassai dai. Being a BJJ practicioner as well, I decided to focus entirely on the grappling aspect of kata, some ideas I got from one of your videos. I realized that the sixth move of bassai dai is really similar to a wrist/shoulder lock using the lapel, and when I demonstrated It one of the examiners asked me to repeat and I knew that It was frowned upon. But after my exam, one of the examiners, an old guy who was a third degree, came to me and complimented me on incorporating so many different elements to our art. The elements were always there, we just needed to look closer

[timlinator]

I started training in BJJ after earning my black belt in Karate and I recognized a lot of Kata movements in Jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu gave me a new appreciation and understanding of Kata. Most Karateka don't understand what they are learning in Kata they just do it like a dance. I highly recommend Karateka's cross train in Jiu-jitsu.

[martialartness]

I was always shunned by my Shihan for wanting to incorporate grappling techniques in Karate sparring. But really, that was my interpretation of Kata.
A perfect example would be khanku-sho.
There's litterally a move which resembles a keylock or Kimora.

For my 3rd dan grading, the final test was to fight for 3 minutes, continuously and simulute self defense in a real altercation. When sweeping my opponent to the ground I eas reprimanded and told to go fight like that on the streets.

As a result I left karate, after many years, world titles and traveling to Japan...i left karate to pursue MMA and through MMA i found a greater appreciation of karate.

[Sinfel]

The colab is real bois...all those colab videos these day, one of the great things that came thanks to corona 😄

[FDonovan]

Wado Ryu Karate has its foundations in Jiu Jitsu and we were always taught that the Katas referred to grappling, and as Ramsey says here, breaking grips etc. This was 20 years ago and we had visits from the head of our associations, Tatsuo Susuki who would explain it to us. The context was taken out of the movements and it just became a dance. Context is king.

[belalabusultan]

Karate stands in the middle ground between modern MMA and pressure testing, and Traditional Kung Fu and Kata, but it took MMA to actually force it to improve and stop its watered down practices to make it too safe to be practical.

[grayalun]

It's funny about Ramsey saying a wall went up when he told his Karate instructor he did Taekwondo, had the same when I first tried BJJ as I also train ITF Taekwondo.
The current BJJ place is much more open and accepting to other styles cross training.
You can learn so much from other arts, most traditional arts have holes so why not use knowledge from other arts to plug those holes.

[buford]

“Conceivably you could block a low kick that way.”

Yes, and likely break your hand or arm. The “down block” has never been a block at all. It is a striking/grappling technique that most often is applied to the upper body of the opponent.

[sfkingalpha]

that ending... And Ramsey was never seen or heard from again.

[MCShvabo]

I'm so pumped!
Love both of these guys!

[ArizonaTengu]

I was taught the black belt was the beginning of learning, and that’s when you start cross training. Not necessarily because one style is better than the other, but because you don’t have enough context from experience to know if you’re doing things correctly. As far as styles go. I personally viewed them as different strategies that emphasize different types of attacks.

[hasanagic]

Was doing muay thai for 4 years as a teen at the time and i was convinced that it was the shit and i would have no problems against a tkd, karate, kung fu guy, whichever. And i was around 75 kilos at the time. I go to a gym to learn grappling which also was famous nationally for karate. I sparr with their national champion there who is 65 kilos and a lot shorter. I am like this is gonna be a piece of cake.
Then the guy is super fast, moving all over the place, all i could do was try to cut off the ring muscle him to the corner and clinch or exchange to land anything. EVERY time i went to throw from a distance he blitzed from such a distance i didnt even know it was possible. 1-2 headkick, when i tried to counter he was already out. Super hard to time him. Whats goin on here, i never knew u could move so fast and strike. So i cross trained with em for a few years and ive never looked back. Its like i have a completely new style to use when something isnt working.
So yeah to sum it up, karate movement patterns are legit.

[timlinator]

As a student coming up in Karate I cared about the belts as a Sensei I don't care about my own belt but having the students color coded does help the teacher to keep track of who is working at each level. After I earned my black belt in Karate I started to train in BJJ and I put on a white belt and actually was relieved because I wasn't expected to know anything.

[bahebedogani]

Two of my favourite Martial artists. Love from Malawi. Your work is priceless

[hiankun]

As a self-taught programmer (in broader sense), I found I myself was thinking of the arguments between different programming languages when watching this video. ;-)

Thanks for sharing such an inspiring talk.

[BaiLong]

It’s like all my favorite YouTube martial arts personalities coming together during this time! Awesome! Loved how Dewey and you found common ground on all these things, like the low block/wrestling technique in Karate or how one doesn’t have to be defined by styles. Look forward to any other collabs you can do!

[ciscokid]

omg my two favorite martial arts youtuber in one video this epic