:smack:
I blame it on alcohol.
Not to put yet another qualifier in yet another of these arguments, but the OP doens’t specify whether we’re talking self-defense or tournament style.
Using the UFC history as gospel (I know, I know, but hear me out, IIRC, it was initially billed as trying to determine what style was best), the grapplers in general and GJJ (Royce Gracie) in particular dominated until someone figured out how to…gasp, pass the guard. Since then from my cursory following of the sport, Gracies bowed out (although the 3rd generation still shows up every now and then). The “style” most often used (again, from what I recall) was a combination of Muay Thai and BJJ.
Unless we put the hell of a lot of qualifiers in this, I don’t think we’re ever going to get past, “my style is better than yours” until someone brings up the “there are many paths, but they all lead to the moon” (which is a quote I often see in dojos in some variation. Anyone know the origin of this?)
That is, “most often used” because it is best suited to the tournament. Granted, every now and then a straight striker or straight grappler will show up, but I don’t think they get too far. Randy Couture comes to mind, but I think his win over Tito Ortiz was after he (Randy) started taking kickboxing classes.
It sounds like the Zen saying of the finger and the Moon (paraphrased): “Zen is like a finger pointing at the Moon; when you see the Moon, you forget the finger.”
From the archival crypt:
Self Defense…Definitely Self Defense. One thing I do remember from my past that I learned VERY quickly,is that there is a BIG difference between fighting in tornaments for points and trophies, and fighting in the streets for your very life. 