Who Do You Think Are The Best Martial Artists Today?

[KATHYPURDOM]

Littledragon did you ever see or meet someone that you knew from that first time you didn't like them? This is what I got when I first saw Bruce Lee. I am sure that there are a lot of people that like him, but I never did get into any of his movies.
I don't want to start anything but this only and I mean only my opinion. Sorry if I have upset anyone here about saying this, but I do have to say what I think.

 

[Littledragon]

Littledragon did you ever see or meet someone that you knew from that first time you didn't like them? This is what I got when I first saw Bruce Lee. I am sure that there are a lot of people that like him, but I never did get into any of his movies.
I don't want to start anything but this only and I mean only my opinion. Sorry if I have upset anyone here about saying this, but I do have to say what I think.

Maybe you dont like him but you CANT deny he is a superb fighter. Probably the greatest fighter of all time.

 

[Littledragon]

Jackie Chan is good, but he seems so silly...
Steven is never silly when fighting, he's so awesome, so tough, and so totally thrilling...

Have u ever seen him fight Benny Urquidez or Casananova Wang, or Wang Ihn Sik?

Back in the old days??

 

[Nassau Mike]

Seaga;, Norris, and Lee are the best martial artist to also act in movies..I'm not a fan of Li because I have never seen him do anything realistic..M. J. White is a pretty good martial artist who made it into the movies..Van Damm is cool but is more along the lines of Wesley Snipes in terms of his martial arts ability..I still prefer him to Li or Chan but Li is the better martial artist(even though you could never tell that from his wire fu movies)..Van Damm has trained with Norris and some pretty good martial artists since he became a star but most of his accreditation from his days as The Mussels from Brussels was not truly recognized..
If you read what true martial artists and fighters say about Van damm-he's mostly show and not a true martial artist..I like most of his movies though including "In Hell"-which was not that bad..It was ok..
Olivier Gruner is a more realistic version of Van Damm but never quite got the bigger movies that Van Damm did..But Gruner is a true artist and fighter. His titles are legit unlike VD.
Dolph Lundgren is and was a pretty good actor/martial artist..Along the line of Van Damm and also has a masters degree.
David Carradine also trained with Norris and has been training in the martial arts for over 30 years and I still liked him best in "Lone Wolf Mcquade" as the bad guy..See what he has left in Kill Bill-volume 2 coming out soon..
Then you have guys like Sonny Chiba, Jackie Chan, Don the dragon Wilson(who is actually better than Van Damm as well and legit), Mark dacascos, and so many more that made it in the movies..
There are too many real accomplished martial artists than never made it to the big screen to name..But in my opinion of the ones that did- Lee, Seagal and Norris were the best of the best..You cant argue wth their background and their training for so many years..

 

[Littledragon]

Seaga;, Norris, and Lee are the best martial artist to also act in movies..I'm not a fan of Li because I have never seen him do anything realistic..M. J. White is a pretty good martial artist who made it into the movies..Van Damm is cool but is more along the lines of Wesley Snipes in terms of his martial arts ability..I still prefer him to Li or Chan but Li is the better martial artist(even though you could never tell that from his wire fu movies)..Van Damm has trained with Norris and some pretty good martial artists since he became a star but most of his accreditation from his days as The Mussels from Brussels was not truly recognized..
If you read what true martial artists and fighters say about Van damm-he's mostly show and not a true martial artist..I like most of his movies though including "In Hell"-which was not that bad..It was ok..
Olivier Gruner is a more realistic version of Van Damm but never quite got the bigger movies that Van Damm did..But Gruner is a true artist and fighter. His titles are legit unlike VD.
Dolph Lundgren is and was a pretty good actor/martial artist..Along the line of Van Damm and also has a masters degree.
David Carradine also trained with Norris and has been training in the martial arts for over 30 years and I still liked him best in "Lone Wolf Mcquade" as the bad guy..See what he has left in Kill Bill-volume 2 coming out soon..
Then you have guys like Sonny Chiba, Jackie Chan, Don the dragon Wilson(who is actually better than Van Damm as well and legit), Mark dacascos, and so many more that made it in the movies..
There are too many real accomplished martial artists than never made it to the big screen to name..But in my opinion of the ones that did- Lee, Seagal and Norris were the best of the best..You cant argue wth their background and their training for so many years..

Tottally agree, but Jet Li was one of the top fighters in our era!

Also you have to consider the ones not in the movies such as MAS OYAMA, he could kill a bull with his bare hands.

And the Gracie family, David is terrible no matter how long and who he trained with, he first was a dancer and still after all those years cant kick.

Seagal, Jet Li, Bruce, Jackie, Mas Oyama are my top fighters ever imo.

 

[Lotussan]

I think Steven could have kicked Bruce Lee's butt too in all honesty, just because SS has superior size going for him and the matching power (both mentally and physically) to his advantage...
Steven also has amazingly fast hands, and those super mighty kicks, omg...
I think Seagal Sensei is the very best, and actually I have never really watched Bruce Lee that much...
I think I saw a couple of his films when I was very young...
I think for his time he was pretty good, though...
But for today, Steven beats them all hands down, and Sensei isn't even asian, although he has the slight look and the very honorable mannerisms...
He trained in more different MA styles than I have ever heard one person know...
And he's so natural and to me so precise, so effective, and sooooo sooooo exciting a fighter...
I am just so amazed by what he does, and so thrilled by the way he does it, hehehehe...

 

[yudansha]

Respect to all.

Lotussan, Michael J. White has black belts in 6 different martial arts (more than Seagal).

You guys don't know all the martial artists to consider the greatest. All you can do is consider who is great and who is not as great. Van Damme was trained BY Norris at some point, but not WITH/alongside. Jackie Chan was the first person to be named the next Bruce Lee after the sudden and mysterious death of the Dragon. There is no question about it that Bruce was a great master. Any master who devises their own martial art (not just a style), and gets recognized for it, is a true master (i.e. Bruce Lee, and Chuck Norris are the most recent).

For Jet Li fans: check out Jamal Ajigirei. Believe me, if you put the two in the ring, Jet Li will not be walking out standing (Li does not have as intensive of a training any more as does Jamal; although both have an approximately similar ranking).

As much as all of you are devoted to Seagal, I will have to say that by far he is not the greatest of them all, but he is way up there (O'Sensei and his direct students; most of whom achieved a 10th dan in Aikido, which is considered to be far beyond Godly - 8th dan and above). Seagal in several recent sources was mentioned to have 8th dan (although some of you keep saying 7th - maybe that's in Kendo).

The martial stylists need to be categorized and then compared. You just cannot compare a judoist and a Tai-Chi master unless you put the two in the ring, which is very unlikely. Then you have to remember that areas of the former Russian (soviet) republics practice mostly judo/jujitsu/sambo; whereas Japanese have their Karate and Aikido (I can't mention everything), etc.

How do you judge who is the greatest? By appearence, by the ability of handling weapons (an arm vs. katana; take your pick), by their quickness (believe me, Bruce Lee doesn't have the footwork of the recent TKD masters)? It's tough, because taking overall will not do it. I bet that all of you who have taken serious lessons in some discipline have experienced a view that the movies never show. It's incredible how a live performance is so much different then an on-screen presentation.

 

[Lotussan]

Thanks, yu...

Michael Jai White might have the belts but Steven has that amazing mind that is so in tune with his art...
I just don't see the deep discipline and spiritual polish in the others, but maybe that's just me...
The belts don't mean much to me, either...
Steven has proven well, just what he is capable of....
Lets face it some instructors are easy on their students...
So having 6 different blackbelts might be meaningful or might not...
Seagal Sensei is not one of those easy teachers as far as I know, and I am sure he's of the same quality and seriousness, when it comes to his very own training...
Just a hunch here...
Bruce Lee was pretty impressive, but imho, not near the man that Sensei is...
Because Sensei has the weapons handling knowledge as well as the fine and honorable very strong spirit that just shines through whenever he demonstrates his art...
He's is very fast from what I have seen, his skills are so impressive...
To me the others seem to do it for the noteriety, they tout their belts, while he is humble, to me he does what he does for the sheer love of the sport, and for the love of teaching the sport to others...
That really means something to me, and I am sure it is the reason that so many students dearly want to train under his affiliation...

 

[SAS Guardian Angel]

Missed a couple

Okay besides Steven you missed Phillip and Simon Rhee (Dae Han one with eye patch on Best of the Best) they have been both to the Olympics and placed in 1980.

I have spoken with Simon he is truly a soft spoken and very polite master but hes totally lethal out there why he does his exercises alone for safety
he has been stated as having some of the most beautiful MA moves on film and different from Stevens . I love to watch him move powerful yet poetic

 

[Lotussan]

I can't see anyone but Steven...

 

[tora]

I think Steven could have kicked Bruce Lee's butt too in all honesty, just because SS has superior size going for him and the matching power (both mentally and physically) to his advantage...
Steven also has amazingly fast hands, and those super mighty kicks, omg...
I think Seagal Sensei is the very best, and actually I have never really watched Bruce Lee that much...
I think I saw a couple of his films when I was very young...
I think for his time he was pretty good, though...
But for today, Steven beats them all hands down, and Sensei isn't even asian, although he has the slight look and the very honorable mannerisms...
He trained in more different MA styles than I have ever heard one person know...
And he's so natural and to me so precise, so effective, and sooooo sooooo exciting a fighter...
I am just so amazed by what he does, and so thrilled by the way he does it, hehehehe...

I don't think Seagal would beat Bruce Lee that easily.

 

[tora]

Okay besides Steven you missed Phillip and Simon Rhee (Dae Han one with eye patch on Best of the Best) they have been both to the Olympics and placed in 1980.

I have spoken with Simon he is truly a soft spoken and very polite master but hes totally lethal out there why he does his exercises alone for safety
he has been stated as having some of the most beautiful MA moves on film and different from Stevens . I love to watch him move powerful yet poetic

Oh yes,I remember Best of The Best with Philip Rhee,and in some other movies.He looks goddamn impressive.

 

[tora]

And Lotus,Jackie Chan is by no means silly.He's quite serious about his MA skills.If Seagal can do just jalf of what Jackie does then I'll just go and eat my Seagal videos up.
You just don't have the knowledge about Martial Arts so you'd not better judge it that crucially only because you're blinded by your personal feelings.Just be more objective and more broad-minded.

 

[Littledragon]

I think Steven could have kicked Bruce Lee's butt too in all honesty, just because SS has superior size going for him and the matching power (both mentally and physically) to his advantage...
Steven also has amazingly fast hands, and those super mighty kicks, omg...
I think Seagal Sensei is the very best, and actually I have never really watched Bruce Lee that much...
I think I saw a couple of his films when I was very young...
I think for his time he was pretty good, though...
But for today, Steven beats them all hands down, and Sensei isn't even asian, although he has the slight look and the very honorable mannerisms...
He trained in more different MA styles than I have ever heard one person know...
And he's so natural and to me so precise, so effective, and sooooo sooooo exciting a fighter...
I am just so amazed by what he does, and so thrilled by the way he does it, hehehehe...

I know you all love Seagal just as much as I do but there is no way in hell Seagal can compare to Bruce. Even Seagal would admit Bruce could beat him in a fight. Seagal has fast hands but when compared to Bruce's its simply SLOW, thats how fast Bruce was. He is a superb aikido master and has some of the greatest fighting techniques on this planet but what superb mighty kicks no thats a joke because he has none. His kicks are not that great I have to be honest with you. But none the less I love Seagal and he is an amazing fighter but he can not be compared with Bruce, simply he is not in even in the same zip code as Bruce.

Peace

 

[Littledragon]

And Lotus,Jackie Chan is by no means silly.He's quite serious about his MA skills.If Seagal can do just jalf of what Jackie does then I'll just go and eat my Seagal videos up.
You just don't have the knowledge about Martial Arts so you'd not better judge it that crucially only because you're blinded by your personal feelings.Just be more objective and more broad-minded.

I think we'd make good friends! LOL yes very true, totally agree with you 100 %!!

 

[Littledragon]

I don't think Seagal would beat Bruce Lee that easily.

There is no way Seagal could beat Bruce. Bruce spent his whole life studying every kind of martial art or art of combat, he was a master in the knowledge and philosophy which counts just as much as well as the techniques. His body complexion Bruce was in top shape, look at Seagal's body compared to Bruce's.

Bruces kicks were like getting hit by a car, Chuck Norris, Wally Jay, and Mike Stone said, all members of BLACKBELT HALL OF FAME.

Bruce's punches were as fast and hard as Mohammad Ali if not harder. Seagal is fast but not even close to Bruce's speed.

When you look at Bruce you then believe that God made some people beyond human.

;-)

 

[Littledragon]

Thanks, yu...

Michael Jai White might have the belts but Steven has that amazing mind that is so in tune with his art...
I just don't see the deep discipline and spiritual polish in the others, but maybe that's just me...
The belts don't mean much to me, either...
Steven has proven well, just what he is capable of....
Lets face it some instructors are easy on their students...
So having 6 different blackbelts might be meaningful or might not...
Seagal Sensei is not one of those easy teachers as far as I know, and I am sure he's of the same quality and seriousness, when it comes to his very own training...
Just a hunch here...
Bruce Lee was pretty impressive, but imho, not near the man that Sensei is...
Because Sensei has the weapons handling knowledge as well as the fine and honorable very strong spirit that just shines through whenever he demonstrates his art...
He's is very fast from what I have seen, his skills are so impressive...
To me the others seem to do it for the noteriety, they tout their belts, while he is humble, to me he does what he does for the sheer love of the sport, and for the love of teaching the sport to others...
That really means something to me, and I am sure it is the reason that so many students dearly want to train under his affiliation...

Lotus I know you love Seagal just like I do but it is not possible just from looking from the two it should be very easy to distinguish that Seagal aint better than Bruce. As I have explained in my above posts. ;-)

Seagal lacks the speed power kicks and knowledge that Bruce has...

Just imagine Seagal trying to do a kotegaiyashi on Bruce, you think Bruce will give Seagal any opprotunity to do any of those Aikido moves on him? Bruce will be so fast and when Seagal gets hit by Bruce, Seagal will be out.

 

[aikijones]

I dont wanna sound like a kill joy

Who Do You Think Are The Best Martial Artist Today?

I'm curious as to the question. Are we only talking about movie martial artist?​

Most of the people mentioned in the post have studied Budo. However if we are talking "Best Martial Artist Today."​

I don't think you people have watched K-1 Japan or Pride. These are world wide competition for all styles of martial arts and most of the people named in this post would not stand a chance in these tournaments. Tournament martial artist (for lack of a better word) train 8 to 16 hours a day, six days a week and all year long (kinda like the old school monks He He) no retreats or $hollywood$ parties so to speak. Anyway to say who is the "Best Martial Artist Today," one would have to see the outcome against an opponent. To bad so sad our movie stars are under to much of a written contract to give us our monies worth lol.​

So I think right now it would be *Mieruko "Crop Cop" or maybe Remy from K-1, as the "Best Martial Artist Today."​

There of course is the spirtual side of this as well and Shihan Seagal fits this side nicely.​

 

[Littledragon]

Lotussan, Michael J. White has black belts in 6 different martial arts (more than Seagal).

You guys don't know all the martial artists to consider the greatest. All you can do is consider who is great and who is not as great. Van Damme was trained BY Norris at some point, but not WITH/alongside. Jackie Chan was the first person to be named the next Bruce Lee after the sudden and mysterious death of the Dragon. There is no question about it that Bruce was a great master. Any master who devises their own martial art (not just a style), and gets recognized for it, is a true master (i.e. Bruce Lee, and Chuck Norris are the most recent).

For Jet Li fans: check out Jamal Ajigirei. Believe me, if you put the two in the ring, Jet Li will not be walking out standing (Li does not have as intensive of a training any more as does Jamal; although both have an approximately similar ranking).

As much as all of you are devoted to Seagal, I will have to say that by far he is not the greatest of them all, but he is way up there (O'Sensei and his direct students; most of whom achieved a 10th dan in Aikido, which is considered to be far beyond Godly - 8th dan and above). Seagal in several recent sources was mentioned to have 8th dan (although some of you keep saying 7th - maybe that's in Kendo).

The martial stylists need to be categorized and then compared. You just cannot compare a judoist and a Tai-Chi master unless you put the two in the ring, which is very unlikely. Then you have to remember that areas of the former Russian (soviet) republics practice mostly judo/jujitsu/sambo; whereas Japanese have their Karate and Aikido (I can't mention everything), etc.

How do you judge who is the greatest? By appearence, by the ability of handling weapons (an arm vs. katana; take your pick), by their quickness (believe me, Bruce Lee doesn't have the footwork of the recent TKD masters)? It's tough, because taking overall will not do it. I bet that all of you who have taken serious lessons in some discipline have experienced a view that the movies never show. It's incredible how a live performance is so much different then an on-screen presentation.

Bruce paved the way for all martial artists. Why do you think they bounce when they fight, Bruce introduced that when he studied Mohammad Ali's fights and used that in Way Of The Dragon. Why do you think the tkd practicioners always bounce in competition, in WTF, USTU Olympic style competitions??

I have been doing tkd for 11 years and tkd has amazing foot techniques but lacks power because we always refold and reqoil inorder to do more kicks because thats what the art is known for our repetitive kicking combos. If you take a muay tai kick compared to a tkd kick the muay thai is by far much more harder because they put theire whole body in to it and dont refold, they just go through their opponent. Bruce also introduced that in WASY OF THE DRAGON sayinf put your hip into it and whole body. Bruce is the master paved the way for all modern martial artists of this day. He was a genious by questioning tradition and facing reality.

 

[Littledragon]

I'm curious as to the question. Are we only talking about movie martial artist?​

Most of the people mentioned in the post have studied Budo. However if we are talking "Best Martial Artist Today."​

I don't think you people have watched K-1 Japan or Pride. These are world wide competition for all styles of martial arts and most of the people named in this post would not stand a chance in these tournaments. Tournament martial artist (for lack of a better word) train 8 to 16 hours a day, six days a week and all year long (kinda like the old school monks He He) no retreats or $hollywood$ parties so to speak. Anyway to say who is the "Best Martial Artist Today," one would have to see the outcome against an opponent. To bad so sad our movie stars are under to much of a written contract to give us our monies worth lol.​

So I think right now it would be *Mieruko "Crop Cop" or maybe Remy from K-1, as the "Best Martial Artist Today."​

There of course is the spirtual side of this as well and Shihan Seagal fits this side nicely.​

Yes i watch K-1 and Pride but I could have but Andy Hug, Maurice Smith, or the Graicies etc.... But i was aiming at movie martial artists but now it doesnt matter.