WHEN FAKE MASTERS GET DESTROYED BY LEGIT FIGHTERS
The world of martial arts is filled with masters touting mysterious powers and undefeated fight records. But what happens when these supposed masters are put to the test against legitimate professional fighters? More often than not, their fabricated skills and phony credentials are exposed when faced with a real opponent.
We'll look at 9 epic examples of fake martial arts "masters" being embarrassingly defeated when matched against genuine fighters. From laughable "no-touch knockout" frauds to delusional tai chi experts, these charlatans met their reality check at the hands of trained martial artists and fighters. Read on for a rundown of these cringeworthy moments in fake martial arts mastery.
The first clip features a supposed master desperate to prove his skills against experienced MMA fighter Morris Butler. Despite initiating the challenge, the outmatched "master" fails to land a single blow. Instead, Butler easily takes him down and rains punches until the fallacy of the master's abilities is firmly established. The backstory makes it even more ironic: the faux master was avenging his student's loss to advice supposedly from Butler. Yet he ended up thoroughly schooled himself.
In the second bout, an overconfident man squares off against a skilled boxer who has one hand tied behind his back. Though facing a severe handicap, the one-handed boxer outclasses the macho man with crisp counterpunching and defense. A devastating left hook finally seals the deal. The takeaway is clear - all the machismo and confidence can't compensate for legitimate skill developed through long practice.
The third match-up pits a serene tai chi "master" against an MMA practitioner. Despite tai chi's peaceful reputation, its devotees boast of its martial prowess. Yet this supposed master gets knocked out in a mere 5 seconds. Turns out the tai chi hype doesn't hold up to real combat pressure testing. The traditional art's lack of live sparring simply can't match a trained fighter.
In the fourth clash, an arrogant Wing Chun fighter challenges an entire MMA gym, firmly believing he can defeat any contender. But his overconfidence proves his downfall, as he loses focus and gets promptly knocked out by his opponent, MMA specialist Xu Xiaodong. Spending the match showboating rather than truly engaging cost the Wing Chun practitioner dearly.
Next up, a preposterous "no-touch" martial artist who claims to win fights without contact faces a kickboxer. Bewilderingly, he doesn't even raise his hands to defend himself. After eating a full-powered kick, the no-touch fraud ends up compromising his principles by throwing an actual cross. But it's too little too late, as his opponent's ensuing punch ends the spectacle. Magic touch powers seem less impressive when concrete strikes are involved.
The shortest fight in the lineup pits a tai chi master against a kickboxer. The tai chi expert adopts a bizarre standing pose instead of a fighting stance. This proves tremendously unwise, as he eats a head kick almost immediately and crumples embarrassingly to the mat in just 5 seconds. The lesson is loud and clear: keep those hands up and eyes open, even if you think your art is unbeatable.
Another humorous no-touch exhibitioner boasts a 200-0 record, incredibly without ever touching anyone. Faced with an MMA opponent, his delusion quickly evaporates as he gets popped in the face with the first real punch thrown. The $2000 bounty he offered to anyone who could defeat him probably looks less clever in retrospect. Turns out his untouched record didn't hold up once actual contact occurred.
In a battle of Muay Thai versus Karate, the deficiencies of a fraud karate "black belt" become apparent. Despite wearing a black belt, his sloppy reactions and lack of intelligent defense reflect no real martial skill. The Muay Thai practitioner ultimately ends the mismatch with a crushing uppercut. This illustrates that legitimate training, not rank alone, determines proper ability.
The final spectacle features a "no-touch" Russian "master" convinced he can withstand strikes through mystical energy and mind power. After obliging his request to hit him for real, the MMA opponent quickly proves thought power weak to punches. A prolonged beating culminates with the master wilting under a barrage of accurate strikes. Mindset alone doesn't confer immunity to getting physically bested.