Why can't traditional martial arts with a long history beat modern modern fighting?

Because the traditional martial arts we see now are all performances, that is, the so-called tokenistic gestures, rather than as a form of competition, the real essence has disappeared in the long river of history by the idea of "saving one's hand" by the masters. Some martial arts masters exist, but they are all hidden, and they regard martial arts as a way of self-cultivation and do not fight with people (the state does not advocate martial arts sparring), so we can't see them. Fighting is a profession, and boxers have to support their families through it. Therefore, more actual combat training will naturally defeat the "flower boxing and embroidered legs."