Mixed martial arts (better known as MMA) has grown in popularity in recent years for its controversial but exciting fighting style. Contrary to popular belief, it is an art that requires tremendous amount of conditioning and skill in various martial art disciplines. Let’s take a look at 5 most commonly used martial arts in an MMA fight.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a martial art that uses a wide range of fighting techniques including punching, kicking, knees and elbows to subdue an opponent. Kickboxing is a popular sport in Thailand where it is also known as Muay Thai. There are several variants of this discipline such as Tang Soo Do and Japanese kickboxing. Each discipline has its own rule variations.
Boxing
Orthodox/Western Boxing is a pure striking art and there isn’t much else that can be added to it without losing its effectiveness. Luckily, we live in a day and age where boxing gyms are everywhere, thanks in large part to the success of MMA.
Boxers train to throw quick and strong punches. They also master how to block an incoming blow from another boxer or from a weapon. It’s perfect for those who want to learn close-range combat that doesn’t rely on weapons.
The 5 most common boxing attacks are: Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut, Body Hook, Slip.
You should know how to punch correctly and how to move your head so that you do not get hit back when you punch someone else. You will also want to learn how to avoid getting hit while punching your opponent and also how to protect yourself from getting knocked down or knocked out when someone punches you.
The art of boxing is an ancient combat sport that has evolved into a modern, strategic fighting technique. It is widely considered to be the most effective form of self-defense due to its emphasis on powerful punches and stable footwork. Many martial artists have adopted boxing as their primary style because it allows for a wide variety of techniques from different arts to be integrated into their own fighting style.
TKD
Tae Kwon Do is Korea’s answer to karate, taught to all Korean children for self-defense since the 1970s. It also emphasizes kicks and punches but focuses on fluid movement rather than powerful strikes like karate.
Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea. It was developed by combining various martial arts into one fighting style. Tae means foot, Kwon means fist, and Do translates to “the way of.” Tae Kwon Do training includes kicking, punching, blocking, jumping kicks and spinning kicks.
Tae Kwon Do has its historical roots in the Shaolin Kung Fu of China. It was developed by combining elements of several different martial arts. Tae Kwon Do’s development began over 2,000 years ago when the Buddhist Monk and martial arts expert, Moo Duk Kwan, arrived in Korea from China. He taught the monks there the fundamentals of Shaolin Kung Fu and it is believed that this is how Tae Kwon Do was created. In 1936 the Japanese invaded Korea and outlawed all martial arts practice. During this time period Moo Duk Kwan kept his school operating as a secret society and went into hiding.
At the end of World War II Master Moo re-established his school and officially named it Tae Kwon Do after combining all of the different styles he had learned throughout his life.
Tae kwon do is probably one of the most popular martial arts out there. Its popularity is not only because it has been around for centuries, but also because it covers a broad range of techniques which makes it effective against different kinds of opponents.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is an individual or team competition, with one wrestler facing another. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into mixed martial arts and are prevalent in modern MMA fights.
The art of wrestling is very popular. Good wrestlers are able to subdue their opponent with minimum force and effort. It is no surprise that martial arts includes wrestling as one of its five major components.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
This is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a grappling style that focuses on taking your opponent to the ground and using holds and joint locks to defeat him. BJJ has been used by law enforcement officers all over the world as a nonlethal weapon against potential attackers.
BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self-defense. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century. It was initially created to help Brazilian street criminals who were being easily dominated by judo practitioners of the time. While still not considered a mainstream sport, its popularity has grown over the years, and it is now widely practiced by both men and women across all ages.
The techniques of Brazilian jiu-jitsu were made famous worldwide by Royce Gracie’s success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), beginning in 1993. The success of the Gracies in promoting their style has made Brazilian jiu-jitsu one of the most popular martial arts in the world today. As with all styles, modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu has also evolved over the years. There are many schools or styles of BJJ from all over the world, but most are united under the banner of the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu (CBJJ).
BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves or another against a bigger, stronger assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground.
Jujitsu can be very dangerous if not taught correctly so make sure the school has qualified instructors and made sure you get a professional’s advice before signing up with them for training or taking up free trial classes.
These 5 martial arts listed above are a small sample, but some of the most prominent. Watching a UFC fight is a spectacle to behold, but if you’re not familiar with these martial arts beforehand, there’s a lot more going on here than you might have realized. MMA fighters have been training in some combination of these art forms for years before stepping foot in the ring—a fact that demonstrates just how much preparation must go into entering one of these tournaments.
You can’t win a fight by just mixing up a bunch of different martial arts. It takes a lot of research and a solid understanding to know which martial arts will work specifically for you. After all, there is no ‘best martial art,’ it’s best to go with the one that suits your needs.
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