Mixed martial arts is a combination of any martial arts. There is no set combination, you may learn whichever disciplines you like and call yourself a mixed martial artist. The techniques that you should learn depend on your mental attitude, body type and personal preferences. Local availability may take precedence over these factors though. We will look at some of the most popular styles below.
Kick Boxing: there are various styles of kick boxing including a French and a Thai version called Muay Thai. Kick boxing is a full contact sport which makes use of the fists, elbows, feet and knees to hit the opponent. There are frequent clinches, but the bout is stopped when a fighter falls to the canvas as in boxing.
Thai kick boxing is one of the most well-liked styles in a mixed martial artist's repertoire, particularly among women fighters, because it takes immense suppleness.
Boxing: boxing is the most popular western martial art. It was studied in Ancient Greece and was a sport in the early Olympic Games. You may just use your fists. Boxing skills benefit the more powerful upper bodied athlete. Boxing needs to be combined with mat skills such as wrestling or the MMA fighter will be disadvantaged on the canvas.
Judo: judo is in essence a defensive skill and is the first oriental martial art that most people learn. It is a good style to start learning oriental fighting skills, but you will also need to learn some aggressive manoeuvres.
Wrestling: wrestling is not instructed to young men as much as boxing any more, but it is a very well-liked spectator sport. There are various types of wrestling such as normal western wrestling and Japanese Sumo. It is indispensable to have some wrestling-type skills for when you are grappling on the canvas.
Jiu Jitsu: jiu jitsu is essential for MMA, most fighters would say. There are several styles, besides the original one, called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and an offshoot of that known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
These last two forms are the most prevalent in MMA. Jiu Jitsu is assertive and defensive and includes stand-up fighting and grappling on the canvas. It is an excellent all-round martial art.
Karate: another Japanese martial art that involves strength and speed. Karate is also useful for vertical and horizontal fighting manoeuvres and so is more flexible than boxing. It is a full contact sport in some styles, but not in others, because it is dangerous to hit an untutored person using karate - it can be fatal.
Tae Kwando: tae kwando takes great suppleness and lightening-fast reflexes. It is also more popular with female MMA fighters as lots of of the men are too weighty to carry out the jumps and aerial attacks that are common in this discipline. The octagon may also be a little too small to carry out all the manoeuvres of tae kwando in the correct manner too.
Kick Boxing: there are various styles of kick boxing including a French and a Thai version called Muay Thai. Kick boxing is a full contact sport which makes use of the fists, elbows, feet and knees to hit the opponent. There are frequent clinches, but the bout is stopped when a fighter falls to the canvas as in boxing.
Thai kick boxing is one of the most well-liked styles in a mixed martial artist's repertoire, particularly among women fighters, because it takes immense suppleness.
Boxing: boxing is the most popular western martial art. It was studied in Ancient Greece and was a sport in the early Olympic Games. You may just use your fists. Boxing skills benefit the more powerful upper bodied athlete. Boxing needs to be combined with mat skills such as wrestling or the MMA fighter will be disadvantaged on the canvas.
Judo: judo is in essence a defensive skill and is the first oriental martial art that most people learn. It is a good style to start learning oriental fighting skills, but you will also need to learn some aggressive manoeuvres.
Wrestling: wrestling is not instructed to young men as much as boxing any more, but it is a very well-liked spectator sport. There are various types of wrestling such as normal western wrestling and Japanese Sumo. It is indispensable to have some wrestling-type skills for when you are grappling on the canvas.
Jiu Jitsu: jiu jitsu is essential for MMA, most fighters would say. There are several styles, besides the original one, called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and an offshoot of that known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
These last two forms are the most prevalent in MMA. Jiu Jitsu is assertive and defensive and includes stand-up fighting and grappling on the canvas. It is an excellent all-round martial art.
Karate: another Japanese martial art that involves strength and speed. Karate is also useful for vertical and horizontal fighting manoeuvres and so is more flexible than boxing. It is a full contact sport in some styles, but not in others, because it is dangerous to hit an untutored person using karate - it can be fatal.
Tae Kwando: tae kwando takes great suppleness and lightening-fast reflexes. It is also more popular with female MMA fighters as lots of of the men are too weighty to carry out the jumps and aerial attacks that are common in this discipline. The octagon may also be a little too small to carry out all the manoeuvres of tae kwando in the correct manner too.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is now concerned with mixed martial arts for kids. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Mixed Martial Arts Quotes