Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Have you ever wondered about the fascinating world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)? It's not just about karate or judo, but a dynamic full-contact combat sport that has taken the world by storm. MMA offers a unique platform for fighters to showcase their skills in a competitive arena, allowing them to utilize a wide array of striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground.

The origins of MMA trace back to ancient times, with the Greeks introducing a similar concept called "pankration" in 648 B.C., which even made its way to the Olympic Games. Fast forward to the 1800s and early 1900s, a version of MMA persisted until it underwent a revolutionary transformation in 1993 with the establishment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The difference? It aimed to determine the most effective hand-to-hand combat techniques for real combat situations, bringing together fighters from various disciplines. Initially, the rules were sparse, but over a decade, additional regulations were introduced to ensure fighter safety and promote the sport's growth.

Today, MMA enjoys immense popularity, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship broadcasted on television. In fact, research suggests that MMA has become even more popular than boxing, often surpassing wrestling and boxing in pay-per-view viewership.

MMA is divided into five weight classes: lightweight (67-70 kg), welterweight (71-77 kg), middleweight (78-84 kg), light heavyweight (85-93 kg), and heavyweight (94-120 kg). Although there are four more weight classes, the UFC does not currently employ them.

Winning in MMA is straightforward. If an opponent taps the floor, the match concludes. Knocking out the opponent is another way to win. If both fighters are still standing at the end of the match, the judges decide the winner based on performance.

Fouls, constituting illegal contact with the opponent, are strictly enforced. Referees may deduct points or disqualify a fighter for intentional fouls or declare a no-contest in cases of unintentional fouls.

One of the most notable distinctions in MMA is the ring itself. Instead of the typical rectangular shape seen in boxing or wrestling, MMA competitions take place within an octagon-shaped cage. This eight-sided structure features metal chain-link fence walls coated with black vinyl, ensuring the safety of both fighters. The cage has padding around the top and between the eight sections, along with two entry-exit gates positioned opposite each other.

Fighters are required to adhere to specific attire regulations, wearing approved shorts and going barefoot in the ring. Approved gloves, equipped with at least an inch of knuckle padding, allow fighters to use their fingers and grapple without risking hand injuries.

Is MMA an exciting sport to watch? Absolutely! Its growing fan base and the emergence of reality shows like "The Contender" - which initially showcased boxers but increasingly includes MMA fighters - attest to its captivating appeal. MMA is not just a sport; it's a dynamic fusion of various martial arts disciplines that demands skill, strategy, and heart, making it a thrilling spectacle for both spectators and aspiring fighters alike.

An Introduction To Muay Thai

All across the world, people have heard about it and possibly even witnessed it first hand or on television - the furious punches, bone crushing elbows, lethal and piercing kicks, and the unforgettable knees.  Although watching it on television is great, nothing begins to compare to seeing these moves executed live - with thousands of fans cheering the fighters on.

This is the wonderful world of Muay Thai kickboxing.  Muay Thai is a martial art that is unlike any other, rich in the proud heritage of an entire nation.  The style is interwoven into the well known history of the Thai people.  Even though they are gentle and fun loving people, they’ve had to defend both themselves and their land for many years against the aggressive powers and thieves.

To protect what they had, the Thai people developed a fighting system of close combat techniques that were suited to the type of rough terrain they would be fighting in.  Over the years, it eventually become a rite of passage for all Thai men to train in this amazing martial art.

In the beginning, Muay Thai proved to be a dangerous and deadly art, with the fighters having no safety gear or protection - all they had were lengths of cords in which they would wrap around their fists as gloves.  As the years progressed, rules were written into the equation to establish some protection for the fighters.

Over the years, Muay Thai has progressed as both a martial art and a style, attracting people from all over the world.  There are training facilities in Russia and the United States, with qualified instructors to help teach Muay Thai to interested students.

These days, Muay Thai is one of the most popular sports in the world.  There are a lot of television networks that broadcast Thai bouts on a weekly basis, pleasing avid fighting fans from all over the world.  International boxing is another popular sport, although most successful International boxers got their start in Muay Thai.  This goes to show why Muay Thai training is so popular - and so lethal as well.

Normally, Thai bouts are fought with 5 three minute rounds, with a two minute rest period in between the rounds.  All fights are preceded by a dance, which gives the contestants the opportunity to pay homage to their teachers.  The dance is an excellent exercise to warm up with, with plenty of symbolic meaning towards the style.

During the fights and even with training, you’ll see that each Thai boxers wears armbands and a headband.  The headband that fighters wear is believed to have been blessed by a monk or teacher, and will bestow luck upon the fighter.  Thai boxers take a lot of pride in their training and fighting, with the headband being a source of inspiration and pride for the fighter.

During training, Thai fighters will learn a lot about their spiritual well being, the history of Muay Thai, and the skills they need to survive.  Fighters that plan to compete in Thai fights will need to practice a lot, as the fights can be very demanding.  Thai training can be very brutal, all depending on where you study.  If you are studying the ancient arts of Thai boxing, you can count on the training to be very rigorous and demanding.

Although Muay Thai can be a tough art to practice, it is one of the best martial arts that you can study.  The techniques are lethal, the training is tough - yet the competitions make it all worth while!

An Introduction To Capoeira

The martial art of Capoeira was originally created over 400 years ago in Brazil by the African slaves.  This martial art is unlike any of the other martial arts there anywhere in the world, and possesses a blend of power, beauty, mental balance, physical power, music, and an overwhelming sense of art and finesse.

Upon it’s creation, Capoeira proved to the world that it can be practiced by anyone, regardless of size, weight, or age.  The style is more than a martial art, but also a social event that is rich in tradition and history.  Capoeira is a truly powerful martial art, resembling a collaboration of music, dance, and exotic movements - and even a game.

Those who witness Capoeira games will note the music.  Both the music and the lyrics play a big part in the way that the game (known as jogo) is conducted.  For the players, there are several different rhythms that call for different speeds.  When watching the game played, spectators are normally in awe from the movements.  The jogo consists of a circle, with the players in the middle and the musicians at the foot of the circle.

Players that enter the game will enter into the circle, with a spring, cartwheel, or other type of visually stunning movement.  Upon entering the circle, players will complete back and forth with various combinations of poetic movements and breathtaking aerial displays.  It takes years of practice and hard work to become great at the jogo, as it requires precision, fast movement, and flawless application of the Capoeira techniques.

From a defensive standpoint, Capoeira is flashy, very creative, and also very useful, as the techniques seem to come out of nowhere and can be very hard to defend against.  The opponent or attacker has no clue what to expect from the student.  The Capoeira student defends himself through the use of dancing movements and acrobatic techniques, executing perfect movements that up until Capoeira were only dreamt of.

Capoeira and the jogo game are really big in Brazil, with hundreds of students learning the martial art.  It isn’t one of the most popular in the United States, although it is offered.  In South America it is more of a lifestyle, with jogo games being played on a daily basis.  A lot of martial arts students don’t want to learn Capoeira for the simple fact that the movements can be a bit of a risk.  Once you see how the style is performed, it can make you cringe at any second.

Over the last couple of decades, the art has grown a lot.  In 1974, the art of Capoeira became the national sport of Brazil, proving that just about everyone in Brazil had accepted it.  As time continues to pass, you can count on more and more competitions and dojo’s to surface - introducing this truly excellent martial art to newer generations.

Mixed Martial Arts Training Gym

With mixed martial arts gaining a lot of popularity, it didn’t take long before mixed martial arts training gyms have sprouted around.

People may join to simply increase their fitness levels or train themselves to also participate in mixed martial arts competitions.

Since mixed martial arts are a combination of various fighting techniques, the trainers there will teach you the various disciplines. These may include kick boxing, boxing, judo, jujitsu and wrestling.

Members will be able to practice in a MMA octagon, utilize weights and cardio equipment as well as heavy and speed backs.

Mixed martial arts gym offer different packages to choose from. For instance, you can sign up for the gym membership which allows you to use the facilities but you will not be able to join any of the classes. But if you pay a little more, this will entitle you to join the classes.

The class schedule is usually posted in the bulletin board. There is also a copy which you can bring home. While browsing around the web for a gym, you can also look at it since this is also featured in their website so you this into your schedule. If you are busy at work during the weekdays, don’t worry because you can make up for it since many of them have classes on weekends.

Rates are usually billed on a monthly basis with no time obligation. This means you can cancel your membership any time you like or even freeze it for a short period of time if you will be out of town.

If you don’t want to attend a class, see if there are private lessons being offered. This usually last a hour long and if you paid in advance for 10 sessions, you could get a discount.

But how will you know if this is a good martial arts training gym? For that, you will have to do some research by asking those who are currently the members there or go online since there are websites that review such facilities. The important thing to consider is the ability of the trainer to help you reach your desired fitness level.

You will then set an appointment for a free introductory class so you can get a feel of what it is like to workout in a mixed martial arts training gym. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask because part of the job of the trainer is to answer any issues you may have.

If you are still having a hard time looking for a mixed martial arts gym, why don’t you go to a local MMA event and ask to fans and fighters themselves so you will know where they train. You can also ask people at work if any of them are members.

Watching a mixed martial arts competition on television could also help because some gyms are major sponsors. All you have to do is check if there is branch that is in your neighborhood.

You will be more self-confident about yourself when you decide to enroll in a mixed martial arts training gym because what they teach you will be very useful if someone tries to mug you. This is also the first step that everyone has to take if they also want to compete in this sport.

Mixed Martial Arts Through The Web

Many people have discovered various uses for the web. You can use it for research, buy and sell merchandise or simply advertise your products and services to the audience. If you are a mixed martial artist and want to get in the game, this tool can help jumpstart your fighting career.

This is made possible because of websites that enable you to gain free exposure. Some of these are designed by the fighter themselves so they know what they are talking about when they are giving free advice on how to start or improve your martial arts career in the form of blogs and videos. If you don’t have a manager yet, the website can recommend someone.

Aside from starting your mixed martial arts career, these websites post ads so those who need a training partner may be able to find one and help them prepare for an upcoming competition. If you are a little short on cash, mixed martial arts websites can help you find sponsors. This is updated daily so if you don’t see anything in your area, it is possible for you to do so tomorrow.

One person who made it big using these websites is Chuck Liddell who worked his way to the top and defeated Quinton Jackson in Pride, an organization similar to the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship. If it wasn’t for the information available there, nobody would still now him.

Most of these sites encourage mixed martial arts and fans to sign up and become a member. This will allow you to post questions and comments if you don’t agree with what other members are saying.

The other benefits of becoming a member allows fighters will be able to form a network, mixed martial arts event organizers may hire officials and ring card girls to be present during an event and fans will be able to watch professional and amateur competitions.

Websites that focus on mixed martial arts are there and all you have to do is find it. How many are there? There is no actual figure but with more people becoming interested in the sport, you will probably find a few out there that are worth visiting over and over again.

You can simply start by typing in a few keywords like the names of mixed martial artists or the word mixed martial arts itself so you can see them appear on your computer screen in a matter of seconds.

The challenging part is looking through each one so you will know which of these sites are relevant or not. Once you find something you like, bookmark the page so you can easily visit it with a click of the mouse. Spread the word around by forwarding the site to your friends so they too will be able to enjoy it.

For the fans, the journey ends there. But if you are a fighter, the information is simply a guide. You have to win a few matches first so people will know who you are.

One website which you can check out is MMARecruiter.com. You will be able to find here almost everything that was mentioned earlier. Once you have visited it, look at the others because they may have something else to offer especially if you are a die hard fan of this full contact sport.

Mixed Martial Arts is Growing

Mixed martial arts is growing in popularity ever since rules were implemented for the safety of those in the ring and you can now watch it on television. It captures an audience both young and old since what happens either in the cage or ring is not scripted unlike wrestling.

There are two main styles of MMA. These are sport and street. In sport, two unarmed competitors fight it out using the same or different martial art discipline. Here, you can’t bite, insert fingers to any bodily crevices, attack the groin and eye gouging. In street, you are allowed to use a weapon of your choice but the first is more popular that the other.

Just to prove how popular mixed martial arts is, various organizations have been formed since the Ultimate Fighting Championships was established in 1993. There is PRIDE, International Fighting Championships and Elite XC.

You can watch UFC fights on pay per view which is featured in Spike TV. Elite XC airs their events after striking a deal with CBS entitled “Saturday Night Fights.”

Aside from its popularity on television, there is an increase in the sale of mixed martial arts merchandise especially in the form of videos which fans can take home. There are also websites which feature upcoming competitions, blogs, forums and everything else related to this sport.

Some fans who have become engrossed in this sport have signed up in gyms that offer this in their classes. This can be done just to work up a sweat instead of lifting weights or running on the treadmill. Those who are serious train hard so they will be able to join a competition and win.

But did this craze really start 15 years ago? The answer is no because mixed martial arts was known by a different name more than 2,000 years ago when this was first introduced by the Greeks during their Olympic Games and that time, this was known as Pankration.

There is no doubt that mixed martial arts as a sport is growing. You can see this in the number of fans who watch it, the sales revenue which happens to be much higher than that of boxing and wrestling, the establishment of academies and gyms as well as the founding of organizations both local and abroad.

There was even a move to make this an Olympic sport in 2004 when the games were held in Greece but this was not added since there were concerns that this venue will not be able to host a list of other new sports.

Four years later, the recently concluded Beijing Olympics did not also have mixed martial arts as one of the new sports. Despite that, there are still fighters willing to make a name for themselves using the other organizations since these events are shown all over the world with millions watching even if the International Olympic Committee has not yet approved it.

Senator McCain once referred to mixed martial arts as “human cockfighting” because according to him, this was too violent. That may be the case but with no fatalities yet compared to boxing which averages 11 a year, this will continue to be part of American society today and it is not going to go away anytime in the foreseeable future.

Is Learning Mixed Martial Arts Good For Your Child

Getting your children in extra curricular activities helps them become a well-rounded individual. Aside from basketball or boxing, another sport you can try is mixed martial arts.

What is mixed martial arts? It is a combination of various martial arts techniques which include karate, jujitsu, judo, tae kwon do and a few others.  Since each one takes time to learn, your child will have to learn the basics of one before moving on to the rest.

But why mixed martial arts? This is because the activity boosts not only your child’s physical health but also mental as well. Although intense, they get to sweat which reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and even obesity.

Bigger kids will think twice about bullying them since they know how to defend themselves when they are threatened. They will also become more self confident and be more assertive after completing a few sessions.

Will training in mixed martial arts make your child violent? The answer is no because most studies have shown that those who start fights in school are usually the ones who have no discipline, no training and no self esteem. This is their way of seeking attention even if there are other ways to get it.

Studies have shown learning mixed martial arts has a profound impact for children who are suffering from ADD and ADHD because it helps them stay focus on a task after doing something repeatedly which in the long term will help them later on in life as this helps them control the symptoms of these two disorders.

Before enrolling your child in a mixed martial arts program, do some research by checking the various gyms or dojo’s that offer this to children.

You may be surprised to know that there is a class called Krav Maga which is an Israeli developed combat system which teaches you to escape from an attacker and then fleeing so you can get help which has helped saved lives.

In any case, you should also watch a few classes and also speak with the instructors. If you are satisfied with how they answered your questions, bring your child over because many will let your child join an introductory class at no extra charge.

If you child likes it, then it is time to sign up. Be aware that some gyms will charge you for the next 6 months. Since your child may like it right now and change their mind in the future, see if you can pay for this on a monthly basis.

But not every child may like mixed martial arts as a recreational activity. If this is the case, try to find something else that they are into so you are able to find something that is good for their overall emotional psychological and physical well being.

Mixed martial arts just like any other sport can help in your child’s development. They will become more responsible, more mature and less likely to engage in violence so they grow up and become decent members of society. So give it a shot and see if he or she likes it. They don’t have to compete if they don’t want to but if they like to give it a try later on, just support them.