Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that combines various martial arts styles, such as jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, karate, and boxing. MMA has become increasingly popular in recent years, with organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator combining different martial arts styles to create a unique and exciting sport. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different types of martial arts used in MMA, including jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, karate, Muay Thai, and boxing. We'll also discuss the philosophy behind each style and how they can be used to create a powerful and effective fighting style.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art that focuses on ground control and submission restraints. It gained popularity in the early 1990s when Royce Gracie won the second and fourth UFC tournaments against fighters who practiced other more traditional styles such as boxing, karate, and taekwondo. Since then, it has become a staple of MMA fighters' repertoires. Karate is also known as Kyokusin and Full Contact.
It has been very effective in the sport of MMA due to its basic foundations of kickboxing and striking techniques. Some of the popular MMA fighters who practice karate styles include Chuck Liddel and Bas Rutten. Taekwondo, also called TKD, is widely used by some of the MMA fighters. Anderson Silva admitted that TKD had greatly influenced his style early in his career.
Taekwondo is characterized by its emphasis on kicks and fast footwork. Muay Thai is an ancient form of martial arts that originated in Thailand. It is also known as the “art of the eight limbs” since it uses the legs, knees, fists, and elbows to strike an opponent. Muay Thai has quickly become one of the most popular forms of martial arts in the world due to its effectiveness and simplicity.
Krav Maga was developed by the Israel Defense Force and is literally translated as “battle combat”. It uses hand-to-hand combat along with fighting and struggle as its main combat strategy. An important aspect of this form of martial art is the willingness and ability to use objects found in the environment to defeat an opponent, especially those with greater size and strength. Kung-Fu is one of the most popular forms of martial arts in history. It is generally divided into two schools depending on the fighter's area of focus: Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Southern Shaolin Kung Fu.
Aikido means “the path of harmony” and focuses on channeling spiritual energy. The value of being an MMA fighter is having a diverse toolbox of movements, styles, and ideologies at your disposal to dominate your opponent. When you see a master fighter in his craft, he'll combine different styles seamlessly in a continuous and powerful movement. Understanding the three main styles of MMA fighting—striking, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling—are the basic components that every fighter must fully understand to achieve this level of artistry. Many people contemplate getting involved in martial arts but are hesitant to do so because they don't know where to start. If you're interested in learning more about martial arts or getting involved in MMA, it's important to find a style that resonates with you and your goals. AsenAsen is a martial arts and fitness enthusiast who has been training in the sport since he was 12 years old. He believes that martial arts can be used for self-defense as well as for physical fitness and mental discipline. No matter what your goals are for learning martial arts or getting involved in MMA, there are many different styles to choose from that can help you reach them.
With this comprehensive guide to different types of martial arts used in MMA, you'll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about which style is right for you.
