MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a martial art form that combines striking with submission wrestling and ground fighting. It is typically contested in a ring or other fenced enclosure between two opponents of the same weight class. Each fight has a fixed number of rounds, usually 3 with a 5 minute duration. The winner is determined by either a knockout or submission, or by the judges’ decision after all rounds are completed. MMA is one of the most popular combat sports in the world.
Almost every MMA fan has seen the videos that go viral online showing martial artists repelling or defeating multiple attackers without touching them at all. These are fantasy videos, of course, and no one can achieve such feats in reality. But, there are some basic fundamentals that a fighter needs to learn in order to improve their chances of success.
To start with, a person will need to become proficient in striking and grappling techniques. For striking, that means learning how to use the basic punches (hooks, jabs, and straights) and push and roundhouse kicks. For grappling, it will mean knowing how to hold the clinch and execute chokes and armbars.
In addition, a fighter will need to develop a strategy that will give them the best chance of winning based on their own strengths and weaknesses. The coaches will play a big role in helping the fighter come up with this plan. Often, this will involve finding the weakness of their opponent and exploiting it.
For example, a fighter who is better at grappling may try to wear down their opponent and take them down by using submissions or choke holds. Or, if they are strong on their feet, they might look to use a combination of knee strikes and kicks to knock the other fighter out.
There are also a number of rules that must be followed during MMA competitions to ensure the safety of the fighters. These include the unified rules of MMA, which prohibits headbutting, eye gouging, biting, hair pulling, groin strikes, grabbing the cage to prevent a takedown, kicking or kneeing the head of a downed opponent, football style kicking, 12 to 6 elbows, finger bending, and more. Failing to follow these rules can result in penalties and disqualification from the competition.
MMA is a brutal sport that requires both strength and skill to excel in. But it is also a very effective way to get into shape and learn self-defense at the same time. It has even helped some fighters overcome addiction issues and mental health problems. So if you’re thinking about adding MMA to your training regimen, check out Evolve MMA’s complimentary introductory classes to see what it’s all about. Then you can decide if it’s the right fit for you! If you do decide to join us, we’ll be sure to make you feel welcome. And we’ll help you train to be the best MMA fighter you can be!