Feed: Why Do You Want To Learn Mixed Martial Arts - AggScore: 72.7

You have probably heard of karate or judo. But did you know that there is such a thing called mixed martial arts?

Mixed martial arts or MMA is a full contact combat support which allows players to fight in a competition using various fighting techniques. The rules allow the fighters to use various striking and grappling techniques both while standing and on the ground.

But MMA was first introduced by the Greeks in 648 B.C. Back then, it was called the pankration which was introduced into the Olympic Games. Records show that there was a similar version of this in the 1800’s which continued on in the early 1900’s until the MMA came out in 1993 with the establishment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC.

The difference between the MMA and those in the past is that this was initially created to find out which hand to hand combat technique works best to fight in a combat situation so fighters of various disciplines were gathered. During that time, there were only a few rules but more than 10 years later, additional ones were adopted to increase the safety of those who computed and to promote the sport.

Today, you can see the Ultimate Fighting Championship on television. Research shows that mixed martial arts is now more popular today than boxing especially when more people were willing to pay to see it on pay per view channels surpassing wrestling and boxing.

There are now 5 weight classes namely lightweight which is 67 to 70 kg, welterweight which is 71 to 77kg, middleweight from 78 to 84 kg, light heavyweight from 85 to 93 kg and heavy weight from 94 to 120 kg. There are 4 other weight classes but these are not currently being used by the UFC.

How someone wins in mixed martial arts is pretty simple. If the opponent taps the floor, the match is over. The same happens if the opponent is knocked unconscious. Should both fighters still be standing at the end of the match, the winner will be decided by the judges.

Illegal contact with the other opponent is called a foul. The referee inside the ring may deduct points from one player or even disqualify that person if the act committed was intentional or no contest if this was unintentional.

One of the biggest differences in mixed martial arts is the ring where the fighters play. Unlike a boxing or wrestling ring that is shaped in a rectangle, competition here is done in an octagon shaped cage. The eight sided structure has walls of metal chain link fence coated with black vinyl. There is padding around the top of the fence and between each of the eight sections as well as two entry-exit gates which are opposite each other.

Competitors who enter the ring have to wear proper attire. This means going into the ring with approved shorts and no shoes. Gloves must also be approved and have at least an inch of padding around the knuckles so the person will still be able to use his fingers and grab the opponent without the risk of injuring the hand.

Is mixed martial arts nice to watch? The answer is yes given that there are now more people watching it and others who want to join the competition. There was even a reality show that come out recently called the Contender which first started airing boxers fighting in the ring.

We do things for a reason. Sometimes, this could just be a spur of the moment. But when you want to learn mixed martial arts, you have to be committed.

Mixed martial arts consists of various techniques. Examples of these include karate, judo, aikido, jujitsu and a lot more. The nice thing about each of them is that you can start learning this regardless of your age.

So what do you get from learning the mixed martial art? You become self-confident, get a good workout, build up your endurance and have good balance and coordination.

This first begins by learning one technique and then moving on to another. When you know them, the trick is now knowing when you switching from one style to the next especially when the need calls for it.

Many people want to learn mixed martial arts for defensive purposes and this is a very good reason. Some say that this is much better than a self-defense course because this is useless if the attacker is much bigger than you.

Mixed martial arts is useful because you can switch from defensive to offensive mode at any time. Since you practice this regularly, what you do is already automatic.

Some decide to get into mixed martial arts to stay fit. This is because even one class a week is more than enough to get your heart rate pumping and keep your muscles in check.

People who want fame and fortune can also learn mixed martial arts and then get to compete in competitions like those in the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC. The top caliber athletes in this sport have practiced this for years so you better train hard if you want to be in the same level as them.

There is nothing to stop you from learning more than one martial art. In fact, the more you know the better because each technique has strengths and weaknesses. If you know what these are, you can exploit it and use this to your advantage.

A good example of this is boxing because it is a contact sport that only allows you to use your hands. But if your opponent is beyond your arm’s reach, this is useless. If you want to hit them, you have to go closer or learn karate which is the basis of martial arts training since you are able to utilize your hands and legs for defense and offense.

Another technique which many come in handy when using the legs is Tae Kwon Do since there are aerial kicks involved. This is good for someone who has long legs but difficult for someone who is not agile or flexible.

Since it is hard to kick or punch in close quarters, this is when judo or jujitsu is very useful. This is because you get to grapple your enemy and still do some damage even when both of you are on the ground.

Self-defense, exercise and for competitive purposes are the three main reasons that make a lot of decide to learn mixed martial arts. Of course, there are other sports that allow you to do the same thing but if you are interested from what you see on television, there is no harm in giving it a try.