Mixed Martial Arts or MMA as it is referred to is a full contact, combat sport.
As opposed to boxing, karate, judo etc, it is isn’t just a single form a martial art. It encompasses many forms of martial arts and that’s where the sports gets its name from.
Although it can take in any martial art, there are 5 main styles of combat that are the base of MMA. These styles are:
- Boxing – A style of combat, where the punches are the main focus. It is a form of stand-up striking that fighters use in MMA when they are on their feet.
- Kickboxing – A style of combat, very similar to boxing but kicks are added into the equation. Again it is a form of stand up striking that is used while standing up in MMA.
- Muay Thai – It also is a stand-up striking combat but where elbows and knees as well as kicks and punches are allowed. Also it incorporates the ‘clinch’ which is where a fighter can grab the head and the body of his opponent while standing and manipulate their movement.
- Wrestling – A style of combat where the main goal is to seek the ‘takedown’. This is when you manage to get your opponent to the floor on their back and control them.
- Jiu-Jitsu – A style of combat where the takedown is also a goal but once that has been achieved the aim is to ‘submit’ your opponent. This can be done by making them tap out through locks, or chokes that either cause the opponent pain causing the tap or by restricting blood flow to the head causing the tap.
To see a live MMA event there are many UK based promotions. The main UK based promotions are BAMMA and Cage Warriors.