Category Archives: Sports

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Swimming

Swimming can be a hobby for anyone. Not only is it an easy thing to get involved in but it is also something that is very good for you.

It is one of the most efficient sports for health performance as well as being fun to do.

Take a splash in your local pool

Take a splash in your local pool

Of course to maximise your fitness through swimming it helps to be a strong swimmer but you may not want to start swimming as a hobby, simply for fitness reasons. You may also want to do it just for fun.

Swimming is fun for all ages. It cannot only help younger people in their fitness but can also help older people with mobility and strength.

So no matter how old you are, this is one hobby you can enjoy.

How to get involved?

There are hundreds of swimming pools and swimming clubs that are available to the public throughout the UK. To find a club check out the swimming pool finder.

 

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What is Mixed Martial Arts?

Mixed Martial Arts or MMA as it is referred to is a full contact, combat sport.

kick

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.

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Maybe try basketball?

basketballBasketball is a team game, but as a hobby it can be played on your own or with friends. It is a physical sport and helps keep the body fit and it can exercise your mind through having fun.

Although it originally is a team game, it doesn’t have to be. This is because a hobby is all about having fun, and fun can be enjoyed with others or by yourself.

How would you get involved?

  • On your own or with friends: All you need is a basketball and a hoop. The beauty of this is that it is very cheap to play the only thing you need to buy is the ball, then seek out a local court and start playing.
  • Join a club: You may want to start playing basketball in a more serious manner where not just basketball skills will be involved but also fitness programmes too. Obviously the may be joining fees and weekly/monthy fees to pay but there are basketball clubs everywhere that are looking for players so don’t be afraid to join one. You can find basketball clubs all over the UK.

At the end of the day, if your looking for a sporty hobby that keeps you fit and active basketball may be the hobby for you.

Check out the video below, no one is expecting this from you but you may find it inspiring, if not, at least entertaining.

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Can futsal help develop footballing skills?

futsalimA lot of people already play traditional football, but if you have an interest in football why not try Futsal?

It may help you develop traditional footballing skills.

When looking at the key things that make up futsal, there is a link to how these things can transfer over to traditional football.

The most important skill that can be transferred is the technical ability that futsal gives players. The fact there is only 5 players on a team means that a shorter passing style of play is implemented. Players need to be constantly moving and creating space for technical, intricate passes to be played which promotes a ‘Tiki-taka’ style of play. This is a style of play were possession of the ball is the main tactic and teams use it so their opponents get minimal chances to score. It is proven to be successful when it is used in 11-a-side football. Both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team heavily use this style of play and are hugely successful with Spain winning the last 3 major football tournament and Barcelona winning many Spanish league titles and domestic cups.

Sometimes there may not be the space to pass the ball into though and when this happens players tend to go 1 on 1 with their defenders using skills and ball control to dribble around them. This can be a huge help to attack minded players because if they are very skilful it will help when they play on a bigger pitch because they have more space to beat their man and in turn create chances for their team. Some of the greatest players in traditional football history have been highly skilful players such as Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona.

Obviously not every skill used in Futsal will help traditional football teams be successful because different rules in the sports don’t allow some things to transfer well, but the landscape of football is changing and more technically gifted teams are becoming successful and THIS is an area where Futsal can help.

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