MMA: Mixed Martial Arts or Not?

None of these are used in mixed martial arts training. It really should not be called a “mixed” martial art as much as it should be called a cage fighting art.

You will also notice that a belt system is not of any importance nor is the uniform, which is a large part of the tradition in the martial arts. Instead, people are beginning to wear shorts that are closer to what you might see on the beach as opposed to what you would find in a martial arts training center.  There are many other elements that you also will not see in MMA, such as:

• Forms or drills typical to martial arts.
• Stances based on the animals or a history of training.
• Advanced and dynamic kicking.

Most of what you won’t find is deleted because MMA is focused on the sport of fighting inside a ring. Boxing makes sense and is easy to grasp without a poorly chosen set of words. But the mental and physical concepts that come with the martial arts are not the same benefits as those you would find in ego driven, sport based activities.

A mixed martial art should (by definition) be a combination of various martial arts and stay true to the nature of the martial arts. Instead, MMA is giving off an image of a thug, or tattooed brute that would do well in a bar fight.

It is true that MMA does combine punching and kicking – we call that kickboxing. The only truly element that was added was the ground fighting and then it was spiced up with a soft matt to fall on and wrapped up with a fence (called a cage). Not exactly what one would consider to be a combination of martial arts. What is the mix? It is punching, kicking and ground fighting in a fenced off area on top of a matt for the purpose of sport.

A true mixed martial art would include all the key elements that make up the martial arts and would include rolls and falls, specialized strikes and kicks, self-defense tactics that are used on the street and not limited to the cage - which is focused purely on the sport.

Although cage fighting and mixed martial arts events are fun to watch, they are really just advanced kick-boxing and the most interesting variable would be the ground grappling component. It is realistic for the ring, but if you put the same people over concrete, they wouldn’t be so keen to lay on the ground spinning on their knees and elbows.

Part of being an ART is about practicing something that is not primarily used to defeat your opponent as much as it is used to overcome the enemies within ourselves.

Photo Credits: fightlaunch

Originally posted 2010-04-05 03:00:42.

Just want to kick and punch?

So how exactly do you know which martial arts discipline is for you, and how can you make sure that once you've made a decision, you've made the right one? Here are some quick tips for choosing the right discipline to match your personality.

• For some, they just want to learn how to kick and punch.

The more "traditional" Eastern martial arts fall under this category: Karate, Kung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do. In these arts, you won't learn how to wrestle, but you will learn how to use your mind to create more self-discipline and belief: breaking boards with your foot or your hand help you realize that you're stronger than you initially thought.

If you're a tumbler who simply wants to be able to defend himself in real-life situations, these might not be for you. But if you want to realize a lot of side-benefits from a martial art, you might consider one of these.

• Mixed martial arts promote fitness and improvisational skills.

Today's most popular types of martial arts, MMA or mixed martial arts, are the kind of fighting you'll see on a UFC Pay-Per-View event. MMA includes both grappling or wrestling along with standing up and striking, allowing you a balance of different types of martial arts. These can help you to build confidence.

• If you need a workout, focus on the upper body.

For many people, working the legs is easy - biking, walking, swimming, running. But the upper body's a little trickier. A martial art more focused on punching, like boxing, might be more up your alley. If you want to build some solid upper body fitness, you might want to consider boxing. Again, you won't necessarily learn how to defend yourself effectively, but you will be able to get in some great workouts.

Which martial art is right for you? Only you can know. Try taking a few trial classes to see which one seems to fit your personality.

Photo Credits: The She-Creature

Originally posted 2009-07-28 05:00:54.