Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) started back in the 16th century. Over the years and decades combat sports have taken various shapes and have been given names in different parts of the world. It is a modern combat practices and systems that incorporate techniques, strategies, philosophies, and cultural aspects related to combat and self-defense. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the most famous organisation for MMA in the world. MMA helps in physical fitness, coordination, flexibility, balance, speed, strength, and mental toughness.
Martial arts embody philosophical and moral qualities such as discipline, respect, humility, perseverance, and self-control. Identifying the objectives of various martial arts styles. Different fighting styles place varying degrees of emphasis on self-discipline, physical fitness, competition, and personal development.
The person should research various martial art forms and the philosophies, techniques, and training methodologies that are consistent with the desired goal as well as individual capabilities. There are around 10-15 types of MMA styles that are being practiced.
Here are the top 10 types of MMA that are practiced
10. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the dynamic fighting styles. Mitsuyo Maeda founded this style. He was a Japanese judoka who immigrated to Brazil in the early 20th century. It mainly focuses on the leveraging technique, body leverage, and positioning to overcome opponents, regardless of size or strength. BJJ includes sweeps, takedowns, joining locks, chokes, and positional control.
This style also aims to gain dominant positions on the ground with some tactics. BJJ’s method combines technical drilling and rolling to master specific techniques, transitions, and combos. Rolling sessions imitate real-world combat conditions. It has been widely popular for its effectiveness in mixed martial arts.
9. Krav Maga
Krav Maga is a self-defensive fighting style. It mainly focuses on practical techniques for real-world situations. This form was founded by Imi Lichtenfield, a Hungarian-Israeli martial artist, in the 1930s. The MMA was first designed for self-defense for the needs of Jewish communities. As they were facing anti-Semitic violence during a time of political unrest.
It focuses on quickly and effectively neutralising threats using a combination of striking, grappling, and ground combat. Krav Maga uses a variety of attacks, including punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, all aimed at an opponent’s sensitive body regions. The practice of it includes clinching to control an opponent. Scenario-based simulations are used during training to practice weapon defense against knives, sticks, and firearms.
8. Kendo
It is a swordsmanship martial art. It uses bamboo swords called shinai. The MMA was officially recognised as a Japanese martial art type in the early 20th century, with roots in the ancient Japanese arts of kenjutsu. The practice of this type of martial art is deeply connected with Japanese history, tradition, and Bushido (the way of the warrior).
This type of martial art focuses on strikes, thrusts, and defensive maneuvers with the shinai, simulating the use of a real sword. During practice, it mainly focuses on the footwork and body movement. It is done for the betterment of agility and stability in the body. They aim to showcase precise sword techniques, mental focus, physical conditioning, and the embodiment of Bushido principles.
7. Tai Chi
China invented the mixed martial art named Tai Chi, it rooted back in Taoist philosophy seeking to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. The art style was attributed to Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist monk, through the precise historical details. However, the fact is often being debated. It mainly focuses on internal energy, promoting physical health, and achieving a sense of balance in the body and mind.
The techniques of it consist of a series of slow, fluid movements (known as sequences). It is performed in a continuous and connected manner. The training methods of this type of mixed martial art are in a slow and controlled manner. It emphasises mindfulness of body movements, calm breath, and mental focus. Thus the art helps develop sensitivity and responsiveness to an opponent’s actions.
6. Kung Fu
Kung Fu is one of the most famous types of MMA. It refers to several martial arts types, including Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan. The origin of Kung Fu is highly debatable. The legends believe it is a creation of an Indian monk named Damo. He brought the fighting style to the Chinese temple of Shaolin in the 5th or 6th century AD. This type of art is highly influential due to various factors, including ancient Chinese philosophy, legends, and military combat techniques.
Also the exchange of knowledge between regions. Kung Fu promotes not only physical methods, but also philosophical concepts such as discipline, respect, self-cultivation, and the quest for balance and harmony. It helps to improve physical and mental skills by combining techniques, forms, partner drills, and conditioning exercises. In training, it includes repetition and sparring drills. This is done to apply techniques to refine timing, distance management, and defense.
5. Judo
The first time Judo originated in Japan was back in the late 19th century. Jigoro Kano is the one who incorporated this sport. Along with the elements of traditional jujutsu with other martial arts types to create a system for practical self-defense. The fighting style focuses on throws, grappling techniques, and submission holds. The sport mainly focuses on maximum efficiency with minimal effort. It utilises an opponent’s energy and momentum to execute a series of throws, pins, and submissions.
Judo techniques include throws (nage-waza), grappling (katame-waza), sweeps and reversals, and counters and combinations. The training sessions include a combination of randori sessions, with repetition of technique, practice of forms, and strength and conditioning drills. This helps in skill development and applying techniques that also foster mutual respect and sportsmanship.
4. Karate
Japan first introduced Karate, and its origins trace back to the island of Okinawa during the Ryukyu Kingdom era (14th to 19th century). It uses striking techniques using various body parts, including punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow strikes. This was previously practiced during the Ryukyu Kingdom in secret as a means of self-defense against bandits and other threats.
Now it has gained popularity and is practiced all over the world. However, it has different aspects and styles in which it is being done such as self-defense, sport, or traditional values. This helps in constant self-improvement through discipline and respect. Along with the cultivation of inner strength. The training helps in developing posture, balance, coordination, speed, power, and mental focus.
3. Kickboxing
It is one of the most modernised combat sports. This originated in the 1960s mixing the martial arts styles of boxing and karate. It has gained worldwide popularity as a competitive combat sport. The strikes combine pouches and kicks, combining striking techniques from both the upper and lower body. It also focuses on developing striking skills, physical conditioning, and self-defense techniques.
The kickboxers use various techniques, including punches, kicks, knee strikes, and depending on the fighting style, sometimes elbows. Heavy bag training and pad work are the important aspects of training. The coaches use mitts or Thai pads to train for accuracy, speed, and timing. It also allows for a practical application in a controlled but realistic environment.
2. Taekwondo
Koreans first introduced fighting styles such as Taekkyeon and Subak, which date back to 37 BC. This was the first from where Taekwondo originated. It gives importance to high and fast kicks, as well as precise hand techniques. It is a fast-paced martial arts style originating in Korea. Taekwondo began to take charge in the 1940s and 50s following the end of the Japanese occupation in Korea.
The training consists of several things. It includes self-defense methods, forms or patterns, sparring, and board-breaking techniques. The people who perform this sport use repetitive drills to perfect methods and increase flexibility by mixing sophisticated footwork, quick strikes, and blocks, resulting in an art form that combines beauty, athleticism, and usefulness.
1. Muay Thai
It traces back to Siamese warriors on the battlefield. Muay Thai is a dynamic fighting style distinguished by the skillful use of fists, elbows, knees, shins, and devastating clench techniques. It is well-known for its full-contact sparring component. However, most sparring training in Thai boxing is light. It began in Thailand because of the need for close-quarters combat and self-defense.
It is still an important element of Thai culture. This type of martial arts training focuses on improving fitness, stamina, and technique execution. The Thai boxers go through rigorous training sessions that involve pad work, heavy bag training, sparring, and conditioning drills. It helps to improve strength, speed, agility, and mental resilience.
Parents should take their children and make them learn any of these types for self-defense and to help others with problems. Have you ever tried these MMA types or any kind of combat sports? What is your best memory of MMA or UFC fights, do let us know in the comments. For more such updates on MMA follow sportsdrip.co.
