The Ultimate Fighting Championship – Martial Arts Extreme

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It’s no secret that martial arts has indeed come a long way over the years. Many years ago, Bruce Lee helped the arts become even more famous, when he developed his style of Jeet Kune Do. He participated in several movies, showing the world his speed and finesse. Since then, movies have been a popular way to showcase martial arts skills.

Back in the early 1990s, something known as the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) came along to take things one step further. Even though there have been other competitions similar to the UFC, none of them had the flair and the dedication as UFC did. When it first began, the UFC paired different styles and different weight classes.martial arts

The result were exciting fights with varying results. The first ever champion was a man from Brazil named Royce Gracie. Gracie was the first to introduce Brazilian Jui-Jitsu in this way, opening up the eyes of everyone who witness him fight. After the first UFC tournament, Brazilian Jui-Jitsu was instantly viewed as the best martial art. Royce weighed under 200 pounds, and he was completely dominating people nearly 3 times his size.

Gracie would go on to win UFC 2 and 4 as well. He was the most dominating in the sport, and opened the eyes of everyone across the world. In UFC 3, he didn’t lose, although he ran into a very tough fighter who nearly beat him. Gracie came back in UFC 5 for a superfight match up with Ken Shamrock, which would go the distance and end in a draw.

Other fighters have done exceptionally well in the UFC, although none of them had the impact as Royce Gracie. Fighters like Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Oleg Taktarov, Matt Hughes, and Matt Sylivia have also done very well. Matt Hughes is also regarded as one of the best, as he fights in the Welterweight class and is considered pound for pound to be the best fighter in the world.

In the world of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), the UFC has made a big impact. In the beginning, there were no rules and no judges, just one on one fights until someone either tapped out, got knocked out, or the ref through in the towel. Fighters also fought in a tournament style as well, which took 3 fights to win the championship.

Over the years, there were several changes. The UFC would start with judges after a few years, along with eliminating the tournaments. The fights would eventually go to one on one, which was great for the fans. Although the fights didn’t have time limits in the beginning, they do now. The non title fights are three 5 minute rounds, while the title fights are five 5 minute rounds.

If a fight goes to the judges, the judges decide the winner. There are three judges, which normally change with each different UFC. Judges are there do determine the winner if there is no knockout or submission, while the ref is there to protect the fighters. The referee can stop a fight as well, if a fighter is unable to defend themselves.

With all the changes in the rules of the UFC, it’s only a matter of time before the UFC gains a lot more popularity. It is more popular today than it ever has been, which tells you that martial arts have come a long way. Martial arts is very popular these days, with competitions such as the UFC being one of the most popular sports in the world.

Choosing The Best Martial Arts Style

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For anyone who wants to learn martial arts, there is a lot to know in regards to the many different styles. Of course there is the question of finding the best martial art, which is a question a lot of people ask With so many martial arts styles to choose from, it can be very complicated to pick one to learn.

No matter you may hear or what others have to say, it is quite impossible to name one style of martial arts as the ultimate best. Actually, there are several factors that come into play, which makes a statement about a style being the best impossible. Even though one style may beat another in a competition or a fight, doesn’t always mean that the winning style is the best.martial arts

Before deciding to rush out there and learn a martial art, there are several things that you should decide first. Martial arts are great to learn, no matter which style you decide on. A martial art can teach you self discipline, self defense, and several other traits that will help you no matter where you decide to go in life.

Self defense

All over the world, there are several martial arts schools and dojo’s that emphasize self defense a lot more than others. Schools that focus on kata, forms, or light sparring are less than likely to teach you what you need to protect yourself on the street. If you are looking for street self defense, then you’ll want a style that trains hard and doesn’t let up.

Fitness

Even though martial arts can improve your fitness level, it isn’t the goal behind a lot of the martial arts styles. Several styles, such as Tae Bo, are based purely on martial arts and doesn’t include a lot of physical fitness training. If you are looking for fitness as your main goal, then you should be looking into something other than martial arts.

Fighting ability

This will vary among the many different martial arts styles. Self defense schools will most often take advantage of fighting skills, teaching you everything you need to survive. Most martial arts styles are slow in theory, teaching you kata, movements, and forms. Self defense schools on the other hand, teach you how to inflict the most amounts of damage in the least amount of time.

Competition

Competition based martial arts are all about winning trophies and showing the world your style of martial arts. The competition that you have chosen, will greatly impact your style of martial arts. You’ll need to decide if you will be fighting or showcasing display kata, light or heavy contact, or focusing on grappling or striking.

Before you decide on a martial arts style, you should always research the schools and dojo’s in your area and see what all they offer you. The best schools will allow you to participate in a few free classes, or offer you discounts on your first few months. They will answer any questions that you have, and work with you to help you learn as much as you can.

Martial arts can be a very fun and exciting learning experience. There are hundreds of different martial arts styles out there, although you may be limited in choice, depending on what all is offered in your area. Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu and some of the most common types of martial arts, and normally offered just about everywhere. The more distinct styles, such as Kung Fu, Shootfighting, Kenpo, and Shaolin styles are a bit hard to harder to find.

If you do your homework on some of the styles that are offered in your area, you’ll find one that best fits your reasons to study. Martial arts can change your outlook on life – all you have to do it devote yourself to learning all you can about the philosophy of your martial art.

 

Martial Arts For Children

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These days, martial arts are something that everyone should know. With crime at an all time high, knowing how to defend yourself is essential. For the children, martial arts can mean a lot of things. Even though martial arts is great for adults to know and practice as well, it is also a great way for children to stay in shape and learn how to defend themselves from attackers.

Although martial arts can teach children how to defend themselves, it will also teach them self control and self confidence as well. If your child has a bad temper or low self esteem, learning a martial art can actually help them to get back on the right path. Martial arts will help children with life in general – which will take them a lot farther in life.martial arts

The first thing you will need to do when getting your child involved in martial arts is pick a style that they will enjoy. With several different styles to choose from, it can be a very difficult choice to make. Among the most popular for children are Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu. When making the decision, you should go by what your child has interests in, such as punching and kicking, or ground grappling and submission.

Once you have a style in mind, you’ll need to start checking out the local martial arts centers and dojo’s. If you live in a big city, you’ll have a lot more to choose from than those who live in smaller areas or rural towns. Those who live in smaller towns or rural areas may be very limited on the choices available for themselves and their children.

Rural and smaller towns are limited in choice, although what they offer is normally among the best styles of martial arts. The instructors are black belts and above, with the highest ranked students helping them instruct classes. If the classes are small in attendance, the instructors and student teachers can spend a lot of hands on time with the kids to help them improve in their weakest areas.

When you decide to enroll your child in martial arts, you should always check out the dojo or classes first. You don’t want your child to be in a class that isn’t goal focused, nor do you want them to have a teacher who doesn’t know what he is teaching. The environment is also important, as you want to be sure that the dojo and equipment are clean, and that everything is up to the latest and greatest standards.

Even though a martial art may be beneficial to your child, it won’t do them any good unless the facilities and the instructors are good. You want to make sure you get the best available to you, which is why it always pays to look around. If you look at all of your available choices, you’ll normally be able to find the best for both you and your child.

When it comes to children and their future, martial arts is a great way for them to start. Martial arts can help them improve in many different areas, not just self defense. A martial art can help a child develop a lot of essential areas, including self control and responsibility. The longer a child studies a martial art, the more goal oriented and responsible they will become. Martial arts are a great investment for parents and children – which is why they are so very popular.

The Techniques Of Muay Thai

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A majority of the offensive techniques that are used in Muay Thai utilize a students hands, feet, elbows, and knees to strike an opponent. In order to bind the opponent for both defensive and offensive reasons, there is a small amount of grappling on the feet that is used – the clinch.

The clinch occurs when someone gets in your circle of radius, inside of your comfort zone. To execute knees and short kicks from the inside, the clinch can be very useful. The Thai fighter makes great use of the clinch, tying up on opponent on the feet then pounding his stomach, ribs, knees, and legs with brutal knees. Knees are very popular techniques with Muay Thai, as Thai fighters spend a lot of time training their strikes – especially knees and elbows.Muay Thai

Although high kicks to the opponents head looks amazing during the fights, experienced Thai fighters always say that knees and elbows have a lot more impact, and they do the most damage to the body. If a Thai fighter is very experienced and has enough power in his strikes, he can quickly and easily kill someone with his techniques.

In all Muay Thai techniques, two in particular have become very popular with other styles of martial arts.

The roundhouse kick

The roundhouse Thai kick is a very useful technique for both self defense and competitions, proving to be very efficient when it is executed properly. Thai stylists execute the roundhouse kick by a straight leg and the entire body rotating out from the hip. The hip is locked shortly before the thrown leg makes impact with the opponent. If executed properly, the roundhouse kick can easily render someone unconscious.

The low kick

The low kick is a common Muay Thai attack, that involves a circular movement from the stylist’s body to kick the opponent in his upper shin area. If the low kick isn’t blocked or defended, it can quickly lead to fight being ended. After a few well placed low kicks, the opponent will be unable to put pressure on his legs due to the bruising, and will eventually crumble.

With other martial arts styles, such as Tae Kwon Do, stylists use snapping kicks that are indeed faster to execute, although they have less power. Muay Thai on the other hand, teaches stylists to follow through with kicks, using the shin instead of the foot. Nearly all of the techniques involved with Muay Thai emphasis movement with the entire body, which means rotating the hip each time the stylist kicks, punches, or blocks. The techniques are slower, although they are far more powerful that techniques found in Tae Kwon Do and even Karate.

As a lot of people already know, the training and conditioning training found in Muay Thai is nothing short of legendary for the intensity and rigorous training. The training in Muay Thai aims to harden the weapons used in the martial art to a high degree. Students who have been training in Muay Thai for many years can absorb a beating, yet if they land a shin kick it will feel as if you have just been hit with a sledgehammer.

All in all, Muay Thai is a very dangerous martial art that teaches punishing blows with very little grappling. Thai stylists are physical strong, capable of taking an opponent out with just one well placed strike. Muay Thai is also one of the most well known and most popular styles in the world today – which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to study.

Why Do You Want To Learn Mixed Martial Arts

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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.

 

 

 

Mixed Martial Arts through the Web

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Many people have discovered various uses for the web. You can use it for research, buy and sell merchandise or simply advertise your products and services to the audience. If you are a mixed martial artist and want to get in the game, this tool can help jump-start your fighting career.

This is made possible because of websites that enable you to gain free exposure. Some of these are designed by the fighter themselves so they know what they are talking about when they are giving free advice on how to start or improve your martial arts career in the form of blogs and videos. If you don’t have a manager yet, the website can recommend someone.

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Aside from starting your mixed martial arts career, these websites post ads so those who need a training partner may be able to find one and help them prepare for an upcoming competition. If you are a little short on cash, mixed martial arts websites can help you find sponsors. This is updated daily so if you don’t see anything in your area, it is possible for you to do so tomorrow.

One person who made it big using these websites is Chuck Liddell who worked his way to the top and defeated Quinton Jackson in Pride, an organization similar to the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship. If it wasn’t for the information available there, nobody would still now him.

Most of these sites encourage mixed martial arts and fans to sign up and become a member. This will allow you to post questions and comments if you don’t agree with what other members are saying.

The other benefits of becoming a member allows fighters will be able to form a network, mixed martial arts event organizers may hire officials and ring card girls to be present during an event and fans will be able to watch professional and amateur competitions.

Websites that focus on mixed martial arts are there and all you have to do is find it. How many are there? There is no actual figure but with more people becoming interested in the sport, you will probably find a few out there that are worth visiting over and over again.

You can simply start by typing in a few keywords like the names of mixed martial artists or the word mixed martial arts itself so you can see them appear on your computer screen in a matter of seconds.

The challenging part is looking through each one so you will know which of these sites are relevant or not. Once you find something you like, bookmark the page so you can easily visit it with a click of the mouse. Spread the word around by forwarding the site to your friends so they too will be able to enjoy it.

For the fans, the journey ends there. But if you are a fighter, the information is simply a guide. You have to win a few matches first so people will know who you are.

One website which you can check out is MMARecruiter.com. You will be able to find here almost everything that was mentioned earlier. Once you have visited it, look at the others because they may have something else to offer especially if you are a die hard fan of this full contact sport.

 

 

 

Mixed Martial Arts Training Gym

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With mixed martial arts gaining a lot of popularity, it didn’t take long before mixed martial arts training gyms have sprouted around.

People may join to simply increase their fitness levels or train themselves to also participate in mixed martial arts competitions.

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Since mixed martial arts are a combination of various fighting techniques, the trainers there will teach you the various disciplines. These may include kick boxing, boxing, judo, jujitsu and wrestling.

Members will be able to practice in a MMA octagon, utilize weights and cardio equipment as well as heavy and speed backs.

Mixed martial arts gym offer different packages to choose from. For instance, you can sign up for the gym membership which allows you to use the facilities but you will not be able to join any of the classes. But if you pay a little more, this will entitle you to join the classes.

The class schedule is usually posted in the bulletin board. There is also a copy which you can bring home. While browsing around the web for a gym, you can also look at it since this is also featured in their website so you this into your schedule. If you are busy at work during the weekdays, don’t worry because you can make up for it since many of them have classes on weekends.

Rates are usually billed on a monthly basis with no time obligation. This means you can cancel your membership any time you like or even freeze it for a short period of time if you will be out of town.

If you don’t want to attend a class, see if there are private lessons being offered. This usually last a hour long and if you paid in advance for 10 sessions, you could get a discount.

But how will you know if this is a good martial arts training gym? For that, you will have to do some research by asking those who are currently the members there or go online since there are websites that review such facilities. The important thing to consider is the ability of the trainer to help you reach your desired fitness level.

You will then set an appointment for a free introductory class so you can get a feel of what it is like to workout in a mixed martial arts training gym. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask because part of the job of the trainer is to answer any issues you may have.

If you are still having a hard time looking for a mixed martial arts gym, why don’t you go to a local MMA event and ask to fans and fighters themselves so you will know where they train. You can also ask people at work if any of them are members.

Watching a mixed martial arts competition on television could also help because some gyms are major sponsors. All you have to do is check if there is branch that is in your neighborhood.

You will be more self-confident about yourself when you decide to enroll in a mixed martial arts training gym because what they teach you will be very useful if someone tries to mug you. This is also the first step that everyone has to take if they also want to compete in this sport.

 

 

Mixed Martial Arts Training Products

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Practice makes perfect and the only way you can do that is to train constantly. Although the weapon in mixed martial arts is your body, the only way to practice your technique properly is by using the proper training products that are available in the market.

During practice and in the ring, you need to use a prime-time level glove that is sanctioned for use in amateur events. This is available in both open and closed palm designs which offers the right amount of protection to your arms and at the same time does not restrict you ability to grab your opponent.

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The heavy bag is another thing you need for training. It is heavy and weights about 100 pounds and is a full 6 feet in height. This will allow you to do a full range of strikes which is a very good cardio workout.

To practice your punches and agility, you will need a curved focus mitt. This is worn by your trainer and you get to punch it while at times, you have to dodge when your trainer decides to hit you.

Mixed martial arts fighters wear shorts or pants during practice and in the ring. You just have to make sure that this is approved for use before you use it.

You could lose more than a tooth when you are punched in the face. You could get a concussion or even a broken jaw which is why you also need to put on a mouth guard at all times. Studies have shown that this will also make you less vulnerable of getting a knockout but despite that, this still happens when you don’t have any energy left in the ring.

Although there are rules in mixed martial arts competitions that prohibit the opponent or you from hitting the groin or any other vital area, this still happens. Fortunately, you can protect that from happening by wearing pads.

Last but not the least is the helmet. If the mouth guard protects your jaws and teeth, the helmet will protect your head and face. You have to remember that some boxers have died because of a significant blow to the head and this can also happen during a mixed martial arts competition. The ideal helmet should have different openings for better cooling and ventilation when you are in the heat of combat. This should also protect your ears, eyes and forehead in the event of a frontal strike.

For people who want to study how other mixed martial artists do it, you can also buy videos and then watch this at your own convenience. There are many around and if you want to buy it, try downloading this from the web. The best part is that it is free.

The price range for each of the mixed martial arts training products varies and they could reach more than $100 a piece. While some gyms already have some of these items, you have to buy those which you will use personally. After all, will you let someone borrow your shorts, helmet or mouth guard?

You can buy mixed martial arts training equipment in your favorite sporting goods store or online. These come in different sizes and colors so you won’t have a problem finding one that suits your taste.

 

Mixed Martial Arts is Growing

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Mixed martial arts is growing in popularity ever since rules were implemented for the safety of those in the ring and you can now watch it on television. It captures an audience both young and old since what happens either in the cage or ring is not scripted unlike wrestling.

There are two main styles of MMA. These are sport and street. In sport, two unarmed competitors fight it out using the same or different martial art discipline. Here, you can’t bite, insert fingers to any bodily crevices, attack the groin and eye gouging. In street, you are allowed to use a weapon of your choice but the first is more popular that the other.

mixed martial arts

Just to prove how popular mixed martial arts is, various organizations have been formed since the Ultimate Fighting Championships was established in 1993. There is PRIDE, International Fighting Championships and Elite XC.

You can watch UFC fights on pay per view which is featured in Spike TV. Elite XC airs their events after striking a deal with CBS entitled “Saturday Night Fights.”

Aside from its popularity on television, there is an increase in the sale of mixed martial arts merchandise especially in the form of videos which fans can take home. There are also websites which feature upcoming competitions, blogs, forums and everything else related to this sport.

Some fans who have become engrossed in this sport have signed up in gyms that offer this in their classes. This can be done just to work up a sweat instead of lifting weights or running on the treadmill. Those who are serious train hard so they will be able to join a competition and win.

But did this craze really start 15 years ago? The answer is no because mixed martial arts was known by a different name more than 2,000 years ago when this was first introduced by the Greeks during their Olympic Games and that time, this was known as Pankration.

There is no doubt that mixed martial arts as a sport is growing. You can see this in the number of fans who watch it, the sales revenue which happens to be much higher than that of boxing and wrestling, the establishment of academies and gyms as well as the founding of organizations both local and abroad.

There was even a move to make this an Olympic sport in 2004 when the games were held in Greece but this was not added since there were concerns that this venue will not be able to host a list of other new sports.

Four years later, the recently concluded Beijing Olympics did not also have mixed martial arts as one of the new sports. Despite that, there are still fighters willing to make a name for themselves using the other organizations since these events are shown all over the world with millions watching even if the International Olympic Committee has not yet approved it.

Senator McCain once referred to mixed martial arts as “human cockfighting” because according to him, this was too violent. That may be the case but with no fatalities yet compared to boxing which averages 11 a year, this will continue to be part of American society today and it is not going to go away anytime in the foreseeable future.

 

 

Is Learning Mixed Martial Arts Good For Your Child

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Getting your children in extra curricular activities helps them become a well-rounded individual. Aside from basketball or boxing, another sport you can try is mixed martial arts.

What is mixed martial arts? It is a combination of various martial arts techniques which include karate, jujitsu, judo, tae kwon do and a few others. Since each one takes time to learn, your child will have to learn the basics of one before moving on to the rest.

martial arts

But why mixed martial arts? This is because the activity boosts not only your child’s physical health but also mental as well. Although intense, they get to sweat which reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and even obesity.

Bigger kids will think twice about bullying them since they know how to defend themselves when they are threatened. They will also become more self confident and be more assertive after completing a few sessions.

Will training in mixed martial arts make your child violent? The answer is no because most studies have shown that those who start fights in school are usually the ones who have no discipline, no training and no self esteem. This is their way of seeking attention even if there are other ways to get it.

Studies have shown learning mixed martial arts has a profound impact for children who are suffering from ADD and ADHD because it helps them stay focus on a task after doing something repeatedly which in the long term will help them later on in life as this helps them control the symptoms of these two disorders.

Before enrolling your child in a mixed martial arts program, do some research by checking the various gyms or dojo’s that offer this to children.

You may be surprised to know that there is a class called Krav Maga which is an Israeli developed combat system which teaches you to escape from an attacker and then fleeing so you can get help which has helped saved lives.

In any case, you should also watch a few classes and also speak with the instructors. If you are satisfied with how they answered your questions, bring your child over because many will let your child join an introductory class at no extra charge.

If you child likes it, then it is time to sign up. Be aware that some gyms will charge you for the next 6 months. Since your child may like it right now and change their mind in the future, see if you can pay for this on a monthly basis.

But not every child may like mixed martial arts as a recreational activity. If this is the case, try to find something else that they are into so you are able to find something that is good for their overall emotional psychological and physical well being.

Mixed martial arts just like any other sport can help in your child’s development. They will become more responsible, more mature and less likely to engage in violence so they grow up and become decent members of society. So give it a shot and see if he or she likes it. They don’t have to compete if they don’t want to but if they like to give it a try later on, just support them.