Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts
What is mixed martial arts? It is a combination of fighting techniques and a full contact sport that is gaining popularity. There are a variety moves that are allowed in mixed martial arts that aren’t allowed in other sports. For instance in boxing you are not allowed to hold the way you are allowed in MMA. Or in wrestling you are not allowed to kick. Jiu-Jitsu is one form of fighting incorporated into the MMA fighting techniques. Jui-Jitsu is all about using the attackers movements against him.
The guillotine choke can be applied in a standing position or from the ground. It can be a blood choke or air choke. A blood choke is where the blood is stopped from pumping from pressure applied to the artery in the neck. The air choke is where the air is stopped from being brought into the lungs. The rear naked choke cuts off blood flow to the brain. The rear naked choke is preformed from behind the opponent. The triangle choke is basically when you get the opponent by the neck with your legs.
Arm locks are done in a smooth and controlled movement. What you are doing is getting the joints to a position that they can longer move causing a submission by the opponent. Leg locks are the same as the arm locks except performed on the legs. Trapping is a technique used to cause an opponent to quit the match. Trapping is where you get your opponent into a position where they will not be able to escape.
The mixed martial arts is the use of many martial arts skills and techniques. Grappling, chokes, and locks are all used to get the opponent out. Jiujitsu being one. Mu-ay-Thai being another. Boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling are other fighting sports that are used in mixed martial arts.
Mixed Martial Arts Gloves – Which Type Should I Use?
Mixed martial arts (MMA) have come a long way since the early days of essentially no-holds-barred, no-time-limit bouts, which were too brutal to become mainstream. Nowadays, there are rules and time limits. The matches are often televised and MMA has become popular, especially under the UFC banner.
If you train in mixed martial arts, there are three types of MMA gloves available. The type you get will depend on what you are training on at the time, so if you are serious about the sport, you’ll need to get a pair of each. The three types of MMA gloves are bag training gloves, sparring gloves and fight gloves. They each have their own particular uses.
Bag Gloves
Like western boxing gloves, the bag training gloves for MMA are heavily padded to protect the hands. Unlike their western counterparts though, the padding is denser, and there may be an in-built grip-bar. Most types of MMA bag gloves also feature sturdy wrist protection so you don’t get hurt hitting the heavy bag. It is important to remember that, although they look like normal boxing gloves, they should never be used for sparring with a partner; because the padding is denser, it is easier to cause injury to your opponent. For two-person sparring, you will need the next type.
Sparring Gloves
For the reasons alluded to above, MMA sparring gloves have much more padding than the bag gloves, and the padding is softer, in order to protect both partners during training. These gloves have less in common with western boxing gloves as they are usually open-palm, with elasticated straps that the fingers go through. Often they are fingerless, and the fingers attach to the gloves via small loops. Sparring gloves are usually fairly heavy because of the extra padding, and would not be allowed for use in competition.
Fight Gloves
MMA fight gloves – sometimes called competition gloves – are very lightweight (4oz). They can be thought of like sparring gloves, but without the padding. They do offer some minimal protection, and it is expected that hand wraps are worn in competition bouts. Like the sparring gloves, fight gloves are fingerless to allow for grappling moves. These gloves should only be used for competition, and for light partner training to practise technique rather than power; otherwise unnecessary injuries will occur.
So like an expert in any walk of life, if you choose mixed martial arts, always make sure you use the right tools for the job.