Mixed Martial Arts Styles And Techniques
By Chris Chew

There are several fighting styles and disciplines in the sport
of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay
Thai Kickboxing, Karate and Wrestling just to name a few. It is
very common for the fighters of MMA to train with different
coaches because of the different techniques and disciplines used
in the ring by various fighters.

The fighters are not trained only in the style of fighting but
overall fitness including training for stamina and endurance,
strength and power and body conditioning to take the punishments
dished out by opponents fight matches. Some of these fighting
techniques are described herebelow.

The Clinch is actually a dreadful lock or hold on the neck of
the opponent to keep him from moving out of striking range. This
move can also be used while trying a takedown and striking the
opponent using punches, elbow strikes and knees to the
opponent's body. The clinch is more commonly used by wrestlers
and muay thai kick boxers to immobilize their opponents while
executing other punishing moves or strikes.

Sprawl and brawl is a fighter's aim to avoid takedowns and to
remain in a standing position to strike his opponent. He tries
to avoid takedowns by sprawling and other defensive grappling
moves.

The sprawl is used when a fighter shoots a takedown aimed at
the sprawl and brawl fighter's legs. The sprawl and brawl
fighter shoots his legs back and positions himself on top of his
opponent's body to avoid the takedown. This move is often used
by muay thai boxers, karate exponents and wrestlers.

Submission grappling is usually used by fighters to takedown or
to grapple his opponent into a submission hold and forces the
opponent to submit, usually in severe pain. While there are
fighters, especially the heavier ones who use this grappling
technique to overwhelm their opponents, others will use other
techniques that are equally or even more devastating.

While fighters such as karate exponents may use more straight
punches and kicks at their opponent rather than grappling and
takedowns, muay thai fighters are usually more feared because
they are skilled to use all parts of their bodies to strike
their opponents no holds barred. This sometimes even includes
the head as in a head butt.

Fighters trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are also very much
respected. This is a martial art, combat sport and a self
defense system that focuses on grappling and especially on the
ground fighting. This is why when fighters meet an opponent who
is well skilled in jiu jitsu, they will have to avoid getting
grappled and taken down to the ring mat where a exponent's lock
is excruciatingly painful and almost impossible to break.

This art was actually of Japanese origin and it promotes the
principle that a weaker and smaller exponent can defend himself
well and even attack successfully against a bigger, stronger
opponent by using the science of leverage and other techniques
such as joint locks and chokeholds.

So as you can see, a successful Mixed Martial Arts competitor
must not only be trained in his own style of fighting
techniques, but must also learn how to strike and defend against
other styles and disciplines of the martial arts world and that
is a tall order indeed.

About the Author: Chris Chew is a fitness and health
consultant. Read his free articles at
http://www.sgfitnessonline.com and http://www.sgfitness.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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