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Mixed Martial Arts

What is Mixed Martial Arts?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to be used in competition. The rules allow the usage of both striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Competitions typically take place in a ring or a cage, and the sport incorporates elements from disciplines such as:

  • Boxing
  • Muay Thai
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  • Wrestling
  • Judo
  • Karate
  • Taekwondo

MMA has gained significant popularity worldwide, with organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) leading the way in promoting professional MMA events. The sport is known for its diverse and dynamic nature, requiring athletes to be proficient in multiple martial arts disciplines to succeed.

Related Article: MMA: The Power and Passion of Mixed Martial Arts

I have an ability to ignore all of the information coming from my body, even pain in general. I dissociate from pain, because I am not the pain that I'm feeling. That's not me. That's not who I am. I refuse to allow pain to dictate my decision making. Pain is just one piece of information that I'm receiving. My nerves are communicating to my brain that there is something going on physically that I should be aware of. I can choose to acknowledge that information or I can choose to ignore it.
Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey

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Other Glossary terms

Mixed Martial Arts
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The wakizashi is a traditional Japanese short sword that is often paired with the katana, forming a daishō (literally "big-little"), which is the symbol of the samurai's status and honor.
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Sport Sambo is a style of Sambo that focuses on grappling techniques, including throws, joint locks, and pins, similar to judo and wrestling.
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Jin Ji Du Li (金鸡独立), also known as the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, is a traditional stance used in various Chinese martial arts.
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Nangun (南棍), also known as the Southern Staff, is a traditional Chinese martial art that focuses on the use of the nan gun (南棍), a type of staff associated with the southern styles of Chinese martial arts.
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A rule in early Pancrase and shoot-style MMA where a fighter caught in a submission could break the hold by grabbing the ropes, at the cost of a point.
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Lohan Hands, also known as "Luohan Hands" or "Arhat Hands," is a term associated with a set of exercises or forms in traditional Chinese martial arts and Qigong, particularly within the Shaolin tradition.
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a premier organization in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
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Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to be used in competition.
M
In sumo wrestling, a "basho" refers to a professional sumo tournament.
B
Yang Style is one of the most popular and widely practiced styles of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), a traditional Chinese martial art known for its slow, flowing movements and emphasis on relaxation and balance.
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Resistance bands are flexible, elastic bands used for strength training and physical therapy.
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Simple Reaction Time (SRT) is the measure of the time it takes for an individual to respond to a single stimulus.
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Baguazhang, also known as "Eight Trigram Palm," is a traditional Chinese martial art that is part of the internal styles (neijia) of Chinese martial arts, which also includes Tai Chi and Xing Yi.
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Nage-Waza is a term in Judo that refers to throwing techniques.
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Yoga mats are specialized mats designed to provide a stable, non-slip surface for practicing yoga and other floor-based exercises.
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