What is mixed martial arts and who should try it

What is mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a popular form of martial arts that is characterized by great freedom of action during combat.

In duels, punches and kicks, work in close contact with knees and elbows are allowed. You can also transfer the opponent to the ground: knock down to the ground with the help of sweeps, throws, grabs by the legs or in any other way, and then strike, apply painful and chokeholds, forcing him to surrender.

Mixed martial arts include elements from many martial arts: Thai boxing, taekwondo, sambo, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and others.

The rules prohibit only mean and unsportsmanlike methods such as attacks in the eyes and throat, blows to the groin, to the back of the head and spine, pain holds on the fingers, bites, holding by the hair and kicking on the head of a recumbent opponent.

Due to the variety of attack and defense techniques, mixed martial arts are universal and can be useful both in sports fights and in dangerous ones. life circumstances.

The philosophy of MMA is to create a martial art that will allow a person to operate effectively in any combat situation. It doesn't matter if it's in the ring or on the battlefield.

Thanks to its spectacle, mixed martial arts has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. For example, in 1993 around the world was heldJ. C. A. Bueno, H. Faro, S. Lenetsky. Exploratory Systematic Review of Mixed Martial Arts: An Overview of Performance of Importance Factors with over 20,000 Athletes / Sports only 72 fights in the style of MMA, and in 2019 - already 19,877.

Probably the best known organization in this area is UFC is a sports brand that organizes tournaments around the world, as well as broadcasting them on TV.

Moreover, since 2012 mixed martial arts areOrder of the Ministry of Sports of Russia dated 01.10.2019 No. 788 "On approval of the rules of the sport" mixed martial arts (MMA) "" official sport in Russia. This means that in many cities there are MMA federations and qualified coaches, and athletes participateAbout the union / Union of mixed martial arts MMA of Russia in domestic and international tournaments.

Why You Should Try Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts can be useful for more than just self-defense. Classes provide good physical activity, bring up useful qualities of character, teach discipline and harmoniously develop the body.

MMA training will help pumpJ. C. A. Bueno, H. Faro, S. Lenetsky. Exploratory Systematic Review of Mixed Martial Arts: An Overview of Performance of Importance Factors with over 20,000 Athletes / Sports the following aspects of physical training:

• Coordination, speed and accuracy of movements. A variety of techniques, including strikes, throws, sweeps, wrestling elements, develops coordination and a sense of balance, as well as reaction. All this is useful in any other sport and in everyday life. For example, it will reduce the risk of falls and injuries by negligence.
• Aerobic and anaerobic endurance. During the fight, the athlete has to show high-intensity activity for 3 to 5 minutes - give all the best, without suffocating and without stopping. Training helps develop the ability to work at an average pace for a long time. They also pump the ability to use the maximum resources in a short period of time.
• Muscle strength and power. In addition to working out the technique of techniques, classes include general physical training exercises: push-ups, pull-ups, complexes on uneven bars. Fighters regularly train all muscle groups, including both the upper and lower body. Moreover, MMA training is often supplemented by strength exercises with a barbell and on simulators, and also elements for developing power: jumps, sprints, series of fast and sharp movements with weighting.
• Flexibility. Stretching is an essential part of every workout. Thanks to static exercises and dynamic work, you will receive not only strongbut also a flexible body.

In addition, mixed martial arts help develop hard work and responsibility, perseverance. in achieving goals and willpower, as well as gain confidence in yourself and your ability to cope with difficulties.

Who should try mixed martial arts

As a rule, children from 9–10 years old are recruited into MMA groups. It is at this age that the child already controls himself well, can maintain discipline and clearly follow instructions. trainer.

At the same time, age is not a limitation for classes. You can come into mixed martial arts and teenager, and an adult, having experience in other martial arts or no physical training at all.

Who Shouldn't Try Mixed Martial Arts

Since mixed martial arts is a rather intense and contact sport, classes are contraindicated. those who have diseases of the cardiovascular system, large excess weight, joint injuries or spine.

It is also worth consulting a doctor if you have vision problems: missing a blow to the head can make them worse.

In any case, before visiting the section, go to the therapist and if there are any health problems get an examination.

What you need to try mixed martial arts

First of all, you need to find a section in your city. After receiving a certificate that you can study, sign up for a class. You can only bring a t-shirt and shorts for the first training session. Shoes are not needed - barefoot is practiced here.

In the future, you will need some personal equipment:

• gloves for work on projectiles;
• bandages for winding on hands;
• leg pads;
• helmet (for people under 18);
• mouth guard;
• protection chest (for girls) or groin (for guys).

It is also worth taking a bottle of water and slippers to walk from the locker room to the class.

How will the workout go?

Valeria Tepysheva says that the training lasts about two hours and includes three or four stages.

First there is a warm-up: running and general. Both parts are designed to warm up the body well and reduce the risk of injury in the main session.

Next comes the main part. This may be practicing wrestling in a standing or ground position, training in striking techniques, exercises in pairs, sparring, or more. After that, independent revision is expected, for example, repetition of elements that were not obtained during the lesson. Or performing an auxiliary complex: push-ups from the floor and on uneven bars, pull-ups and other movements.

At the end, time is definitely given to a hitch, which consists of stretching exercises.

How traumatic is mixed martial arts?

MMA is often described as a particularly violent sport. However, as notedS. H. Bishop. Mixed Martial Arts: A Comprehensive Review / Journal of Sport and Human Performance in one scientific paper, this opinion relies more on emotion than actual evidence.

Some studies claim that mixed martial arts fights are less likely to end in a concussion than boxing fights, others say the opposite. In one experimentJ. D. Fields, D. b. McKeag, J. L. Turner. Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Rupture in a Mixed Martial Arts Competition / Current Sports Medicine Reports considered that MMA causes more injuries than taekwondo, but less than professional boxing, kickboxing and karate.

Most frequent damageG. H. Bledsoe, E. b. Hsu, J. G. Grabowski. Incidence of injury in professional mixed martial arts competitions / Journal of sports science and medicine in this sport - cuts on the face and hand fractures. There are also injuries to the nose and eyes, ear hematomas, and torn ligaments.

However, one must understand that such troubles happen mainly in competitions. Fighters who want to fight are physically fit, aware of the risks and willing to accept them. At the same time, no one will force you to participate in battles, and even more so, they will not release you into the octagon if you do not want to.