The mixed martial arts world has exploded over the past few years, with fans and celebrities taking a keen interest in the sport. In this article, we’ll have a look at what mixed martial arts is, the disciplines that make up mixed martial arts and how to get started.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows both striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from other combat sports and martial arts. The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC 1 by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993. The question of who actually coined the term is subject to debate. It was later redefined by new UFC president Dana White as “the sport of fighting”

The Main Disciplines

The main disciplines you would find in mixed martial arts is striking and grappling.

A striking discipline teaches you to use punches, kicks, knees and elbows against your opponent. The most popular forms of striking based disciplines are Muay Thai kickboxing and boxing.

In addition to these two main disciplines, you will also find many variations of other forms such as Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing and Judo. These are some of the most popular forms that make up MMA.

For more information on MMA training, check out either our Muay Thai Blog or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blog