The Fighting Styles of MMA

Listening to some of the members in our MMA gym in Austin Texas, just how MMA has come about is unknown to some…

With the growing popularity of Premier’s MMA gym-Austin TX – and especially the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships),  a growing legion of fans are excited about this new sport. Even fans of boxing and kickboxing in Austin show up at events.

Ask any one of our members in our MMA schools in Austin Texas what they like about the fights, and you’ll get responses about how they like the knockouts, the explosive fights, submissions and grappling, and devastating kicks.

The first UFC events were designed for bragging rights -to test the different martial arts fighting systems to see which style was superior. It was the same debate that has existed for hundreds of years among the practitioners of the martial arts. With this new fighting sport, the debate was still hard to answer because it became apparent that each style had merits of its own.

World Champions to local fighters training at MMA gyms in Austin, Texas, are now proficient in several styles of martial arts. MMA has become almost a fighting style of its own, combining the best of stand up skills and ground fighting.

It now has evolved into an athletic test of man versus man, rather than which style of the

martial arts they practice. There is no doubt that this evolution has changed the way fighters approach training and skills.

To be a successful fighter today in the Octagon today takes the highest level of athletic strength and conditioning, combined with a repertoire of the best techniques and skills that are suited to them.

The crème of the crop of the fighting arts have distinguished themselves as a constant staple in MMA and the UFC. These are the martial arts styles and combat effective techniques that have shown and proven effective when used in the Octagon.

Here is a look at the most effective traditional fighting styles, or sports seen in MMA today:

BOXING – The “Sweet Science” may be the biggest influence in all of MMA. Boxing skills and footwork are the foundation of every fighter. In a 5 minute round, the punching skills practiced in a boxing gym count into the dozens, or even hundreds of punches.

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU – Developed from the Japanese art by the Gracie family in Brazil, this martial art has proven one of the most influential and successful in MMA competition.

JUDO  - Known for its throws, holds, and grappling skills, it relies on balance and surprise. It is also an Olympic sport.

MUAY THAI – Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport.

AMERICAN KICKBOXING – Combining boxing with kicking skills, kickboxing is the form that has evolved as the predominant stand up fighting style.

KARATE – With several different styles of Self-defense in Austin, Karate is a very effective striking style. Correctly practiced, karate has powerful kicks and conditioning.

WRESTLING – Greco-Roman and Freestyle styles of wrestling use take downs and throws to subdue opponents. Wrestling is one of the world’s oldest sports.