The 2 Best Fighting Styles in MMA - Muay Thai VS Boxing!

"The Science Of Eight Limbs" or "The Art Of Eight Limbs" is referred to modern day people as Maui Thai. it is a martial Art that uses eight striking points. The use of kicks, punches, elbows and knees are all legal strikes in Maui Thai. Maui Thai Kickboxing has a huge influence on Mixed Martial Arts, almost every professional MMA fighter has trained in Muai Thai.

Most of the techniques in Muai Thai use the whole body when they are striking. Fighters will rotate there hip with every kick elbow, knee and punch, thus giving them more power and speed when they are striking. Muai Thai has two main Techniques, there are Mae Mai ( Major Techniques) and Luk Mai ( Minor Techniques). Muai Thai works so well in MMA because of the versatility, it has, there are low kicks and clinch kneeing, that can render an opponent un-conscious or cut, to stop the fight.

Boxing is one of the oldest fighting forms in the world. Boxing is a combat sport that utilizes two hand to hand fighters, fighting against each other using only there fists. There are many rules in the boxing ring, a boxing match is usually supervised with a referee, and there are usually 3-5 minute round interviews. Most historians believe that the worrier class Spartans was the first people to use boxing in order to train for sword and shield fighting.

The Romans also used boxing to train there armies, and also boxing was a huge part in the days of the gladiators. After the fall of the Roman Empire boxing fanished, but it would re surface in the face of Bare-Knuckle Boxing found in Europe in the 18th-17th-centuries? Boxing works very well in MMA, because you do not open your self up to takedowns. It is much easier to take a fighter down when he is kicking then when he is standing. Some fighters like to stand and box like chuck Liddell, and others like to use the Muai thai style of Kneeing and clinching like Shugon Rua. Both fighters were champions and are exports in there own discipline, what makes a MMA fighter successful in the cage is the believe that you can win and know your opponents strengths and weaknesses.

Learn More About The Combat Sport of Mixed Martial Arts by clicking on. MMA History! and gain knowledge on the fastest growing sport in the world. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaneo_W_N

The Best Submissions in MMA to Practice - Our Top 3

Submitting your opponent is not an easy task in Mixed martial arts. Perfect the techniques in practice and utilize them in the actual fight setting. Here are our 3 best submissions to break a limb or put your opponent to sleep in Mixed-martial arts whether in the cage or ring.

Arm-bar.

We start with the submission that is almost universal. Everyone knows how to do an arm...maybe not.

There are very small parts of proper techniques that can make all the difference. Where is your opponent's thumb when you are attempting this?

Rear Naked Choke.

This is the mother of putting your opponent unconscious. Having an opponent's back is going to keep them from utilizing any type of offence on you.

Often times your opponent will hold out and have too much pride to tap out. Let go! Have the decency to not give them an anoxic brain injury and thank them for the opportunity to be in the ring or cage with them.

Guillotine.

The guillotine is often one of the easiest submissions to attempt due to the bodies facing each other. This is a submission that doesn't very often finish fights.

Watch a couple of old Alistair Overeem fights, and also at your club ask for proper demonstration of it.

These are today's most successful submissions in mixed-martial arts. Obviously you need a good strength and conditioning program to utilize any of the above techniques.

Visit http://mmatrainingplan.com/ for tips you need to know to win your MMA fight Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buster_Nelson

How to Win an MMA Fight With Style - The 3 Top Tips

It is really nice when you go out there and win your fight by split decision and continue to win by barely an inch. How much nicer would it be to go out there, fight like a warrior and have the fans love you every time after. Here are the 3 top tips to earn a victory in the cage and be a fan favorite.

Visualize.

Everyday before your bout, devote some time to visualization. This is far more powerful tool than is given credit for. Picture in detail exactly how you anticipate the fight going.

Even details after the fight is over you should be picturing. The referee raising your hand in victory. The crowd roaring in cheer for you.

Be Humble.

The warrior who is humble is the one who is admired. Know how powerful of a fighter you are, but with others always be humble in victory and defeat.

Being humble is a great attribute. When you win or lose, be grateful that you had the chance to be in the ring or cage. Thank everyone for supporting you and thank your opponent for giving you the chance to fight.

Give It Your All.

Enter the ring or cage with absolute confidence and give this fight everything that you ever could. This will make you both shine. There is no benefit to either fighter coming into battle without giving it their all.
If you aren't going to give it your all, forget ever winning in style.

Here are three tips to practice before entering the cage or ring if you want to win you MMA fight in style. Of course a strength and conditioning program is absolutely vital to any training regiment if a fighter want to win in style.

So remember:

Visualize
Be Humble
Give It Your All

Visit http://mmatrainingplan.com/ for tips you need to know to win your MMA fight Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buster_Nelson

How to Start Fighting in MMA - Our 3 Best Rated Tips

So you want to join the fastest growing sport in the world? Well you're not the only one. Don't ever think that buying the martial arts apparel makes you even close to a fighter either, because you will piss every fighter off. We have here the best tips for you to begin fighting in MMA the proper way.

Join A Club.

Find the club in town with the most successful resume (the most wins), and join them. Emulate everything the top fighters there are doing, while staying humble.

Also do not waste time travelling from gym to gym training in a bunch of martial arts that can't apply to MMA. Find a gym that has classes or training specifically in MMA.

Go To An Event.

Watching the UFC is a major adrenalin rush that probably got you interested in mixed-martial arts to begin with. Instead of going to watch that show first, go to an amateur event in your area.

This is the type of event that you will likely begin fighting in.

Compete.

Sign up for the next event that comes your way. You must be really assertive within some clubs, showing your will to get signed up. This is the step that so many would-be fighters forget or are too scared to take.

Don't be that person. When you were watching the UFC pay-per-views, you wanted to join a martial arts club to be a fighter. Now is your chance.

These are some of the best tips to get you started fighting in MMA. Of course this is really only the beginning. Strength and Conditioning outside of the gym is as important as training technique in the clubs. A complete strength and conditioning program is of utmost importance.

So remember:

Join A Club.
Go To An Event.
Compete.

Visit http://mmatrainingplan.com/ for tips you need to know to win your MMA fight. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buster_Nelson

Knock an Elephant Over With Good Karate Kicks!

Yes, you can knock an elephant on his keister with good Karate kicks. Use these concepts with taekwondo kicks, Savate kicks, or whatever, and with some diehard practice, elephants will tip toe around you! And, if you can knock over a pachyderm or two with a leg, that thug isn't going to any kind of problem.

Now, first things first, it's okay to practice the high and fancy kicks, they will give you flexibility, and that will aid in your power. However, when it comes to the street, you want to stick with the basic kicks that are too low and fast to grab. You want to stick with the front snap kick, the side thrust, the wheel (a snap on the horizontal plane), and a spinning (hopping/popping) side to the rear.

Analyze your kick, make sure that your skeletal structure is aligned. Stand on the part of the foot that you are kicking with to make sure it can deal with the potential impact. You can stand on the ball of the foot, so that front snap kick can support sufficient weight, but you can't stand on a side of the foot comfortably, so it is not going to work.

When you kick, make sure you lift the knee high and tilt the hips into the kick slightly. Lifting the knee high enables you to drive the leg in on the target, if you don't have a high knee the foot may arc and scrape against the target. Tilting the hips, which is done especially with shotokan karate kicks, puts more body weight into the kick.

Practice kicking over a chair, and make sure that you aren't twisting any body parts, which wil de-stablize the leg. Also, keep the tan tien centered over the foot you are balancing on, this will help you keep your balance intact. Also, especially when doing Taekwondo kicks, don't straighten the leg you are standing on, rather bend it and lower yourself slightly, as this will connect you better to the ground.

Now, you can wear karate shoes when you practice your kicks, but don't forget to practice bare foot kicking. If you're out in the park, and your feet need protection, or perhaps you want to be ready for a situation where you can't get your shoes off, then use shoes. But the sensation of kicking with the bare feet gives you mental feedback as to the exact perfect way to use your feet.

Now, the key to everything is to practice, practice until you are ready to drop. Most people think that they can go to nice, polite class, do ten or twenty kicks per foot, and they will be masters of the kicking arts. You need to do hundreds of kicks, thousands of kicks, for each foot, for each kick, and for hundreds of days, thousands of days, if you want to be good.

The leg is a great weapon. It can keep people out of range, set up secondary moves, and, if you have Bruce Lee kicks, end a fight before it even gets started. I promise, you do what I have written here, and your good karate kicks will be making elephant burgers out of those pesky pachyderms!

The Power Kicks course is included FREE with Matrix Karate at Monster Martial Arts. You can also get a FREE ebook at Monster Martial Arts. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Case

Martial Arts Business - How to Sell Without Selling Out

Many martial arts instructors feel that there is a conflict between their values and doing what it takes to succeed. For many, the idea of martial arts marketing borders on prostituting their art. For others, it seems like the methods of successful marketing are contrary to their artistic sensibilities.

You were taught to be humble, but it seems that advertising is all about bragging. It doesn't have to be this way.

Is Your Marketing Intimidating or Inviting?

One of the main misunderstandings about marketing that many people have is that it's all about selling. You've seen the shameless self-promotions of the big business dojos. The full page ads in the phonebook, the coupon slips in the newspaper, the TV ads and the web sites are nothing short of disgraceful.

Look at their ads with the eye of a would-be customer. Most parents will approach a school with some timidity. Take that mindset and look at the looming, surly and hulkish image of the instructor. See the large classes in their video ads. Look at the students breaking five boards in mid air. As a parent of a 7 year old girl that's scary, isn't it?

Martial Arts Marketing Says That You're Available

There's an old saying in martial arts and mystical circles: "When the student is ready, the master will come." While on a mystical level this is an instruction for students to open themselves up to learning, it also has a pragmatic application for teachers. You, as the master in question, have to put the word out that you are available to teach.

How many students out there are ready and waiting for a master? What if the master that appears to them in a Google search is you? Naturally, they will gravitate to you for instruction.

Martial Arts Marketing Doesn't Have to Be Gaudy

The myth is that effective martial arts marketing has to be big, flashy and intense. Not only is this idea in conflict with martial arts principles, it's in conflict with marketing in general. With that in mind, there's nothing keeping you from using the resources you have available to market your school. Your flyers, brochures, web site, etc. can be as low key as you like.

Your counterpoint probably shouldn't be completely Zen, but it can definitely be more...normal. Go ahead and display some fighting skills, but don't make the soundtrack be heavy metal. Emphasize the values your students will learn. Show the benefits of your program. Any student you would want is after these lessons anyway.

Sticking to your principles in your advertising shows your integrity more than using archaic marketing strategies. In this market swamped with corporate sell outs, you would stand out simply because you don't play their game.

With the right martial arts management consultant, you can learn everything you need to know to make your school a success without compromising your values.

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Chuck Phillips, International Martial Arts Management Systems http://www.imams.com To read more articles by this author and learn about the first and only No Membership Membership program in the MA Business Industry please visit our web site. PS It's FREE Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_W_Phillips

Muay Thai Street Fight With Brutal Leg Kicks

I love watching kick boxing movies such as Blood Sport (1988), Kickboxer (1989) and pretty much anything with Jean-Claude Van Damme in it. The training to become a Muay Thai fighter is extremely rigorous, but definitely worth while.

This national sport of Thailand is one of my all time favorites to watch on cable. I've learned some great techniques from the world of Thai boxing. The Muay Thai training will help you develop incredible stamina, which can help you possibly take on more than one attacker. This art focuses on developing a fighting spirit, that never gives in. The mindset of, no retreat, no surrender!

If you want to see some devastating head butts, that can knock a person out, then you need to check out Thai boxing. I've seen the Thai boxing methods applied in mixed martial arts fights on TV effectively. I'm talking about deadly Thai kicks and monstrous elbow strikes.

I have to say one my favorite moves is using the knees, which you can use to weaken and wear down your opponent. If you've got your opponent up against a wall or cage and you start kneeing your opponent to the ribs, it will make him vulnerable. Another dirty trick that I see used in mixed martial arts fights is, when the fighter has got his opponent bent over, he will need him to the face.

Another favorite move that can literally knock out a fighter is, a flying knee attack to the head. Just recently, I was watching UFC and I watched as one fighter perfectly timed a flying knee to his opponents face and knocked him out as cold as a cucumber. Now that's what I call strategy my martial arts friends!

I think this martial art should be added to your street fighting arsenal of dirty tricks, because I just love using my elbows and my knees. Both applications are very effective in close quarter fighting, which is vital for any street fighter. For example, if you are attacked in an elevator, the knees and elbows are ready for action. Elevator attacks are some of the worst, because you have a limited amount of space to move your body around in. This is where using your elbows and your knees repetitively on an attacker is perfect.

If you get a chance check out the Muay Thai videos over on YouTube. There are some excellent training videos of Muay Thai online. When you watch a Thai boxer, you will see just how powerful the knees strikes are. You will notice a quick combination of the knees strikes and then the elbow strikes over and over again, this type of attacking will knock your opponent senseless and leave him confused.

Mark H. Smith has been in the martial arts for over 20 years and he wants to reveal his quick secrets to winning street fights. Fancy moves won't save you on the streets, so find out what works today over at: http://www.streetfightingtechniques.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_H_Smith

Benefits of Martial Arts Equipment

Martial arts equipment really has a dual benefit to the martial art student. It can protect them from any accidental damages and it can also boost their training to make them a more efficient fighter. So if you are thinking of buying any safety equipment then it is better to buy from someone with a good reputation mainly Macho, Tiger Claw or Century to name three.

There is a lot of personal safety equipment available for martial art students such as leg pads, elbow pads, sparring mitts, mouthpieces and chest guards to name but a few. Then you can choose from other accessories such as weighted clothing, exercise mats, hand targets or punch bags.

All these different pieces of equipment in some way help to improve the martial art student's performance.

Tools such as the hand targets are ideal for improving both the punching and kicking techniques of the students.

A typical martial arts session will inevitably have work- out routines in them and these could include the wearing of the weighted vests to intensify the workout of the student. Some of these weighted vests can weigh around 40 pounds which certainly adds to the impact of the work out.

Punch bags can come in two different styles; there are the free standing punch bags or the punch bags that you hang down form somewhere. Both of these are very effective tools and really help the students punching and kicking techniques.

No work out would be the same and as safe if you did not have a high quality thick safety exercise mat on the floor to protect the students from any throws or falls.

The metal sign and metal headboards are back in fashion today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Val_McQueen

The Ultimate Sparring and Bag Training Drill

I first learned about combining sparring with bag training when I was working with full contact stick fighting. We would each gear up in full Kendo Armor Outfits (used for bamboo sword sparring) - get a pair of sticks, nunchaku and of often even the traditional bamboo swords (known as Shinai in Japanese) and have at it. At first the focus was on the weapon strikes, blocks and movements. However, as the battle gets heated up, it isn't long before kicks and punches start to play an integral role.

We soon learned that this protective set up could also be used as an amazing mobile bag workout while improving your sparring capabilities. Let me explain:

Okay, the gear that we would wear was armor. This meant that when a partner swung a stick at you at full speed, you did not feel it. The pain factor was removed, so you could focus purely on your movements.

To focus purely on a workout what we did was take away the weapons and started using only punches and kicks. This was great for the receiver (as they still did not feel any pain) but the hard shell like surface of kendo armor limited an all out blast session. You can imagine kicking and punching any type of armor and how that might feel. Though it was great for forcing you to target, it did not allow you to get a full workout.

What we wanted was a full on hard-core workout that simulated having a moving target. Imagine if you punching bag could step back, forward, or to the side and how this would affect your training. It is the perfect combination of sparring and bag training.

Therefore, we altered the receiver's protective wear by dumping the armor and using instead something more durable that could withstand even the hardest of blows to the body. There are too many ways of doing this to list them all - but I am sure that you have seen a few. If you have ever watched a women's self-defense course, you might remember a padded up opponent with a HUGE head. This outfit was designed so the women could kick, scratch and gouge the eyes of a fake opponent without any injury to the person inside.

Macho even created a full suit of armor out of their lightweight foam products called the Red Man Suit. Another company called FIST also had a great outfit. I remember when we first got the helmet we practiced jumping spinning round kicks to the face and the face shield held up.

Whatever you design - just make sure that the person wearing the gear is fully protected. The idea behind the concept is that person A (the Giver) can throw every punch and kick they want at full speed while person B (the Taker) can simply move around like the Incredible Hulk.

Try 5 minutes of full contact punches and kicks on a moving opponent and you will really get an amazing workout. I would suggest the following workout strategy:

5-10 Minutes of light punches and kicks moving around the room with your partner.

Then, 15 seconds of full power, speed and effort followed by 45 seconds of light movement, punches and kicks. Repeat 5 times for a great 5-minute workout.

Note: the person wearing all of the gear is also getting a great workout too as they are moving around, taking punches and kicks and can even throw a few of their own from time to time.

Start slow and get creative. If you do not have a suit of armor look through a martial art supply store and build one yourself by picking and choosing various pieces of gear.

NOTE: Do not full blast to the head unless you have a piece of headgear that can take such blows. I would suggest leaving the head out of the early sessions and focus on getting a workout with attacks to the body.

To build your own suit of armor, visit Pad-Up Martial Arts Equipment for a wide variety of high quality Boxing Equipment, Boxing Gloves, Sparring Gear, Sparring Gloves, Shin Guard, Headgear, Chest Guard, Mouthpiece and more. Rick Tew is an internationally acclaimed Sensei or teacher in the martial arts and founder of CMS - College of Martial Science and NinjaGym. He runs Short and Long term Martial Arts Training Camps in California, Thailand and Holland. Visit http://www.ninjagym.com/dojo to view training programs and schedules, read Rick Tew's blog, watch training videos and be part of NinjaGym Martial Arts Community. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Tew

Sparring Counterattacks

Counter attack is a way to take control of the sparring match by taking advantage of the opponent's weakness when he attacks. A counter attack kick require precise reaction time and flexibility.

Evaluate your opponent's movement instantly and kick automatically in reaction. Counter attack demands quick judgment for good timing. For instance, use checks (feints) to induce your opponent to attack. When your opponent attempts the attack, counter attack right away. Pay close attention to your opponent's attack and counter attack technique and use this information to exploit your opponent's weakness.

The two common counter attack strategy are direct counterattack and indirect counterattack. In a direct counterattack strategy, both fighters counterkick at the same time while indirect counterattack, one fighter steps aside or blocks the kick of the opponent and then counters with a kick.

Direct Counter Attacks:

Kick as soon as they get within your perfect kicking distance. Don't hesitate. Commit or you will be hit! Direct Counterattack is good with motions because it hides your intentions. Back kick and back leg round kick are great hold ground techniques. Useful against aggressive fighters.

Against taller fighters, make sure to fight on their race distance not your race. Use long attacks like fast and skip kicks. Avoid direct back leg kicks instead use a step in round kick or inch in/lunging back kick.

Make sure to keep weight forward when you execute a slide back, switch out or slide out counter attacks.

After kicking, make sure to land forward in proper fighting stance. Don't land flat footed or land backwards because it delays your time to counter attack.

After you attack or counter an attack, make sure to clinch or move sideways from the opponent. Clinch if opponent is in crowded distance (punching distance). Don't stay in crowded distance because they can punch you in that range. Don't just move back either because they can kick you as you are moving backwards.

Indirect Counter Attacks:

Slide back and slide out - useful if opponent is kicking with a back leg round kick in closed stances (kicking your backside).

Switch out - useful if opponent is kicking with front leg round kick in closed stance or kicking with back leg round kick in open stance.

On first round, be conservative until you find out they're tendencies. Use more indirect counter attacks instead of direct counter attacks.

If you can't tell what kick they plan to throw then use back kick / jump back kick or jam them by clinching.

To counter punches, you should move to the side (using switch out or slide out) or use back side step. Never move back or step back because it gives them room to kick you.

Timing - for any counter attack, make sure to react (slide, switch out, and hold ground) as soon as they get within your race distance. Don't wait for them start the kick before moving because it's going to be too late.

A good sparing stance allows you to instantly adjust your kicks when your opponents changes motion. Making adjustments with good timing is a key to success in sparring.

If you miss a chance to counter, just don't dwell on the mistake because there are a lot of other opportunities. Remember opportunities are ever changing.

The article you have just read is just one of several informative articles on the subject martial of arts sparring that you can find here: http://taekwondotips.blogspot.com. John Cruz is the sole blogger for Taekwondo Tips. John is a 2nd Dan Black belt in Taekwondo and trains at Oahu Taekwondo Center in Aiea, Hawaii. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Abram_Cruz

The Best Striking Martial Arts For Mixed-Martial Artists - Our Top 3

Striking is an element of martial arts that every fighter should be reaching to be the best in. There are a few striking martial arts that we are comparing here. Almost every fight first starts out as a striking match, so you need to decide which style to perfect, if not all of them.

Muay Thai Kick-boxing

Probably the best form of striking utilized today. Muay Thai boxing teaches you to strike all the most sensitive areas of the body with your elbows and fists, knees and shins.

Watch some videos of the best mixed martial arts fighters using Muay Thai: Anderson Silva, Paul Daley, and Georges St. Pierre.

Boxing

Pure boxing is appreciated by many MMA fighters. Although they utilize only the fists, boxing should be utilized in training to develop hands of fury.

The head movement in boxing can save you from getting your head knocked off as well. Developing your hands alone can be very beneficial as most striking involves the use of pure hands in MMA.

American Style Kick-boxing.

With a few more rules than Muay Thai Boxing, we see many MMA fighters coming from North American style kickboxing academies and backgrounds.

Once again developing kicking is a major part of MMA and some form of kickboxing should be utilized.

Here are the 3 best striking martial arts to utilize for MMA. Obviously a strength and conditioning program to work with is of utmost importance to develop the punching and kicking power. Decide which of the above striking arts you will excel in.

Visit http://mmatrainingplan.com/ for tips you need to know to win your MMA fight Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buster_Nelson