Combat Sports are a group of specialized athletic disciplines that focus on offensive techniques for scoring points, knockouts or submissions. While defense is also important, scoring systems often incentivize athletes to be more aggressive and proactive in their fighting style. This makes for dynamic, spectator-friendly fights. Combat athletes must also undergo rigorous training regimens that are specifically designed to enhance physical performance, technical prowess and strategic understanding.
Many modern combat sports such as boxing, wrestling and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) incorporate various techniques from several martial arts modalities. For example, a MMA fighter may use the striking techniques from Muay Thai and the grappling techniques from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to develop a well-rounded skill set for competition.
People from all walks of life participate in combat sports. In addition to the elite-level competition, millions of individuals worldwide practice combative sports recreationally [1]. While these activities provide a great outlet for energy and offer health and wellness benefits, they are not intended as self-defense.
Despite the violent nature of these activities, martial artists are some of the nicest people around. It is largely due to the fact that they have all started from scratch, humbled and worked their way up. They have a deep respect for those who have come before them and a desire to help others along the way.
If you are interested in getting involved in a combat sport it is essential to choose a discipline that you love and want to practice. You must have fun, as this is how you will be consistent and make progress!