
How to find and develop your individual MMA fighting style
Finding your MMA fighting style can take many years to develop. Even experienced fighters are constantly adding new facets to their style to stay ahead of the competition. Your individual fighting style should suit your physical and mental strengths and is different for everyone! Today, Evolve Daily is happy to share a guide on how to find and develop your individual MMA fighting style.
1) Boxing basics
Every MMA fighter must have a basic understanding of boxing. Hands are an essential weapon for any MMA fighter and are responsible for many of the knockouts in the sport.
The centerline is one of the first fundamental concepts to learn and implement. The center line refers to an imaginary line that runs along our body vertically, in the same path as the spine. This is important because this line also corresponds to our vital organs, which are key targets when facing an opponent.
Likewise, we will aim our fists towards our opponent’s center line. The chin, solar plexus, liver, spleen, and bladder are all weak points in humans that are located on the centerline.
The first type of punch is called a straight punch. This includes the jab and the back cross.
Your jab is an essential punch in MMA. While there are many nuances to the jab, the basic technique is to extend the front arm, keeping the elbow bent until just before full extension. At full extension, lower your thumb, as if you were pouring a glass of water. This will position the knuckles of your lead hand in line to make contact with your opponent. After full extension, retract your arm quickly and smoothly, whether or not it makes contact with your opponent.
The back cross is similar to the jab in terms of upper body techniques. The power comes from your legs; the forward thrust and hip rotation transfers energy up the posterior chain and out of the punch. The end point of the cross should be fully extended but balanced enough to retract the arm to the fighting position quickly and smoothly.
The third punch is the main hook. The lead hook can be a devastating punch, however it is also the most difficult to learn and master.
The basic technique for the lead hook is to keep the lead arm bent at ninety degrees while using hip rotation to throw the punch.
The last basic punch is the rear overhand. The mechanics of the lower part of the rear thruster body corresponds to the rear cross. The difference is in the upper body and the angle of the rear arm. For the rear overhand, keep your arm bent at ninety degrees like a hook, but rotate it inward so your thumb is pointing down. This creates a nearly vertical trajectory, hence the name overhand.
2) Gripping basics
The basics of grappling in MMA are essential for every fighter. You don’t have to be a grappling magician; you just need to know enough to keep yourself out of dangerous situations should you face a serial fighter.
Sprawl is the first and most basic technique to learn. While simple, mastering the expansion can stop virtually any purge.
To lie back, place your hands on the ground as you lower your hips to the floor. You want to move backwards slightly as you do this to increase its effectiveness. Immediately spring back or spin around once your hips touch the floor.
The clinch is also an area of MMA that requires dedicated training. You need a partner to perform the clinch effectively, but wrestling can help you learn techniques too!
The basic techniques needed for the clinch in MMA include collars, Russian ties, bicep control, under and over hooks, arm drags and whizzers! Learning and practicing them with a partner will give you a solid foundation for standing holds. Check out the video above demonstrated by coach Ramsey Dewey on some grip basics.
The ultimate foundation of MMA fighting is the takedown. Having a takedown or two in your arsenal not only improves your overall game, but will help you determine whether you are more of a grappler or a striker.
One of the most common takedowns used in MMA is the single leg to double leg, a signature technique of legend Georges St. Pierre. To set up this takedown, you must first establish internal control of your opponent. Grab behind your triceps and shift your weight onto one leg. The other leg will then be lighter and easier for the single leg to attach. Once you have the single leg, move it towards the outside of your body and step forward to pick up the other leg. Watch GSP demonstrate this technique in the clip above
3) Unique and individual attributes
Once you have mastered some fundamental MMA skills, you can begin to create and refine your own style. To start, you need to evaluate yourself objectively. What are your physical strengths and weaknesses? What is your temperament?
For example, if you are smaller for your weight class, but possess exceptional strength, your physical attributes complement a style that focuses on closing distance, powerful punches, and striking from the clinch.
However, this is where temperament comes into play. If you don’t like hitting from the pocket, you may want to adopt a style that focuses on hitting and movement.
The unique combination of your physical attributes and temperament will help you create your own individual MMA style over time.
4) Tap Combat
There are many schools of thought on sparring when it comes to intensity and frequency. One school of thought, used by Muay Thai fighters in Thailand, is to treat sparring playfully but practice it frequently. This helps develop a fighter’s skills in the closest environment to a real fight while still being light enough for daily training.
Frequent tactile sparring allows you to implement the techniques you have practiced in a safe, low-pressure environment. This type of sparring is part of the reason why Thai fighters are so fluid in the ring.
This makes finding good sparring partners very important! If you already have a regular workout partner, make sure you treat them well!
Finding and developing your individual MMA fighting style can take many years; We hope the tips provided above help you on your journey. Happy training!
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