Tag: Muay Thai

Martial Arts Styles Military Self-defense And Other Forms Of Brutality

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Where else would you expect to find the greatest amount of lethal force possible but in the military; after all, it is in the job description for any member of the armed forces to be able to live and let die, and kill anyone that interferes with routine operations. The marines, in particular, have to be particularly skilled at getting in, inflicting harm, and getting out alive being the front of the line task force. As the relative bumper of the entire military, they need to be specially equipped, beyond the basic ability to fire a gun, to survive head-to-head combat. They are often considered either the bravest or craziest living specimens for their willingness to undertake such a risky task. The hope is to keep risk as minimal as possible by way of special military self-defense training.

Living with a rifle like its a prosthetic limb is the least intense part of a marines training. Being a body part primarily used for violent purposes, it is used as maximally as possible, both as a bullet-discharging object with extreme accuracy and as a blunt object with the same amount of accuracy. Part of the military self-defense training is strictly dedicated to letting a rifle be all the weapon it can be, as the single aide to a marine beyond his own raw might. Additionally, the marine learns other highly lethal martial arts styles to allow his own body become a self-defense vessel that can be intricately trained to bring swift death in times of desperation and minimal options.

This is only part of a universal tradition of military-based martial arts. Other countries have a variety of martial arts styles that were developed as a means to defend against invading forces. Muay Thai, for instance, came about in Thailand as the result of such a repeated history of invasion; this particularly exceptional example of worldly martial arts styles, sometimes referred to as the Art of Eight Limbs, has a technique called the Throwing Buffalo Punch which is capable of subduing a buffalo in a single strike. You dont want to get in the way of someone with this kind of training. The imagery created by such a powerful form of martial arts evokes the likeness of a Dragon Ball Z character, complete with fire-ball-blasting palms and legs that kick faster than the speed of optical perception.

Of course the described forms of military self-defense are just that: meant for military usage, not for scaring or beleaguering younger siblings. If any civilian plans on learning a form of military-based martial arts, the implications must be considered, being capable of wreaking early departure upon the recipient of any of the inclusive techniques. It would be most acceptable for use against armed aggressors and ones with cruel intensions; in such instances, power blasts would be deemed permissible as a fair means of retaliation. Irreversible pain should only be experienced by those that truly deserve it, and it takes a lot to deserve it.

Knockouter Punching Power, Speed Meter For Martial Arts And Boxing

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How good is your punching power? Is it enough for knockout punches? Many athletes and martial artists ask these questions, but there was no way to measure it at home without expensive equipment (punching power meter). Now you can do it. This punching speed measurement program is the best training tool for combat sport, martial arts and boxing. Use it during shadow boxing. It works without speed/heavy bag, boxing gloves and sparring partners.
There are many components to a punch:
1- Speed of the arm of the punching hand.
2- Speed of the shoulder of the punching hand. (Yes, the shoulder does move forward about 6 inches)
3- The speed of the torso or trunk of the body turning. The torso can actually advance the punch another 8 inches.
4- The speed of your step into the punch if it is an attacking punch.
Here are a few simple things you can do to help increase your punching speed:
1) In martial arts and combat sports such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai, use heavy bags, standing bags, and similar apparatuses which have been adapted for practicing kicking and other striking maneuvers
2) Warm up before you start. Start slowly, but do complete motions. Each time, punch a little faster than the last time, until you are moving at full speed and power. Your speed will not increase over night. The process may take several weeks until you notice a difference.
3) One of the best known methods to improve the punching power is to hold dumbbells in each hand and practice throwing punches in the air. This is a proven method to increase the speed and punching power. It is said that Bruce Lee used 10 lb. dumbbells in order to improve his speed and punching power.
How would you like a significantly faster punch in just one week? You can practice those techniques on your own. It’s easy, and it works. And monitor your progress with Punching Speed Measurement Tool Knockouter for free!

The Roundhouse Kick In Martial Arts

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The roundhouse kick is executed in a multitude of ways across the many different Martial Arts styles. This article is concerned with adding power to this kick when executing it from the back leg of a basic fighting position.

In basic terms the roundhouse kick travels from the back leg position outside the body line to the objective taking a circular route. This direction is true for the roundhouse in all variations of the kick at least to some degree. It can be thrown at the head, body or legs. Snapping and Whipping versions of the roundhouse kick In Karate and TKD the roundhouse kick often tends to be more ‘snappy’ with just the foot taking a round route rather than the thigh, shin and foot doing so, as in Kickboxing or Muay Thai Boxing. In the Karate and TKD variant of the roundhouse kick, the standing foot continues pointing forward until the knee of the kicking leg travels right to the front when it turns sharply with the hip turning to. The kicking leg rotates and the lower leg snaps forward into the target. This is the fast roundhouse kick.

In Muay Thai, the standing foot turns out right at the beginning of the kick. This opens the waist and lets the hip come forward pulling the leg with it. The leg follows and the standing foot turns again on impact to transmit more momentum into the target. This is notably more effective than the other version.

The opening of the waist stretches and loads the musculature adding power to the thrown hip, which gathers momentum which is transmitted to the leg and finally the target. The kick has a whipping motion and is very powerful. In contrast the Karate version is quick and has much reduced production before execution, i.e. . Unfortunately, it develops far less power.

These varied performances have developed as a result of the competitions of the various Martial Arts. Karate and TKD competitions are all about point scoring for clean kicks dispensed to the opponent; speed is the key factor in realizing points and winning. For Kickboxing and Muay Thai, speed is still very important but to win you have to hurt or knockout the challenger, this is not achieved through a snap kick. It is essential to develop power and to deliver it to the target, thrusting the hip as described achieves this. Conclusion To get more force into the roundhouse kick it is necessary to open the midriff, as per the Kickboxing variation of the kick. This kick has greater credibility in a self defense situation, undoubtedly compared to the snap version. If you want to polish a more effective roundhouse kick you need to tinker with it and adopt the Muay Thai version!

Martial Arts And How It Can Benefit Your Child

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The children nowadays are prone to various attitude problems. This is why parents enroll their kids in after school pick up programs to hone skills and develop their kids’ personality.

One of the most popular after school pick up programs are martial arts classes. Martial arts are known to help kids handle conflicts inside themselves, as well as conflicts that they may face when they are outside their homes. Various martial arts techniques such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Wrestling also teach kids respect for others by first teaching them to respect themselves. It also teaches self-control, self-discipline, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility.

It is notable to stress that one of the most important benefit children get from martial arts training is that they generally become more disciplined from the unique formalities of martial arts classes. This is one difference that this type of lesson offer compared with types of sports. No matter what their social economic backgrounds are, children with problematic attitudes behave well as a result of taking classes a few times per week.

Parents are very happy to see how their seemingly problematic children come out of pick up programs smiling and positively interacting with other kids. Some children even show rising grades after continuous martial arts session.

How do all of these happen? Choosing a martial arts school is of course a very important factor. The environment in which your child will learn new things certainly affect how his outlook in life changes. There are a lot of dojos and school around Tampa and Carrollwood but be wary on making your choices. Choose a school that offers many forms of martial arts techniques. It has a positive effect on the kids if they are made to decide what pick up program to enroll in, whether it is MMA, Karate, Taekwondo, etc.

Instructors also play an important role in molding students. Instructors who care enough to sit and talk beyond the kickboxing or wrestling sessions reach the mind, heart, and soul of their students. Some trainors also include accomplishing schoolwork requirements in their pick up programs. This strengthens the bonding of the martial arts students and make them more active when training for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.

Indeed, martial arts has so many benefits in the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspect of one’s life. It is not hard to understand why it has become a popular activity for the children, youth, and adults. Just keep in mind though that not all programs will produce all of the benefits mentioned in this article. As we have said, it all depends on the teacher and the school. Martial arts programs that are limited to teaching combat fighting techniques may not result in the desired mental, emotional, and social transformation we hope for. Give yourself enough time when searching for a school. Choose one that will give your kids the most number of benefits at the least possible price.

Evolution Martial Arts
14436 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33618
(813) 961-5245
www.graciebarraevolution.com

MMA Houston – Exactly Why Is ‘Bam Bam Martial Arts’ The Greatest Around

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As a sport, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has really become increasingly popular nowadays. It is now among the list of fastest growing sports in america, especially within the younger generation. Anyone can take up the sport. You simply need an effective instructor, a willingness to dedicate time to practice and the determination to learn. If you are living in the Houston part of Texas and looking forward to learning a little more about MMA, then you need to look no further than ‘Bam Bam Martial Arts’ at the Mixed Martial Arts Center.

‘Bam Bam Martial Arts’ is owned and run by former heavyweight kickboxing and shootboxing champion Scott “Bam Bam” Sullivan, that way you can make certain you’re in good hands. Scott is a professional Muay Thai instructor, holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and teaches MMA as a living. It is safe to say that he really knows his stuff! You don’t need to have any experience to get involved with MMA and above all, the rewards, both in a fitness sense and as a self-defense strategy are numerous. If you’d like to truly experience MMA in the Houston area, Scott Sullivan is the man.

Mixed Martial Arts has attained a recent rush of popularity, not only in the Houston area but in the rest of the USA. It is largely due to past unnecessary regulations being relaxed, making the sport available to more people. MMA is very well known at a local level and is often called Ultimate Fighting after the top promotion in the USA, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The primary objective of MMA is to bring martial artists from unique backgrounds together to determine who the best overall fighter or the ‘Ultimate Fighter’ is. It means that you can see athletes with backgrounds in wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai kickboxing, judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu on any given night! The idea isn’t to see which discipline is the most reliable rather, which athlete has the ability to use their specific skills and experience in order to defeat their competitors.

Throughout a fight, the competitors are encased in an eight-sided caged ring and have to battle it out to claim victory. To accomplish this, they must either knock their opponent out, or cause him to quit by executing a submission technique. An excellent submission technique on the part of the opponent could be accomplished by imposing a lot of pain to that opponent to the level that they cannot take it anymore. The submission technique is done by tapping the mat to end the fight. With more than 25 years of martial arts experience to impart, Scott Sullivan helps to train prospective fighters located in the Houston area and others for any eventuality. He teaches a number of different MMA methods as well as the best ways to apply them to be able to win fights.

If you’re in the Houston area, you possibly can pay a visit to one of his classes but if you aren’t in the area, you can still get involved. Scott has produced an instructional DVD that is well suited for anyone planning to study the art of MMA. The DVD will guide you through methods from a whole host of numerous martial arts, plus a few carefully selected moves chosen by Scott such as the ones he has found most reliable in all his many years of being involved in the sport.

MMA is a fantastic sport to get involved with. It teaches dedication, stamina, strength and fitness. It might take many years before you turn into a successful professional fighter but along the way, you will learn techniques that will stay with you all through life.

Training MMA in Houston at Bam Bam’s is a blast!

For more information about MMA Houston , call (713) 307-5375 or visit http://www.BamBamMartialArts.com for a free trial class.

MMA Houston – The Reason Why ‘Bam Bam Martial Arts’ The Greatest Around?

Blocks – The True American Martial Art

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When discussing the various martial arts and fighting styles from around the world, the little known urban system of 52 Blocks, a variation of the more broad style Jailhouse Rock, has to enter the conversation. Researchers Daniel Marks and Kammau Hunter have argued that Jailhouse Rock may in fact be America’s only “Native Martial Art.” With an African influence and believed to have originated in the 17th and 18th centuries by slaves, 52 Blocks went on to evolve in the streets of Brooklyn and US prisons. The style focuses on close quarter techniques, similar to those self defense situations found in environments like prisons, restrooms, alleys, and hallways where movement would be limited.

As mentioned above, 52 Blocks, also called “52 Hand Blocks” and “The 52’s”, is part of a larger collection of fighting styles referred to as “JHR”, or “Jailhouse Rock.” 52 Blocks and their variants are similar to the martial arts of capoeira and savate, both of which were fighting systems associated with urban criminal subcultures, which underwent a gradual process of codification before becoming established as martial arts accessible by the mainstream. Other variations from the JHR collection are Comstock, San Quentin style, Mount Meg, and Stato, each name in reference to the prison that it was started at. As it gained popularity and exposure in the earyl 70’s, Jail House Rock seems to have first showed up in the media in an article on Martial Arts in prison called, “KARATE IN PRISON: Menace, or Means of Spiritual Survival?,” in Black Belt Magazine from July, 1974.

Despite wide belief, 52 Blocks is not a style of Western boxing, nor is it Wing Chun mixed with Western boxing. Considered a defensive style that creates openings for offense through constant movement, the fighter blocks/catches punches with the forearms and elbows. Short power punches, flowing movement, and counter striking are all aspects of 52 that are emphasised, while using sharp and evasive footwork. Unlike boxing but similar to Muay Thai, the elbows are commonly used to strike the opponent.

Much of the argument and conflicting information about 52 Blocks stems from whether or not the style has been influenced at all by “uprocking” or what most of us call breakdancing. Some believe this link is the aspect of some of the fighting techniques inspired by or copied from the “diss moves” taken from the Brooklyn Rock or uprock style of breakdancing. It looks like you can find as many sources stating these links between 52 and urban dancing as you can to the contrary, making it the subject on 52 with the most conflicting information.

As many practitioners of 52 have felt that their system has long been overlooked, it’s now is starting to take its rightful place in martial arts history, the product of longtime growing media coverage. Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight, is one of the high profile boxers to first endorse 52 and professional boxers including Mike Tyson Zab Judah, and Bernard Hopkins have testified to the existence of the style, giving it a voice of legitimacy from true fighters. Rashad Evans, former light heavyweight champion in the UFC, has also promoted 52 and its effectiveness.

Your Mixed Martial Arts Clothing Shopping List

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As soon as you initial start training MMA, you get by with limited training equipment. Standard T-Shirts and also shorts will suffice for Muay Thai and additionally even no-gi grappling. The vast majority of gyms have mitts and shin protectors which you can borrow, but sooner or later {you will need to invest in the own compounded martial arts clothing. The following is a fast physical appearance at a few of the basic gear which you should choose upwards when you decide that you are serious about the training.

Rash Guards

Whether you train BJJ in a gi, or perhaps focus on top of stand-up and no-gi grappling, it is a good idea to purchase in a tall quality rash protect. Different from obviously t-shirts, rash guards are really manufactured a technical cloth that wicks sweat away from your system and also enables you to regulate your body heat. This excellent will mean which you remain cool and additionally dried out when you are really training. Long-sleeved rash protections help to shield your elbows from mat burns up too.

Thai Shorts

Thai shorts are really a needs to have for any Muay Thai or kickboxing professional. When you can train Muay Thai in normal work out center shorts, when you choose upwards a group of Thai shorts you can expect to ask themselves the way you ever trained with no them. Thai shorts are cut somewhat different to normal shorts. The couple are baggier, and also manufactured an even more breathable information. The baggy cut means it is easier to help you throw round kicks, teeps and additionally knees. Mobility is definitely an essential component of Muay Thai, and when you begin sparring it is a great move to have the ideal gear a possibility.

Give Wraps

Give wraps are long strips of fabric that wrap around the wrist and also knucles, providing assistance and also padding. They are designed to be used under boxing mitts. When you are doing technical work, you could get away without wrapping the hands, however should you decide do bag work, power work or perhaps sparring you risk damaging your wrists should you decide attempt to punch with no proper help. Hand wraps are really especially important if in case you have small hands, because classique boxing hand protection could have also big of the give compartment to provide any assistance for you.

Gis

There are really many different kinds of gis. Karate gis tend to feel very slim and also have softer collars and light pants. They are really generously cut to let many versatility of movement. Judo gis are really much larger, have powerful collars, padded knees and additionally long coats. Judo gis are designed to be strong enough to deal with being useful for throws and also distribution. Karate gis are really usually plain processed, while Judo gis may be processed or perhaps bluish. BJJ gis are really manufactured strong fabric, and even while these are lighter when compared to Judo gis (because BJJ players weigh in sporting their gis) the couple continue to have powerful collars and protected joins. BJJ gis have lesser jackets when compared to Judo gis, and are cut to get a a bit tighter put.

Hoodies

Hoodies are a really popular form of compounded martial arts clothing. Numerous MMA clinicians dedicate wearing a hoodie that bears the icon of the work out center to tv show off their allegiance and also promote the work out center in their neighbourhood. Hoodies are not just aesthetic, however. They are even a very useful form of clothing. Inside the winter months, a hoodie is a handy accessory which keeps you warm on top of your morn run, and stops you from feeling cold whenever you are looking for a bus after a hard training session.

Indeed there are lots of companies which makes mixed martial arts clothing today. Brands like Fairtex, Boon, Hayabusa and also Rev Equipment are really popular with professional fighters. Everlast and additionally Tap Out produce reasonably priced MMA essentials and also have become house-hold names now. The clothing keeps you low risk and also pleasurable inside the gym, so it pays to purchase the greatest gear you really can afford.

The Best Martial Arts Workout To Get Ripped and Ready

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Get into the best shape of your life while learning one of the coolest martial art techniques in the world. The art of Muay Thai fighting can make you a fit and formidable fighter, the envy of your training partners and feared by your opponents!

Are you frustrated because you are out of shape? Are traditional forms of exercise boring for you? Do you think you could protect yourself and your loved ones from a brutal attacker?

Get confident and get fit using martial arts workouts designed to teach you Muay Thai. Not only will you get stronger, leaner and more confident -but you will be learning the martial art techniques that will enable you to easily handle yourself in any self-defense situation.

Muay Thai fighters have always been respected and even feared by many of the more familiar fighting disciplines. Modern fighters like Wanderlei Silva, Mirko “Cro Cop”, Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, Rich Franklin and many others have dominated their opponents using their superior Muay Thai fighting skills.

Muay Thai training is one of the best martial arts workout you can do for cardiovascular fitness. It is physically demanding, athletically challenging and will build your conditioning to MMA fighting standards.

You can develop fantastic fitness, supreme confidence, deadly striking power and you will gain the security and respect that comes from practicing the dominant martial art of Muay Thai.

Through the power of Muay Thai training, you will learn how to overcome your fears, smash through personal barriers and take charge of your life.

Imagine how happy you will feel when you tell your friends that you have lost 3 inches from your waist and developed a bone shattering Thai kick in the process! Now that is something to be proud of.

Muay Thai training will give you a leaner, more muscular body and some fantastic self-defense skills too.

Best of all, this kind of MMA workout doesn’t take years of practice before seeing any improvements. You can begin making positive changes to your body and your self-defense skills right away.

*Learn excellent self-defense skills

*Get fantastic MMA conditioning

*Become more flexible, coordinated and disciplined

*Get leaner while building muscle

*Improve your health and look younger

*Build your self-confidence

*Earn respect from opponents and sparring partners

Muay Thai Training Has The Power To Change Your Life!

For more information about how you can get fit enough to fight, visit our website at Thai-Clinch.com. Watch FREE MMA conditioning videos and martial arts workouts.

About the Author Paul D’Arcy, NSCA, CPT is a Poliquin certified BioSignature practitioner and is the owner of Sport Fitness & Physique, LLC

Summary Of Mixed Martial Arts

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A great deal of skill and fitness is required to reach the upper levels of this sport, but beginners should be able to grasp some basic concepts rather quickly, as long as they know what to look for and where to look. Well, this is not a surprising development since parents are getting increasingly aware of the pleasant benefits that kids martial arts present both to parents and kids. Mixed Martial Arts for kids in Fort Worth Texas provides a training opportunity for kids in every aspect of MMA thornwoodmma.com. In addition to this, they also have a stronger immune system. These training programs are considered good for individuals suffering from innumerable health troubles like high cholesterol level, cardiac problems, high blood pressure, breathing difficulty, poor circulation and many others. Typically, mixed martial arts incorporate the top popular martial arts such as Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Judo, Karate and kickboxing. So, one of the best tips for finding the right Mixed Martial Arts training center for your kid is to find out if the school integrates these major martial arts in their training curriculum.

Since mixed martial arts involve so many different forms, you will have to study a variety of different things at once. Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured. Begin by learning about the base forms of mixed martial arts and see if you have interest in all of them. Wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are all included in mixed martial arts and having a familiarity with these base forms is essential to your training. There are rules and regulations surrounding many mixed martial art events, which has caused a major explosion in popularity. With mixed martial arts training, the artist wants to increase muscle strength while producing greater speed and stamina. There is another great importance of the art of MMA. This is self defense. While traditional Mixed Martial Arts programs have focused on training for competition, the popularity of the UFC and other type events have moved MMA and more specifically BJJ training into a mainstream fitness approach for many people. BJJ has proven to be an excellent workout routine for students of all ages and all skill levels if you have the appropriate facility, the right trainers, a flexible program, and stay consistent in the workouts. Mixed Martial Arts or MMA consists of a professional fighter using different styles of martial arts to ultimately defeat his/her opponent. It is not possible to rise to the top of the ranks if adequate hours are not put in at the gym or on the mat. Smart training and practicing are imperative to being a successful mixed martial arts athlete. Thus, mixed martial arts training provides innumerable health benefits to individuals and is becoming immensely popular worldwide. There are innumerable organizations which are offering MMA courses as per the needs of individuals.

Good Footwork And Movement Is Critical When Learning How To Fight.

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One of the most important aspects in mixed martial arts fighting, and one that is often overlooked and taken for granted when learning how to fight, is that of footwork. The fighter with exceptional footwork and movement skills has a notable advantage in any fight whether boxing, Muay Thai, MMA or streetfighting.

Some of the most renowned fighters we have seen in boxing have all demonstrated tremendous footwork and movement; Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Prince Nassim and the incomparable Mohammed Ali all employed incredible foot work and movement skills to evade and attack their opponents.

One of the major difficulties that the early kickboxing scene was plagued with was that fighters came from the karate disciplines. Many early kickboxers, coming from karate backgrounds, complimented their karate kicks with the superior punching techniques taken from boxing but most were slow to subscribe to the highly mobile boxing footwork.

The classical karate disciplines focussed on flat-footed “stand your ground tactics” with inadequate footwork and maneuverability. This often led to fighters from predominantly boxing backgrounds and token kicking skills defeating high ranking karatekas that had taken up full contact kickboxing to demonstrate the power of karate.

Those fighters that came from a boxing background or who realized that maneuverable footwork and strategic positioning were an integral part of the boxers’ game plan demonstrated a pronounced advantage by including it in their training.

Muay Thai fighters, however, not tainted by the classical karate systems, have always demonstrated a very fine sense of footwork and position, such that that they move in and out just out of range to make the opponent miss and then back in to range to hit with power and precision.

We saw a repeat of the kickboxing era in the early days of mixed martial arts fighting, with the grapplers ruling and it appeared that fighters that mainly relied on their standup skills were not going to be competitive.

The fighters that relied heavily on standup were very unsuccessful at stopping the takedowns of the grapplers, allowing themselves to be put in positions that limited their movement and ultimately to be taken down.

However, this was all to change (as we who have embraced experimentation and shunned dogma have come to expect) when Maurice Smith, a world champion kickboxer of the time, showed that with good footwork and ring (cage) generalship the grapplers could be stopped with an essentially striking focussed game. Harmony was restored to the universe and the evolution of the emerging mixed martial arts fight game continued with predominant strikers appearing again.

The mixed martial arts fighters that mainly relied on their takedown game were now under the selective pressure of having to adapt their takedown methods to contend with the evasive maneuverability and adapted striking methods of the standup specialists.

The principal characteristics that set the successful mixed martial arts fighters apart from those that failed were their footwork and ring (cage) generalship that permitted them to neutralize the takedowns.

We now see mixed martial arts fighters who have adapted and developed there movement and positioning to the cage, such that the fights are more dynamic and evenly balanced between the grapplers and strikers. The latest exponent of excellent footwork and generalship, in mixed martial arts, is Lyoto Machida who demonstrates very powerful hit and move skills that are the key to the strikers’ game against a grappler.

It is therefore critical that when we train we include fast and maneuverable foot work into our mixed martial arts training drills.

Once a new standup striking or takedown setup technique is learned, and has been adequately drilled for effectiveness, we must combine it with effective footwork and movement so that we can move in to execute it, and out again, if it is countered or if on execution we need to move away because it did not finish the job and the opponent covers up; a hit and run strategy of fighting.

Here are some of the main points that must be addressed in your footwork whether fighting mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, or boxing:

1) Learn to move on the balls of the feet with bent knees to facilitate rapid and precise weight transfer.

2) Keep the feet spacing about shoulder width apart, i.e. avoid wide stances.

3) When moving make the steps small; better to take a series of smaller steps, then one large one that upsets balance.

4)Practice quick changes in direction always ensuring to maintain good balance.

5) Practice constant movement.

6) Develop a keen sense of position in relation to your opponent; this must be acquired to the level of unconscious competence so that you can concentrate on the fight.

7) When you step in to strike train for speed, explosiveness and accuracy.

8) Train sprawling and angular changes for takedown avoidance.

In addition, footwork should be developed for both offensive and defensive tactics. The use of evasive angular stepping that is the basis of the “make ’em miss, make ’em pay” strategy, combined with fast bridging the gap techniques and good ring generalship must be developed to provide the complete fight game plan in mixed martial arts.