Is there a purpose beyond fighting?
MMA has taken over the combat sports world that puts up martial art styles from across the world vs other styles. It takes fighters from every corner of the world, martial styles that have been practiced for centuries, puts them into an octagon, and has them fight each other to find out the dominant fighter and fighting style.
MMA has been popularized through big fight promotions such as UFC, Bellator, Pride, ONE Championship among others.
MMA has brought up famous fighters such as Conor Mcgregor, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Fedor Emilenko, George St. Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Ronda Rousey.
What does MMA stand for?
MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts. Simply put, MMA combines martial arts from around the world that have been practiced for centuries for combat and currently for athletes to put together what they believe is the best style for combat.
Which begs the question, what is a Martial Art? The dictionary definition of martial art is the various skills that originated as forms of self-defense and attack.
Different Martial Arts focuses on different forms of self-defense and attack:
- Boxing focuses on punching techniques.
- Taekwondo focuses on kicking techniques.
- Kickboxing focuses on kicking and punching techniques.
- Muay Thai focuses on kicking, punching, kneeing, and elbow techniques.
- Jiu-Jitsu focuses on grappling on the ground techniques.
- Wrestling focuses on grappling and takedowns from standing techniques.
There are many other Martial Arts in the world but these are the ones most commonly practiced in MMA gyms.
Many Martial Arts do crossover, such as Taekwondo having punching techniques and Jiu-Jitsu having takedown techniques, but these are techniques which are generally what each Martial Art is known for specializing in.
Is there a purpose beyond fighting?
MMA and Martial Arts aren’t all about fighting and finding out who the best fighter is, even though that is what you may think when watching UFC fights.
Now, of course, the fights and fighters are a huge part of the sport and a major part of the reason why it’s become a worldwide phenomenon where MMA is now starting to gain as much attention as other major sports such as Football, Baseball, and Basketball. But the fights aren’t everything to Martial Arts.
There is a much deeper meaning to why people train MMA.
Martial Arts, in general, are meant on the surface layer for self-defense, to learn how to defend yourself in case of a bad situation. They are not meant for you to pick a fight with the first guy you see giving a little attitude. Being hot-headed and starting fights takes away from the true purpose of Martial Arts training.
What is the true purpose of MMA?
You’d probably think I’m crazy for saying the main purpose for Martial Arts isn’t fighting, or self-defense, or even a physical thing at all!
Yes, these are major components of MMA but it is not the true purpose.
The true purpose of Martial Arts is the mental aspects. To build confidence, self-esteem, overcoming obstacles and adversity, building mental fortitude, overcoming past issues that can hinder inner growth, and the ability to build self-confidence.
You build these principles because Martial Arts aren’t easy, but you can improve at your own pace. Since you aren’t on a team sport, you have no one to compete against other than yourself. Competing with yourself builds these mental aspects because as you train, you can start to see the progress in yourself, and that will build your confidence, self-esteem, and self-respect.
These are all principles you gain while training Mixed Martial Arts, you start to build these characteristics in the gym and the class. You then take these mental principles you’ve learned in there to apply them to every other aspect of your life.
Many people often see tremendous improvements in their lives once they start training Martial Arts, improvements in their family life, relationships, and in their careers.
The principles you learn in Martial Arts can be applied everywhere.
The beautiful thing about MMA is that you aren’t limited to a certain style of Martial Arts either. Whether you enjoy kicking, punching, wrestling, or grappling, you can design your style and your journey around what you enjoy.
What to do Now?
Here at Gallatin Martial Arts, we offer everything we went over in this article including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Boxing, MMA, and other Martial Arts.
We offer a one-week free trial so that way you and your friends can come in and find the class that fits best for you!
With our expert instructors, we’re ready to help you start your journey today!
Click below to schedule a free trial class.