| Mixed martial arts, is a relatively new way to think | | | | is essential for a mixed martial artist to be competitive. |
| about martial arts and competitions. MMA, is a full | | | | Participating in MMA can be a tremendous experience |
| contact combat sport that allows the use of grappling | | | | for a young person. Often, a child who doesn't find a |
| and striking techniques. In the Maryland, Washington | | | | place in team sports turns to martial arts to find a |
| DC and Virginia, MMA, has become increasingly | | | | place to bloom and grow. Martial arts have long been |
| popular. | | | | seen as a way to train a child to focus and channel |
| MMA began in Brazil, but came to the United States in | | | | energy. It's also been a place where a child faces a |
| 1993. This is when the Ultimate Fighting Championship | | | | course of study with immediate rewards and upward |
| was developed and broadcast internationally. With the | | | | steps. As a child reaches another level in martial arts, |
| goal of finding the most effective martial arts | | | | he is rewarded with the ability to increase his |
| techniques for unarmed fighting, MMA competitions | | | | knowledge base and his skills. He develops a sense of |
| had martial artists squaring off against each other with | | | | responsibility about his skills and when it's appropriate |
| minimal rules. They weren't allowed to bite, to fish-hook | | | | to use them. He understands that while he may have |
| (such as putting a finger into a mouth or nose), or to | | | | the ability to use his training in a situation, it needs to be |
| eye-gouge. Attacks to the groin were illegal as well. | | | | an appropriate situation. |
| Other than this, there were no firm rules. | | | | Martial arts training, develops control, focus and |
| In the sport style of MMA, there is now a core of rules | | | | self-esteem in all who participate. A child who |
| that promoters use. The core of nearly all MMA | | | | participates finds his home in a martial arts school. He |
| competitions comes from boxing, including Muay Thai | | | | finds peers and friends there who he will train with and |
| and kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu, and wrestling. | | | | compete with. He finds a place where he can fail and |
| Most MMA fighters tend to fall into three categories - | | | | get back up and try again, as many times as is |
| the striker, the wrestler, or the ground fighter. Strikers | | | | necessary for him. |
| tend to want to stay on their feet and win the fight | | | | Martial arts training develops the mind and the spirit, but |
| with a knockout. Wrestlers want to take their | | | | also the body. MMA training, is an intense workout, |
| opponents down, often with a shoot, and then finish | | | | sharpening skills as well as building muscles and |
| the fight with blows. The ground fighter will try to force | | | | developing positive lifelong physical habits. |
| a fight to the ground, where he will try to end if forcibly, | | | | Having read this, am sure you want to try out MMA, if |
| with a choke or a joint lock. | | | | you live in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC area, |
| When training for MMA, the training often will look like | | | | you can check out Lloyd Irvin's, Mixed Martial Arts |
| training for boxing, wrestling, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. | | | | Academies. They offer a 30 day free trial program on |
| Developing and strengthening aspects of these sports | | | | any of the MMA programs that you may interested in. |