| MMA, commonly called Ultimate Fighting, has evolved | | | | fighters. It will be a challenge for those that have spent |
| through various stages. Initially, Royce Gracie inspired | | | | years honing skills to championship levels; instinct takes |
| an explosion where all fighters absorbed as much Jiu | | | | over. But, the same strong mind that makes one a |
| Jitsu as they possibly could.This move to ground | | | | champion can adapt and make some modifications |
| fighting made champion wrestlers confident that they | | | | that can transform the champion wrestler into the |
| could excel in MMA. Wrestlers like Kevin Jackson | | | | most devastating MMA competitor.A wrestler with |
| proved the theory correct. He was very effective | | | | decent skills can nullify the skills of a world champion |
| during the early 1990's.Wrestling tactics will allow a | | | | boxer or martial artist with one simple take down. |
| fighter to control his opponent, however; they need to | | | | Once on the ground the entire arsenal of a stand up |
| be modified to be truly effective in MMA where the | | | | fighter is depleted and the expert is relegated to an |
| desired result is to finish the opponent by knockout or | | | | ordinary fighter with no training. Instinct will take over, |
| submission.Pure wrestlers have failed to succeed in | | | | and since there has been no training; the results will be |
| MMA on a grand scale due to the ingrained training | | | | that of an ordinary unskilled fighter. The wrestler, even |
| that is drilled into their heads from the first day they | | | | just an average one, will have an enormous |
| step on a wrestling mat. The biggest challenge that | | | | advantage and should dominate the fight.If wrestlers |
| wrestlers face in MMA is the fear of having their | | | | can adapt the traditional moves that are taught with |
| backs or shoulders on the mat.Every wrestler fights to | | | | slight modifications focused on submitting, punishing, and |
| stay off of his back. It's in our blood. Champion | | | | finishing their opponents; they will excel in MMA and |
| wrestlers have conditioned themselves to keep from | | | | take the sport to the next level. |
| going to their backs without having to think about it. | | | | Wrestlers starting out today that desire to one day |
| We make it become a reflex action.In a wrestling | | | | compete in MMA should prepare for both sports at |
| match, a competitor risks giving up points or getting | | | | the same time so that they will not have to retrain their |
| pinned when his shoulders are exposed to the mat. | | | | minds to lose the fear of exposing their backs to the |
| This is not the case in MMA where the competitor on | | | | mat.Ray Mardo, a champion freestyle wrestler and |
| his back can actually have the advantage, and finish | | | | coach, has modified wrestling techniques as MMA |
| the match.Wrestlers who wish to excel in MMA need | | | | finishing and submission maneuvers. |
| to stop thinking like wrestlers, and start thinking like | | | | |