When I was a kid, I used to watch films with Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. The kung fu scenes in them thrilled me. At that time I thought that you could defeat everything and everyone with this martial art. But then I watched the first Mma streams and realised that it had nothing to do with reality. The toughest fighters in the world work with completely different techniques and it doesn’t look as spectacular as it does in the movies. So which martial art is really the best to win safely? Why can MMA be used as a benchmark for this?
What is MMA?
MMA is the abbreviation for Mixed Martial Arts. It is a full-contact sport where just about anything is allowed. Of course, there are some exceptions, such as testicles and larynx, which you are not allowed to attack. But apart from that, the fighting goes on until someone is knocked out or gives up. Holding, grappling, kicking, punching – it’s legal.
Which martial art has prevailed?
After watching a few such fights, I realised that Kung Fu, Karate, Aikodo, Capoera, Boxing etc. are good sports to win fights with. However, the fact is that they are mainly useful when you are dealing with people who have as little experience as possible. The reason is that in MMA tournaments, it’s not a certain type that has become established, but rather a bundle of techniques.
The fighters are really good at punching and kicking and try to keep their opponent at a distance. At the same time, they are always looking for gaps in the guard to attack. They bring the other to the ground and from then on there are two different ways to achieve victory.
One of these ways is to use a lever on the arm or leg. That is, to get a grip on the other person’s limbs at one point in such a way that you could break them. There is usually no escape from such a lever. In these cases, people give up.
The other way is to get into a situation where one is lying on his back, the other sits on his chest and can strike at his head at will. Even then, a fight is usually ended immediately, because there is hardly any real escape there either. That is:
“There is not THE best martial art”.
Over the years, MMA has developed techniques that have absorbed the best from all worlds. Each style has its strengths and weaknesses. These usually lie in distance. Kung Fu, Thai Boxing and Karate etc. work well when the opponent is far away. If he breaks through cover, people are at a loss. Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo etc. with the levers and holds are more for close combat. Those who have mastered both distances correctly and who have decent muscles and physical strength have the best chances of winning.