MMA kickboxing is a style of fighting used in mixed martial arts competitions that combines traditional boxing punches with kicks and foot strikes. Originally with few rules, it now includes open-fingered gloves and timed matches. MMA kickboxing allows for a greater variety of kicks and submission holds, and competitors are not limited to any specific discipline or training regimen.
MMA kickboxing is a fighting style used in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions that uses traditional boxing punches as well as kicks and foot strikes to defeat an opponent. This type of kickboxing differs from its traditional roots in that it allows for a greater variety of kicks, as well as submission holds. MMA competitions seek to pit fighters from various disciplines and traditions against each other in combat to determine the most advantageous unarmed fighting style. The first of these competitions was held in Japan in the late 1980s, and soon after came to the United States (USA).
Originally, MMA competitions had few rules or regulations, allowing competitors to forgo gloves or other protective gear and take as long as they wanted to achieve victory by making their opponent submit. Facing public anger over the lack of security and general derision for being barbaric, the rules were changed to include the use of open-fingered gloves for striking and timed matches to prohibit competitors from conserving their strength. It was during these rule changes that the term MMA was supposedly coined, and competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) were born.
MMA fighting does not limit its competitors to any specific discipline or training regimen, and allows all manner of ground, clinch, and standing fighting techniques to be used in the ring. Kickboxing, originally developed in Japan and then to a greater extent in the US in the 1970s, is a style of stand-up fighting that allows typical punches found in boxing to be combined with kicks. These kicks are required to be delivered above the hip, and while leg sweeps are permitted, the use of elbows or knees is prohibited. In MMA kickboxing, however, there are no such rules, and while some competitions prohibit the use of elbows or knees on a downed opponent, there is no absolute standard.
Kickboxing originally developed in Japan as a counter to Muay Thai, which is a similar sport that is often confused with kickboxing. American kickboxers were the first group of martial artists to develop a world governing body known as the World Kickboxing Association, which regulated all aspects of the sport. In traditional kickboxing, the round is complete when one of the fighters falls to the ground; however, a fighter competing in MMA kickboxing must continue until he has caused his opponent to submit or the referee calls for the match to be stopped. This means that MMA kickboxing competitors will also have to train in other fighting styles, especially submission fighting, to avoid getting pinned down and keep the fight on the feet where they can be most effective.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
