Mixed Martial Arts
Striking, grappling and all-round skill
Overview
Mixed martial arts (MMA) combines techniques from striking arts such as boxing and kickboxing with grappling arts such as wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rather than a single style, it is an approach that brings the standing and ground games together into one well-rounded skill set.
Most people who train do so for the fitness, variety and problem-solving it offers, drilling technique and conditioning without necessarily competing. Because it covers so many skills, learning under qualified coaches and progressing gradually matters, and contact levels are usually controlled in training.
Why mixed martial arts is good for your health
- Combines cardio, strength and mobility in one demanding workout
- Develops full-body conditioning across striking and grappling
- Improves coordination, balance and body awareness
- Builds discipline, focus and composure under pressure
The social side
- Training partners rely on each other to learn and drill safely
- Gyms tend to build a close, supportive community
- Mixed classes bring together people from many backgrounds
How to start as a beginner
- 1Choose a reputable gym with qualified, beginner-friendly coaches
- 2Start with fundamentals classes to learn basic striking and grappling
- 3Drill technique and conditioning before any controlled sparring
- 4Progress gradually and always train within your comfort and skill level
Equipment you’ll need
- Comfortable training clothes or a rash guardEssential
- Hand wraps and glovesEssentialFor striking work
- A mouthguardEssential
- Shin guardsOptionalFor partner striking drills
- Grappling shortsOptional
Where to play
Mixed Martial Arts is typically played at:
Explore clubs and venues to understand the different places you can play, or see how to find people to play with.
Playing Mixed Martial Arts
The equipment, rules, skills and more that make up the game — each cross-linked into the encyclopedia.
Related sports to explore
If you enjoy Mixed Martial Arts, you might also like these.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
A ground-focused grappling art that uses leverage, position and technique to control a partner.
Wrestling
A grappling sport of takedowns and control where two athletes compete to pin or out-position each other.
Muay Thai
A striking combat sport using fists, elbows, knees and shins, often trained for fitness and skill.
Boxing
A striking combat sport built on footwork, timing and conditioning, practised from fitness drills to controlled sparring.
Compare Mixed Martial Arts with…
Deciding between Mixed Martial Arts and something similar? See how they line up side by side.
Boxing vs Mixed Martial Arts
How they compare on difficulty, intensity, kit and what suits you.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu vs Mixed Martial Arts
How they compare on difficulty, intensity, kit and what suits you.
Kickboxing vs Mixed Martial Arts
How they compare on difficulty, intensity, kit and what suits you.
Mixed Martial Arts vs Muay Thai
How they compare on difficulty, intensity, kit and what suits you.
Mixed Martial Arts vs Wrestling
How they compare on difficulty, intensity, kit and what suits you.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Mixed Martial Arts in the wider knowledge graph.
Alternative to
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Mixed Martial Arts to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Glossary
- KnockoutIn combat sports, ending a bout by a strike that leaves the opponent unable to continue.
- MouthguardA mouthguard is a soft protective insert worn over the teeth in contact sports to help cushion impacts to the mouth.
- GiA gi is the traditional two-piece uniform, worn with a belt, used in several grappling and striking martial arts.
- Roundhouse KickA kick delivered in a circular, sweeping arc that strikes with the shin or the top of the foot.
- TatamiThe padded matting that covers the competition and training area in many martial arts.
Movement patterns
- PullDrawing a load or your own body toward the torso — horizontal rows and vertical pull-ups — building the lats, mid-back and biceps and balancing the push.
- RotationRotating the trunk to generate and transfer power through the body's kinetic chain, plus anti-rotation — resisting unwanted twist to keep the trunk stable.
Beginner guides
- How to Use a Learning CurriculumA learning curriculum is a plain, ordered map of what to learn in a sport and in roughly what order — here is how to use one to steer your own practice and sessions without turning it into a deadline.
- Your First Informal Game or KickaboutA relaxed kickabout, hit or pick-up game is a genuine way into a sport — you learn by playing, the courtesies are simple, and nobody expects you to be good yet.
- Your First Swimming Session: What to ExpectWhat a first swimming session at the pool actually feels like, how to prepare, and how to settle in without any pressure to swim lengths on day one.
- Your first basketball sessionA first basketball session is a friendly, fast-moving introduction to handling the ball, moving your feet and sharing simple play with others — no experience or prior skill needed.
- Your first football sessionA warm, practical picture of what actually happens when you turn up to your very first football session — how it runs, what surprises beginners, and how to enjoy it without any pressure.
Learning paths
- Learn TennisA structured, educational learning path for tennis — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn PadelA structured, educational learning path for padel — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn BadmintonA structured, educational learning path for badminton — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn FootballA structured, educational learning path for football — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn BasketballA structured, educational learning path for basketball — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
Recommendations
- Recommended for “Return to sport”A transparent, graph-based set of recommendations if your goal is to return to sport — sports, qualities, a learning path and first steps, each shown with the reason it’s recommended.
- Recommended for “Sports for beginners”A transparent, graph-based set of recommendations if your goal is to sports for beginners — sports, qualities, a learning path and first steps, each shown with the reason it’s recommended.
- Recommended for “Build muscle”A transparent, graph-based set of recommendations if your goal is to build muscle — sports, qualities, a learning path and first steps, each shown with the reason it’s recommended.
- Recommended for “Improve balance”A transparent, graph-based set of recommendations if your goal is to improve balance — sports, qualities, a learning path and first steps, each shown with the reason it’s recommended.
- Recommended for “Improve mobility”A transparent, graph-based set of recommendations if your goal is to improve mobility — sports, qualities, a learning path and first steps, each shown with the reason it’s recommended.
Keep going
A sport is most rewarding alongside good habits, sensible nutrition and people to share it with. Here is where to go next.
How movement supports body and mind.
Eat well to feel and perform better.
Build routines that stick.
Ways to meet others and play together.
Where to play and what to expect.
Browse the full list by category.