Martial Arts Fighting Techniques

Martial arts stem from different regions and vary widely in nature. Some martial arts rely on taking a direct, penetrative approach like western boxing or Japanese karate. Others, like Aikido or kung fu, rely on more circular movements that circumvent an opponent's defenses. However within practically all martial arts, there are universal techniques that practitioners can employ for fighting.

  1. Punches

    • Most martial arts rely to some degree on fashioning your hands as fists and using them to punch your opponent about the head and face. Punches may vary as far as technique involved in delivering them, but the objective is the same: to inflict pain and damage on your targets. There are a number of good punching techniques found in the Asian martial arts, but many professional fighters prefer the punches thrown in western boxing as the technique allows a fighter to get body mass behind his punch.

    Kicks

    • Kicks are most closely associated with Asian martial arts, and for good reason. Asian fighters have perfected the kick to a science. The kicks in karate, kung fu and tae kwon do are effective for striking your opponent from distance. Sidekicks, turning kicks, roundhouses, back-kicks and spinning heel kicks are all designed to allow fighters to attack their opponents from differing heights, angles and trajectories. Many MMA fighters employ the low, hard kicks of Muay Thai boxing to chop opponents down. However different techniques work in different situations so it's advisable to maintain a variety of kicks in your arsenal.

    Grappling and Submission

    • Grappling and submission holds have become more prevalent through their use in mixed martial arts competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But grapples and submission holds have been utilized in martial arts for hundreds of years. Aikido and Pencak silat offer many traditional holds, joint locks and other such techniques. Modern martial artists have widely utilized Brazilian jiu-jitsu holds and grapples for their proven effectiveness in the ring.

    Throws and takedowns

    • Throws and takedowns are one of the main elements of traditional Japanese judo and the more modern Gracie jiu-jitsu from Brazil. Techniques of this kind involve throwing, pushing, knocking or pulling an opponent off balance in order to take him off his feet and ultimately send him to the ground. Western wrestling and Israeli krav maga also provide good throw and takedown techniques.