Athletes in combat sports practice rigorous training regimens that hone their physical prowess, technical understanding of techniques and strategy, and psychological resilience. They face a landscape of fear and uncertainty, pushing their limits in an effort to reach a state of peak performance that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. The resulting athleticism and allure of combat sport has inspired generations of athletes, from Muhammad Ali’s “Thrilla in Manila” to Conor McGregor’s iconic knockout victories and Ronda Rousey’s pioneering dominance.
The earliest known combat sport was lei tai, an ancient Chinese no-holds barred fighting discipline that combined boxing and wrestling. Today’s combat sports feature a wide variety of striking and grappling techniques, ranging from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and catch wrestling to judo and karate. Many modern combat sports also incorporate striking and grappling techniques from multiple disciplines to create a balanced skill set for competition.
Deciding which combat sport to practice is a personal choice. Your objectives and your morphology should play an important role in your decision. There is no one best combat sport, but a combination of disciplines that check all the boxes for you. Choosing the best combat sport for you will take time, dedication and commitment. It’s important to listen to your instinct and have fun! That’s how you will be consistent and make the most progress. Good luck!