When you’re new to martial arts, you’ll probably hear quite a few unfamiliar terms. Here is a glossary of terms for martial arts beginners to help with some of the more general vocabulary.
Grappling
A general term used to describe both wrestling and ground-oriented martial arts aimed to restrain or submit opponents.
Jiu Jitsu
A ground-based martial art that’s known as the “gentle art” as it uses close-contact grappling holds and techniques as opposed to strikes.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing is like Muay Thai, but it is a western boxing style of martial arts characterized by leg strikes.
MMA
Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a mix of martial arts disciplines, including boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and wrestling.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is the art of eight limbs. It is a combat sport started in Thailand that uses stand-up striking, along with various clinching techniques.
Striking
Hitting an opponent with the arms, hands, elbows, head, feet, legs, or knees.
Submission
Tapping out or verbally conceding a match due to pain, or to avoid injury.
Take Down
The act of getting your opponent to the ground.
UFC
UFC is the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a well-known brand in combat sports.
Wrestling
An ancient sport that uses leverage and technique to achieve and maintain advantageous positions. Wrestling isn’t considered to be a formal martial art, but its techniques are used in MMA.
This is merely a list of general terms to get you started! As you get more familiar with training and your martial arts practice, you’ll learn more terms that are specific to Muay Thai/Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu.
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