A Look at One of the Most Dominant Styles in Mixed Martial Arts

In the world of the mixed martial arts many athletes from a variety of styles square off in a cage or ring seeking to dominate another competitor with their martial skill. Though often not as popularized as other styles such as Brazilian Jiujutsu wrestling is actually one of the most popular and successful styles practiced in MMA. Don't believe me? Let's take a look at some of the fighters to utilize wrestling skills to help them dominate the sport. Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, Dan Severn and Quinton Jackson just to name a few. In this article I'll show you just why Wrestling is so popular for use in MMA and describe how you can utilize wrestling skills for use in competition.

There are several reasons why Wrestling is so successful and heavily practiced in the mixed martial arts, the first and most obvious reason is that it's easy to find a coach. Like many others I participated in Greco-roman wrestling in school and learned how to grapple my way to victory alongside many other competitors. This makes wrestling highly accessible to many seeking instruction, unlike some martial arts which can be hard to find a trainer for or very expensive.
Another reason wrestling is very popular in MMA is because both are a weight class sport, it is easier for a wrestler to adapt to the rigors of making weight than say a karate student who, while very competent in their field, may not be used to cutting weight. This is of course not an exclusive advantage as judo; boxing and many other sports are familiar with weight classes as well.

Finally, wrestling is popular because it is very effective. Wrestling competition is concerned mainly with gaining a pinning position on an opponent, which involves a variety of takedowns and defenses to those takedowns, as well as a good mix of clinching, pummeling for position and, in some kinds of wrestling, submission holds.
Now, I am a big proponent of the idea that every competitor must find the style that works best for them, and maybe wrestling isn't for you, but if you think you would like to compete in mixed martial arts and your interested in using some wrestling skills as a base or even secondary art, let me give you a few tips on how to do so. First off, you must find a place to learn. If you're still in school this will be easy, join the wrestling team. Now, you may be too old for this, if so there is still hope yet! Many cities have athletic clubs or community centers which teach wrestling classes, or there are many schools which teach wrestling, sometimes even in regards to MMA, Dan Severn's school in Coldwater, Michigan. There are also many amateur wrestling organizations which will teach you how to grapple.

Now, if you already know how to wrestle and are preparing for a career in the mixed martial arts you will still need some secondary arts. Remember this is mixed martial arts meaning you'll have a lot more than just grappling to worry about. Depending on how serious you are about competing there are several options you can choose from when it comes to cross training. You could join a boxing or kickboxing gym near you for striking training. Thai kickboxing is probably one of the best striking arts for mixed martial arts competitions but you might have a hard time finding a good gym if you live in a smaller town. Brazilian Jujutsu is another good art to study, even as a secondary. You'll learn a lot of good submissions and more takedowns to add to your repertoire.

I hope this article has given you something to think about when it comes to choosing a style to focus on for MMA, or at least done a little to show people how formidable wrestling skills can be. Using Wrestling as a strong base, with some striking skills mixed in from boxing or kickboxing, a devoted and determined athlete could be very successful in the cage.