Mixed Martial Arts Training in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida

One might wonder what exactly is mixed martial arts. Is it a combination of various forms of martial arts into one? Is it the combat sport? I'll clarify the terms, so as not to add any confusion. Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is a full contact combat sport that allows a variety of fighting techniques from a combination of martial arts used in competitions. Another reference is hybrid martial arts, which is oftentimes known as mixed martial arts, because of its fusion of different martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and Muay Thai.

Here in the Tampa Bay area in Florida there have always been, for as long as I can remember, various martial arts schools in the disciplines of judo, karate, taekwondo, and wrestling. The latter, wrestling, has produced many professional wrestlers from Tampa, past and present, of the WWE and other wrestling federations. There is even a wrestling arena nearby where I live that tapes live matches every Thursday night. With this kind of sport and martial arts history it is no wonder there are several mixed martial arts training facilities to choose from here in Tampa Bay. Here are three locations where to get mma training in.

1.) Gracie Barra Clearwater - 1670 N. Hercules, Unit E Clearwater, Florida (727) 204-9731: Located in the Space Center Hercules this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school is from the largest school in the world for this discipline based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Their MMA training program is in fact expanding. Here you will learn to combine striking, takedowns, and grappling from instructors in Muay Thai kickboxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There is a list of the training gear required for MMA such as MMA training gloves, mouth guard, head gear, etc. Be sure to go to their website to see the entire list. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8PM are the Mixed Martial Arts classes. You are also invited to take advantage of their free trail offer that you can fill out the form at their website. Mixed Martial Arts - Gracie Barra Clearwater

2.) Tampa Bay Martial Arts Academy - 6038 Hwy 41 North Apollo Beach, Florida (813) 649-0020: Their mixed martial arts training is designed for adults to have a fun, safe, and varied workout combining it of stand up fighting, ground fighting or grappling, and reality based self-defense. If you are interested in getting in shape, want to develop your self-confidence, and to defend yourself than mma training may be right for you. They offer you an opportunity to try two classes at no charge to make sure it's the right training program for you. www.tbmaa.com - Tampa Bay Martial Arts Academy MMA

3.) Tampa Muay Thai - 808 N. Howard Avenue Tampa, Florida (813) 393-8390: Tampa Bay's Premiere source of Muay Thai Training utilizes Khanomtom Muay Thai's ancient boxing and the modern 'ring-style' Thai boxing, which has become very popular in the last ten years all over the world. Each year the instructors and Fight Team go to Thailand for their annual expedition. You'll learn all the techniques of kicking, punching, knee & elbow, and pram. Tuition is $85 a month for 2 nights per week and $130 a month for a full week. Tampa Muay Thai - Mixed Martial Arts

The three featured MMA's are a school, an academy, and a training center, which offers something for those looking to get into mixed martial arts training. You can take advantage of their free trials to see if it's right for you. What do you have to lose?

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_martial_arts

http://www.graciebarraclearwater.com/category/mixed-martial-arts/

http://www.tbmaa.com/documents/tbmaamma.html

http://tampamuaythai.com/wb/index.php?mixed_martial_arts_tampa_florida