A typical Muay Thai sparring session.
If the idea of being able to test out your martial arts against another human being appeals to you, combat sport is the way to go. Boston has proud history and tradition of producing successful competitors in numerous combat sports, so the challenge is not to find a quality place to train, so much as it is to decide which one to train at.
Combat sports can be broken down in a few basic types. Striking sports feature contestants trying to defeat each other through the use of well-timed, well-placed, and powerful blows. Some striking sports, like Boxing or Tae Kwon Do, greatly limit the number of tools that the contestants can use. Others, like Muay Thai and San Da (aka San Shou), are a less restrictive in their rules.
Grappling sports, by contrast, generally disallow striking, but permit the opponents to wrestle with each other. Contests usually involve a combination of upright grappling and groundwork, where the object may be to either pin the opponent, or to force the opponent to submit through various chokes and holds. Wrestling and Judo are both classic examples of these kinds of sports, as is Judo's sister art Brazillian Jujitsu, and the Russian art of Sambo.
Recent decades have seen the rise of mixed martial arts contests, sometimes erroneously referred to as "ultimate fighting" (after the Ultimate Fighting Championship which popularized the sport). Mixed Martial Arts (MMA to fans) contests are comparatively less restricted than other combat sports, allowing the contestants to strike and grapple relatively freely (the sport does have strict rules about what is not allowed, and is a far cry from being the bloodsport that some critics have made it out to be).
Finally, there are some combat sports which focus on the use of weapons. Fencing and Kendo are perhaps the two most well-know of these, but some Filipino martial artists hold similar tournaments as well.
Competing in grappling means going for the occasional ride.
Of the various combat sports, the grappling arts are friendliest to the hobbyist competitor. Grappling competitions are generally open to anyone who wishes to enter (for a fee), meaning that a grappler who discovers they have a free afternoon can simply decide to pack up and run over to the local tournament. Most tournaments are structured in such a fashion that competitors are virtually guaranteed multiple matches in a single event. While better prepartion is required to succeed at the higher levels, a certain amount of forgiveness is built into the sport.
Striking sports, by contrast, are often run in a single-fight structure, where one contestant is matched up with another contestant for a certain number of rounds. This kind of competition requires an enormous amount of preparation (4-6 weeks is common, even at an amateur level). Even amateur tournaments (like the Golden Gloves) require an enormous amount of dedication and prep work. Mixed Martial Arts competitions generally require the same kind of dedicated preparation, but in broader range of skills.
In recent years MMA competitions have opened to female competitors too.
So which combat sport is the "best'? Really, that depends on you. If the idea of trying to hit someone while they try to hit you sounds appealing, you want a striking sport. If you ant the opportunity to pick up someone and throw them on the ground, then a grappling sport may be more to your liking. If you're not sure, try out a couple of different schools and see what feels right to you.
Is there a danger of injury in combat sport? Of course. Boxers and kickboxers risk black eyes, broken noses, concussions, and knockouts every match. An accident during a grappling match can leave you with a torn tendon or broken bone. With proper training and preparation, you will mitigate the risk of injuries (many people participate in combat sports for years without ever suffering a serious injury), but if you are unwilling to risk any kind of pain or injury, combat sport is probably not the path for you.
It is possible to participate in a combat sport without actually competing. Many gyms are filled with people who train simply for the benefits to mind and body, without every stepping in the ring or on the mat. For those who really want a challenge, however, competition can be the way to go.
Comments