Every fighter is unique

The fight is defined not only on the fighter’s technique. The beginners often have tendency to imitate their idols, their instructors and their partners. It is with time that every martial artist develops his own style. I think that it is important to explain that I want to tell by style first of all to tell difference between martial art and style.

Style: a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed – merriam-webster

It is easily possible to become confused with style (martial art) and style (way to practice it).

Strengths and weaknesses of different combat sports

I am conscious that there are several styles inside combat sports here are different combat sports (martial arts) with their strengths and their weaknesses.

Boxing:

• Positive: Good Footwork, Good head motion, Good position of hands, Blows are very powerful.
• Negative: Incomplete clinch, No defense against attacks on legs, No Grappling.

Muay Thai:

• Positive: Powerful kicks, Good clinch (Thai), Good variation elbow and knee in close combat, Good sweeps.
• Negative: Narrow position of the feet (who becomes more vulnerable to takedowns), Variation of kicks often limited (round-house, push-kick), No works on the ground.

Wrestling:

• Positive: Very powerful, good control of the centre of gravity, Good takedowns, Good footwork.
• Negative: Limited defense on the ground, No strikes, Stance is very low and very broad (prevents the speed of execution of the kicks – back leg), Absence of Ground and Pound.

BJJ:

• Positive: Very great work on the ground (attack and defence), very good for a more defensive style, efficient techniques to put an end to the fight.
• Negative: Traditional uniform (for those who make of “Gi”), No Strikes, Stance which does not defend against striking, Absence of Ground and Pound.

The styles which are adopted are the prisons of our expression

Although it is essential to learn the science of combat through a martial art (Boxing, Muay Thai, Struggle, BJJ), most of them have rules. With time, you need to be liberated from all rules to obtain a result near the reality of combat and so, to express your style entirely. A fighter with no style is an unpredictable fighter. It is not the technique which makes the fighter. There are martial arts that moves in straight line, others who move in a more circular way. They have their strengths and their weaknesses. Apply the qualities of each of them.

How do I develop my own style?

First of all, know yourself: temperament, capacity, potential. Which are your strenghts, your weaknesses. If you are small and quick, why not to study Manny Pacquiao’s boxing. If I am big and powerful, why not to look at the Fedor Emelianenko’s style. You will, with practice, develop your own style according to what you are. Always keep in mind principles such as science, simplicity, fun … to guide you.

A fight is a group of movements performed with the intention to beat an adversary. These movements are called techniques which consist in putting traps, in seeding confusion finally to put an end to battle. The fighter plans his actions by studying his opponent. He anticipates the movements of the adversary by provoking him to create one reaction. A complete fighter is the one who will be able to fit to all situations. Your style is defined by the way you move.