COMBAT SPORTS

A competitive contact sport where two combatants fight against each other using certain rules of
engagement. Boxing, amateur wrestling, mixed martial arts and fencing are examples of combat
sports. The techniques used can be categorized into three domains: striking, grappling, and weapon
usage.

History

Sports related to combat skills have been a part of human culture for thousands of years. The
Ancient Olympic Games were largely composed of sports that tested skills related to combat, such as
Boxing, Wrestling, Pankration (blend of boxing and wrestling) Chariot racing amongst others. This
tradition of Combat sports was taken even further by the Romans with gladiators who would fight
with weapons, often to the death.

Through the Middle ages and Renaissance the Tournament became popular. It consists of martial
competition between two mounted knights using a variety of weapons. While the tournament was
popular amongst Aristocrats, combative sports where practiced by all levels of society.

Combat sports

Here are some examples of combative sports, and martial arts with varying degrees of sporting
application.

Martial arts vary widely, and may focus on strikes, grappling, or weapons training. Some examples
that focus on as specifics aspect:

Striking: Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Karate

Grappling: Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling (various types)

Weaponry: - Fencing, Kendo

Boxing is a combat sport in which two participants (generally) of similar weight fight each other
with their fists. Boxing today is conducted in a regulated way, typically in a series of one to
three-minute intervals called rounds. Victory is achieved if the opponent is knocked down and
unable to get up before the referee counts to ten

Modern boxing

Stance

The modern boxing stance differs substantially from the typical boxing stances of the 19th and
early 20th centuries.

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Upright stance

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              Semi-crouch

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                         Full crouch

Punches

There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook and uppercut.


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jab

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      Cross (Straight right)

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                            Hook

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                                  Uppercut
  * Jab - A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position. Cross - A
powerful, straight punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the rear hand is
thrown from the chin, crossing the body and traveling towards the target in a straight line.
  * Hook - A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent's head. From
the guard position, the elbow is drawn back with a horizontal fist (knuckles pointing forward) and
the elbow bent.
  * Uppercut - A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand.

Defense

There are several basic maneuvers a boxer can use in order to evade or block punches, depicted and
discussed below.

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Slipping

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         Bobbing

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                 Blocking (with the arms)

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                                         Cover-Up (with the gloves)

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Clinching

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         Footwork

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                 Pulling away


Guards

There are several defensive positions (guards or styles) used in boxing.

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Low guard

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         Mixed guard

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                    Peek-a-boo