Decoding the Differences: MMA vs Kickboxing Explained

Martial arts have exploded in popularity over the last few decades. With many disciplines, deciding which is right for you can take time. Two popular full-contact combat sports today are mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing. But what exactly sets these two apart?

In this blog post, we'll compare (kickboxing vs MMA) and contrast to help you determine which mixed martial art aligns best with your goals and interests. We'll cover the history, rules, techniques, gear, pros and cons, and self-defense effectiveness of each sport. Let's dive in!

A Brief History

First, let's look at the origins of each sport. This background will help show how they ultimately developed into their current forms.

The Rise of MMA

Mixed martial arts (MMA) emerged in the early 1990s with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) creation. The goal was determining which martial art was most effective in a no-holds-barred fight. 

Early UFC events pitted experts from different backgrounds like boxing, jiu-jitsu, karate, judo, and wrestling against each other. Over time, fighters began cross-training and integrating techniques from various disciplines. 

As MMA has evolved, regulatory bodies have introduced safety rules to ensure the safety of fighters. Somebody also established weight classes. Today's unified rules allow the sport to showcase various martial arts in standing and ground fighting.

The Origins of Kickboxing

Kickboxing originated in the 1960s when full-contact karate fighters in Japan wanted to test their skills against boxers. They added kicks from Muay Thai kickboxing and karate to the handboxing techniques to even out the playing field.

Various kickboxing organizations and rulesets emerged over the following decades. For example, American kickboxing developed slightly different rules than Japanese kickboxing. Some allow elbow strikes, while others don't.

But in general, modern kickboxing blends the punching of Western boxing with the kicking of Eastern martial arts like karate, muay Thai, and taekwondo.

Rules and Regulations

Now let's compare the rules and regulations of each sport:

What are the MMA Rules?

MMA training incorporates techniques from various disciplines, so the ruleset is relatively open. Key regulations include:

• Rounds are 3-5 minutes with 1-minute breaks in between.
• Fighters wear 4-6 ounce fingerless gloves.
• Victory by knockout, submission, referee stoppage, or judges' decision.
• You can use strikes such as punching and kicking with knees and elbows.
• You can wrestle, hold on, or fight on the ground.
• No headbutting, eye-gouging, biting, fish hooking, and strikes to the groin or back of the head.

I am spreading the permitted techniques from straining through wrestling until submission grappling allows dynamic fights with various methods.

What are the Kickboxing Rules?

Kickboxing training rules focus on stand-up striking only:

• Rounds are 3-5 minutes with 1-minute breaks in between.
• Fighters wear 8-10-ounce boxing gloves.
• Victory by knockout, referee stoppage, or judges' decision.
• People generally restrict strikes to punches and kicks.
• Knees and elbows may be allowed depending on the ruleset.
• No grappling, clinching, or ground fighting allowed.

The limited techniques create a greater emphasis on footwork, angles, and knockout striking.

Common Techniques

Given the different rules, MMA and kickboxing feature other go-to techniques:

What are the MMA Techniques?

• Punching techniques include jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts. These are the main punches used in striking.
• Kicking techniques include front kicks, roundhouse kicks, and sidekicks. These kicks are effective for striking the legs and body.
• Knee techniques include clinch knees and flying knees. These knee strikes are helpful in close quarters and from a distance.
• Elbow techniques include horizontal elbows, uppercuts, and spinning elbows. These elbow strikes can cut opponents and do damage.
• Takedown techniques include single leg, double leg, body lock, and trips. These takedowns get the fight to the ground.
• Grappling techniques include clinching and ground fighting. These skills are essential for controlling opponents.
• Submission techniques include armbars, triangles, and rear naked chokes. These submissions can force opponents to tap out.

MMA fighters use techniques from boxing, muay Thai, wrestling, BJJ, judo, karate, and more. That allows them to fight standing or on the mat. If you want to train in MMA yourself, search for MMA training classes near me on FITPASS to find gyms offering MMA training.

With FITPASS, you can try different MMA gyms and styles to see which one you like best. The variety of martial arts integrated into MMA makes it a great full-body workout to build your striking, clinching, throws, and ground skills. 

What are the Kickboxing Techniques?

• Punching techniques like jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts are used in kickboxing. They throw these punches with speed and power.
• Kicking techniques like roundhouse, front, side, and axe kicks are critical in kickboxing. These kicks target the opponent's legs and body.
• Knee techniques include straight knees and clinch knees. Stiff knees can devastate opponents in close quarters.
• Depending on the rules, somebody may utilize Elbows like horizontal elbows and uppercut elbows. Elbows can cut and stun the opponent.

The focus is on fast, powerful strikes to overwhelm the opponent. One can also use clinching to deliver close-range attacks and land knees.

If you want to try kickboxing yourself, search for kickboxing classes near me on FITPASS. FITPASS gives you access to various kickboxing gyms and classes to experience different styles. Kickboxing is an intense cardio and total body workout that will improve your punching and kicking technique.

Gear and Attire

The equipment used in each sport also differs:

MMA Gear

• Gloves - 4-6 ounce fingerless gloves allow grappling while protecting knuckles when striking
• Handwraps - 180-inch hand wraps to protect hands and wrists.
• Rashguard - tight-fitting athletic shirt.
• Shorts - Flexible MMA fight shorts, often with side slits.
• Grappling shoes - Provides traction and foot protection on the mat.
• Mouthguard - Protects teeth and jaw.
• Groin protector - A hard cup protects the groin from accidental strikes.
• Shin guards - Limit bruising and cuts to shins during sparring.

Since MMA allows extensive grappling and groundwork, the gear provides comfort and range of motion in all positions. 

Kickboxing Gear

• Gloves - 8-10 ounce boxing gloves.
• Handwraps - 180-inch hand wraps.
• Boots - Supportive high tops distribute the force of kicks.
• Trunk protector - Padded midsection guard.
• Mouthguard - Protects teeth and jaw.
• Groin protector - A hard cup protects the groin.
• Shin guards - Limit bruising and cuts to shins.

More giant gloves and protective equipment help reduce cuts and injuries during repetitive strikes.

Pros and Cons of Each

MMA and kickboxing both offer great benefits but also come with some downsides.

MMA Pros

• Learn effective striking, grappling, and ground fighting.
• An excellent full-body workout.
• Gain strength, endurance, flexibility, balance.
• It is a very realistic technique for self-defense.
• Develop confidence, discipline, and mental toughness.

MMA Cons

• There is a higher risk of cuts, bruises, and concussions.
• It can take years to develop all-around skills.
• Training is grueling and demanding.
• It takes more work to compete and succeed at high levels.

Kickboxing Pros

• Learn effective punching and kicking skills.
• Fun, high-energy workouts.
• Build lower body strength.
• Technical skill development.
• Social atmosphere at many gyms.

Kickboxing Cons

• Limited applicability for self-defense.
• There is a higher risk of repetitive injuries to hands and feet.
• It has narrow ground fighting skill development.
• It can promote violent tendencies.

As you can see, MMA is highly comprehensive but comes with more significant risks and demands. Kickboxing is simpler but needs realism for today's mixed-discipline street fights.

Which is Better, MMA vs. Kickboxing for Self Defense?

For pure self-defense applications, most experts recommend MMA over kickboxing. Here's why:

• MMA teaches realistic clinching, throws, takedowns, and ground fighting, common in street altercations. Kickboxing needs to improve these critical skills.
• Kickboxing focuses heavily on scoring points rather than finishing fights decisively. In self-defense, you need to end conflicts quickly using knockout power.
• The fingerless gloves and restricted rules of MMA allow techniques like eye gouging, headbutts, and groin strikes that are brutally effective for the street.

Of course, any martial art is better than no training at all. But for well-rounded self-defense ability, MMA reigns supreme over the largely standing-based art of kickboxing.

Which One Is Right for You, MMA or Kickboxing?

As you can understand, MMA and kickboxing have something in common but substantial differences. Hence, which choice will you choose? Here are some factors to help you decide.

Consider MMA If You Want:

• A comprehensive system structured to operate in all ranges and under all potential fighting conditions.
• Workouts that are constantly dynamic with high-volume aerobics and overall fitness.
• To train some practical methods for self-defense.
• An overwhelming mix of mental and physical challenges.

Consider Kickboxing If You Want:

• To focus primarily on stand-up punching and kicking skills.
• Active workouts are exciting and motivating for attaining good physical fitness.
• To have fun with classmates in a social context.

Take an intro class in each to experience the vibe and training styles firsthand. That will help determine whether MMA or kickboxing matches your fitness goals and personality.

The Bottom Line

MMA and kickboxing offer two approaches to full-contact combat sports. MMA allows dynamic integration of techniques from various disciplines, including extensive ground fighting. Kickboxing focuses more narrowly on polished striking skills for the ring.

While MMA is the superior self-defense style, kickboxing still provides excellent fitness and technical development. Choose the option that best fits your interests and motivations. Just be ready to work hard and challenge yourself!