#13 MMA Striking and the Center of Gravity | Budo Aspect Sports TV

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Do you like watching MMA matches?
If your answer is “yes,” let me ask you one question.
Why does MMA striking look so different from striking in other martial arts?
Why do MMA fighters throw punches with such large, exaggerated movements?
This time, I want to explain this from my perspective.

In most striking arts, strong punches are created by stabilizing the lower body and using the ground.
Power normally travels from the feet, through the legs and hips, and into the fist.
In MMA, however, if a fighter plants their feet too firmly, they risk being caught and taken down.
So instead of fixing the lower body, MMA fighters keep their legs and hips free.
Rather than using strong rotation from the lower body, they rely on the movement of the spine—
like a whip.
That is why MMA striking often looks so large and dynamic.

Interestingly, there was a boxer who used a similar mechanism: Manny Pacquiao.
Because the punching mechanisms of MMA and boxing are fundamentally different,
Conor McGregor was able to land some punches against Floyd Mayweather in their boxing match.
McGregor ultimately lost, but he managed to compete better than many expected against Mayweather,
who is known as a defensive master.