If you watch UFC matches with any frequency, you may hear mention of some fighting styles. Some of them may be unfamiliar to you.
One of them, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), is part of almost every UFC fighter’s background. Popularized by early UFC competitor Royce Gracie, BJJ is a ground fighting system that relies upon body positioning, chokeholds and joint locks to subdue an opponent. There are five belts in BJJ (white, blue, purple, brown and black), and any higher belt is likely to be a favorite if the fight goes to the ground.
Muay Thai is a popular striking art that originated, unsurprisingly, in Thailand. The system, also known as Thai boxing, famously incorporates the use of strikes from elbows and knees as well as fists and feet. Because of this feature, Muay Thai is often called the “art of eight limbs,” and its practitioners tend to be quite skilled when the fight is standing.