Combat sports over the last decade have gained massive amounts of popularity, connecting with fan bases across the world. The growth of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and other professional organizations has led to athletes across the globe introducing themselves to the world of martial arts.
MMA combines several different martial arts in competition. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai/kickboxing and wrestling. As the sport grows in popularity, more gyms and training facilities open across the country.
Connecticut is home to the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Alex Periera, who trains out of Danbury. The state now has over 15 public gyms where residents can partake in various classes and martial arts.
New Haven County is the home to several martial arts gyms. Soulcraft martial arts, Ultimate MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, Ronin BJJ, and Performance Combat MMA are all gyms within the area that are open to the public.
A common misconception about MMA and all combat sports is the ability it has with promoting better mental health among its athletes. Many people seem to look over this, and view combat sports for what they are, combat. Martial arts are a great way for people to learn strengths such as discipline, self-worth and strong work ethic, which all can be carried over into life outside of the gym. Whether it’s working the way through the belts in Jiu-jitsu, simply learning self-defense, or training for a professional/amateur event, it’s a way to stay mentally and physically fit while working toward a set goal.
With how popular the sport has become and the growth that the UFC and other organizations have attracted, their athletes have opened to their fans about the importance that fighting and martial arts had on their lives.
Former champion Conor McGregor told eir Sport about the importance of training and physical activity.
“Anytime I was in the gym I was happy, whatever’s going on in my life good or bad, I go to the gym I exercise. Exercise is the best form of medication.”
City News interviewed UFC legend and former three-time middleweight champion, Georges St-Pierre who is regarded as one of the best of all time in the UFC. The former champion opened up about how mixed martial arts helped him mentally throughout his early life.
Brad Wolfson, who is a BJJ black belt and an instructor at Soulcraft martial arts in Hamden, talks about the mental benefits of martial arts.
“A lot of people are going through tough times, they’re looking for community”, said Wolfson. ‘It gives people a place where they can fit in and feel comfortable, and it’s a way people can manage their anxiety and other mental health related things.”
The martial arts space is a community, where the athletes you surround yourself with are focused on a similar goal of improving their skills. The instructors facilitating workouts have also once been a first-time or new student at some point. Understanding that martial arts is a timely process, and that every athlete will learn at their own pace, rather than setting a standard for everyone.
Most martial art studios and gyms have students and athletes from all age ranges, different socioeconomic backgrounds, different religions and sexual orientations. “It’s a space where these people can coexist and become friends in this environment because they all have the same passion for training.” said Wolfson.
Many MMA fighters and newcomers will turn to martial arts in times of need. Being physically active has been proven to be effective in helping people keep a stronger mental state. Martial arts utilize all the physical benefits of a workout while also working towards a certain goal whether it’s a belt rank or simply just to learn.
Marisa Messer-Belenchia is a pro MMA fighter out of Invicta FC an all-women MMA organization, a pro boxer with CES Boxing and also holds a black belt in BJJ training out of Ultimate MMA & Jiu-jitsu in North Haven. Originally wanting to try her hand in wrestling, Marisa gravitated to more traditional martial arts, picking up over 30 professional wins across her ongoing career.
Marisa stated how she was motivated to start training seriously after a series of personal challenges earlier in her life. “I had a lot of adversity in my life, even earlier in my career, ‘ said Marisa. “Training has just always been something that has been there for me.”
Former UFC featherweight champ Alex Volkanovski spoke about his decision to take a short notice fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, and how despite the outcome, taking the fight is something that he felt he needed to do for himself mentally.
Many fighters often feel that they are not themselves, when outside of the gym. The gym and training facilities have become a second home to many fighters. When these fighters are forced to sit out due to injury or other circumstances, they realize how much mental clarity the sport actually provides for them.
Training in combat sports differs from other sports. Combat sports and martial arts allow individuals to work and progress in ways team sports don’t focus on. “Traditional team sports, you want that camaraderie, whereas in martial arts and Jiu-jitsu especially, your progression does not rely on your team.” said Marissa
The beauty of martial arts, which many people tend to overlook, is how widespread the community is. With so many gyms opening across the country, the demographic has also changed to not only target adults, but children of all different backgrounds are being encouraged to take part in martial arts.
MMA and martial art gyms are very welcoming to and understanding of each athlete’s reason for choosing to train. Fighters and athletes alike use their sport or martial art as an escape from a number of feelings or mental challenges one may face.
Many individuals dealing with self-esteem, stress, personal traumas and other mental challenges are able to use martial arts as their outlet. Even celebrities over recent years have begun involving themselves in MMA. Actor Robert Downey Jr. has expressed his experiences of the sport and how it became a positive part of his life.
People have overlooked the positive aspects that MMA and martial arts can provide, going off the misconception that the sport thrives off masculinity and violence. However, these athletes are becoming part of communities. Although small, the various martial arts in MMA are their own respective communities. The beauty of martial arts is how welcoming it can be to almost anyone. With a worldwide fanbase and the culture that is growing every day, people of all different demographics and ethnic backgrounds, and ages are able improve and evolve over time.
MMA is different from other traditional sports for youth athletes. When compared to traditional sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball and other team sports, martial arts provide benefits that other traditional sports simply cannot. Taking martial arts seriously is a way to better one’s physical, psychological, spiritual health, and other wellness benefits.
With the growth of professional MMA and martial arts organizations, hopefully more people will continue to attend martial arts classes at the recreational level. Mental health is of the upmost importance, and every person has different ways of handling stress and negativity. Martial arts are a way for us to channel negative energy and put it back into something positive and beneficial, so despite all the violence shown on TV and throughout social media, there truly are ways that martial arts and MMA can lead to positive changes in people’s mental health, regardless of the level they choose to compete in.
