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Choosing a combat sport to train in is a very personal decision. You should first take into account your preferences and then the rules of that particular sport's league. Once you have narrowed it down to a few choices, research them by reading articles about them, visiting their websites, and watching videos of both beginners and professionals. If this is still difficult, find friends who train in these sports so they can give you more insight from an athlete's perspective!
The most important aspect to consider when choosing a combat sport (for your training or your favorite sport) is safety. Do you feel confident in the rules and regulations of the league? Are there stringent standards for sparring and fighting equipment? Is it safe to fight without protective gear in this particular sport? There are countless cases of permanent damage, brain injury, and even death in MMA competitions.
If this is a major concern for you, maybe a combat sport with protective gear would be a wiser choice or a sport that is essentially safer. Here you might consider jiu-jitsu that you can look up on Google to see what makes jiu-jitsu safe and how the rules apply. Another safety issue to consider is the frequency of injuries at your chosen sport. Look up statistics on both training and competition (if they're kept separate). Do these numbers seem reasonable? One study reported that over half of all injuries sustained by competitors in the UFC occurred during training rather than official tournaments or championships.
How well do you want to get? Is amateur status ok? Or are you looking for a sport that will push you to reach the top? The more competitive your chosen combat sport is, the longer it will take for beginners to break into the scene. That being said, take your time when choosing a combat sport to train in. Don't rush into the first thing that looks interesting to you. It may be best to start in an amateur league if you're only wanting to have fun and try something new, or if you are not sure whether or not this is the sport for you. For those who want more of a challenge, it's better to find a combat sport with a rich history of competition at the professional level so beginners are given smaller chances of competing until they become more experienced.
Another facet of deciding which combat sport is right for you depends on your personal preferences about training hours, teammates, environment, location, etc. Do you prefer working out alone or would you rather do it as a group? Are you more comfortable in a same sex gym or would you rather train with men and boys? Do you like practicing in your garage at home or would you prefer to go somewhere else (gym, studio)?
Do you want to compete or just train? Do you want to learn a martial art or do you prefer already established techniques and rules? Maybe you'd like to become a professional fighter. In that case, you'll need to choose a combat sport with more opportunities for careers as an athlete. For those who'd rather teach this new sport instead, they may be better off sticking with traditional martial arts, such as jiujitsu or boxing where the practice is open to instructors as well as students.
Finally, after considering all the above factors, it is time to narrow down your combat sport choices according to their rules. Some of these sports include boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing/Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and taekwondo. Research them by reading articles about them, visiting their websites, and watching videos of both beginners and professionals. If this is still difficult, find friends who train in these sports so they can give you more insight from an athlete's perspective!
For example, boxing is a combat sport that was originally developed to train soldiers. As the name suggests, it takes place in a boxing ring where competitors must fight each other with their fists until someone quits or gets knocked out. There are many signifiers of amateur and professional status, such as protective gear (none allowed in professional bouts), duration (the number of rounds), weight classes (male only), age divisions (18+ only).
Choosing a perfect combat sport is all about knowing yourself first, then doing some research on what's available. Don't rush into anything! Keep your personal preferences in mind at all times and ask lots of questions before making any decisions. You'll find your perfect match in no time!
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