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We are a planet of sports lovers with millions watching, playing and following professional sports from the United States to the United Kingdom and everywhere in between. We may not all agree on what the best sport is, with many supporting american football while others back soccer (aka football here in the UK) to the end.
Thousands of avid fans of thoroughbred horse racing attend the top courses and events every week while, while to a big cricket fan, nothing might compare to enjoying international test match cricket at Lords on a sunny afternoon in London.
You don’t have to purchase a ticket to enjoy sports. Many of us are quite content to watch matches, races, and the biggest fights on television or through HD quality live streams on Android and iOS smartphones or other mobile devices. Watching the latest slugfest from the Ultimate Fighting Championship is dramatic while many MMA fans prefer to add a little extra spice to the occasion by making predictions and placing a bet on the outcome.
Online gambling is more popular today than it has ever been in the past with states like New Jersey already lifting their long-running ban on betting while the likes of Florida and New York prepare to put the matter of legalising gambling to a vote.
Practice makes perfect
Supporting, attending, watching and gambling on sports is a worthwhile hobby but, to get the most out of your favourite sport, one approach is to try it for yourself. You can practice from a young age with and aim to compete professionally, train to hold your own at club level or just enjoy your favourite sport as a hobby alongside other like-minded fans.
The benefits of keeping fit through sport are well documented. It helps improve both your physical fitness and mental wellbeing. It also allows you to meet new friends, stay active and sometimes even travel the country.
Which is the best sport to try as a beginner? Which type of activities will have the greatest effect on your fitness and mental health? For some, combat sports is an option. This approach isn’t for everyone, of course, and you should always undertake a medical from your doctor before trying your hand at combat sports, but in this article we discuss the three combat sports you could try this year, as well as three combat/fighting game esports.
Judo
There are countless respected judo classes in the world today with the ancient sport as popular as it has ever been. Judo has long been the go-to combat sport for beginners looking to learn self-defence, learn a life skill and improve their fitness.
The thing we love most about judo is it’s affordable and there’s very little chance of you getting hurt if picking up an injury while training. This martial art relies on using the other person’s weight, strength, and aggression against them, neutralising the threat, and keeping yourself safe.
Boxing
Boxing is the oldest of combat sports with a form of the sport we know today existing for much, if not all, of human history. Boxing training teaches self-defence, aids weight loss, increases balance and builds muscles, but it can also build confidence.
Boxing isn’t about knocking people out by throwing big, eye-catching punches. It preaches discipline, time-keeping, respect, organisation, and commitment.
BJJ
Brazilian Jiujitsu isn’t as old as the two sports mentioned above but it’s every bit as useful. If you have never tried BJJ or watched a competition, you are in for a surprise. It may be similar to judo in terms of using an opponent’s attacks against them, but it’s a workout unlike any other. The first thing you’ll appreciate about BJJ is the fitness involved.
You are unlikely to be hurt if you are training at a good gym as any experienced and sympathetic sparring partner will always release their grip when you tap, or they know they have executed the move correctly. Get ready to go home with a T-shirt drenched in sweat.
Now, onto the esports.
Street Fighter
Street Fighter is one of the oldest fighting video games around, emerging from the arcades a few decades ago into millins of homes from the Super Nintendo era to now being played on big global esports stages.
With pro players over the years setting records like Ryan Hart and Daigo Umehara, Street Fighter is an iconic game in the FGC (fighting game community) and one that rewards patience and inch-perfect combos.
Tekken
Tekken, like Street Fighter, is another game that’s been around since the early days (of the original PlayStation in the ’90s) and has its own esports scene too.
The Iron Fist’s latest game, Tekken 7, might not be quite as cartoony as Street Fighter, but it has a dedicated playerbase.
Smash Bros
Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros is slightly less serious than the above two examples of fighting games, and instead features a host of Nintendo characters brawling in various stages, from Link to Zelda, Mario to Luigi, Pikachu to Charizard and more. It’s an ideal starting point for younger gamers looking to get involved in competitive esports.
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