Want to know the best strikes needed for MMA? Want to know what to train, so you can become an ultimate fighting machine?

You’ve come to the right place!

In this article on our top 10 MMA Strike Techniques, we’ll be educating you on the essential striking techniques you need to know if you’re going to train or compete for one day in MMA.

Welcome to another informative article on our top MMA tutorials.

Breaking Down 10 Standing Strikes

We’ll break down 10 standing strikes you must learn to succeed in MMA. As always Teach to Fight is here to help you with your MMA journey.

Let’s get this thing going, shall we?

The Jab

The first technique you need to learn in MMA is the jab. The jab is a straight shot done with your lead hand. So if you’re an Orthodox fighter in your stance, you jab with your left hand and If you’re a southpaw then you jab with your right hand.

The jab is a speed and setup technique. It’s to be executed as fast as possible toward the opponent and then retracted back just as fast. The jab is useful as it sets up other techniques in your striking arsenal.

For a great job on how to use the jab, for example, watch the fight between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami.

The Cross

The second technique is the cross, sometimes known as the straight power punch is the first shot you should learn with your power hand. It’s called the cross as this shot crosses your body as you throw it. It’s a very powerful shot and is a very straight shot toward the opponent.

This strike, if it lands, can end a fight and fast. So learn the cross, it’s essential for your striking arsenal. A great example of someone using the cross is Conor McGregor. Watch his fight with Jose Aldo to see how effective a cross can be.

The Hook

The third technique is the hook. As the word of this strike suggests, this technique is thrown in the shape of a hook. The hook is an incredibly powerful strike that most fights tend to be finished by. You can throw a hook with both your lead hand and your rear hand. Throwing a hook requires a twisting motion in your body to generate power.

There are many MMA examples of the hook, however, you can watch Robbie Lawler’s fights to see how he uses them effectively.

The Uppercut

The fourth technique is the uppercut. The uppercut is essential to MMA training success and we believe it’s underutilized by beginners, but definitely should be used more often. The uppercut is a great shot because it is incredibly powerful but it can also be used to slip through the guard of your opponent who may be focusing on hooks.

Uppercuts can be used in many variations but check out how devastating this blow can be by watching Jeremy Stephens take out Rafael dos Anjos.

The Leg Kick

The fifth technique is the leg kick. What a devastating technique! To be more precise, here we’re referring to the Muay Thai outside leg kick.

The leg kick is a powerful weapon in MMA. It’s similar to swinging a baseball bat. This is due to kicking with the shin into your opponent’s thigh. Doing this can disable your opponent, even with shin guards.

As the kick lands on the leg, your opponent starts to lose their power, speed, and mobility because the muscles become heavily damaged in the thigh.

Leg kicks are essential for your MMA arsenal. This kick is amazing and it’s the first solely defensive striking technique in this list so far.

The Push Kick

The sixth technique is the push kick. It’s called this because it’s designed to push your opponent away. This kick is thrown by lifting your knee and extending your leg straight at your opponent’s chest with the underside of your foot in a pushing motion.

This is useful when you may be overwhelmed in sparring or a fight, and need to quickly gain some space to reset.

To see how powerful a push kick can be in MMA, just watch Junior Dos Santos vs. Ben Rothwell.

The Fron Kick

The sixth technique is the front kick. Now, this kick is similar but not to be confused with the push kick. The only difference is that this kick is landed with the balls of the toes and not the underside of the foot.

In addition, it is thrown as a quick snap and not a push Landing. This technique to the solar plexus can result in taking the wind out of your opponent and trust me, I know because I’ve had it done to me and it sucks.

This kick can also be thrown at the head if you’re flexible enough and it has the power to end the fight. Just check these two awesome examples of Conor McGregor using it brilliantly against Chad Mendes and Anderson Silva and you’ll see.

The knee strike

The seventh technique is the knee strike. This is an awesome technique that can be used in so many variations from clinches to standing to even in the air. The knee is effective and Devastating. The knee is self-explanatory.

However, Utilizing correct hip rotation and head position accentuates the power and makes this technique fight-ending yet again Watch Anderson Silva for an example of how to throw the strike in many ways

The Elbow

The ninth technique is the elbow. The elbow is similar to the hook except you of course only use half your arm, but due to the compact nature of this strike, it makes it one of the most powerful strikes in MMA. Not only can it end a fight in terms of power, but the elbow is sharp as well.

Therefore it can open cuts in a fight and it can be thrown from many different angles. Even though this is a technique you should learn, always restrict yourself to using it on the pads whilst in training and not in sparring. It is simply too dangerous to throw elbows in training unless you get some bulky elbow pads.

Examples of elbow strikes include Mike Perry vs. Jake Ellenberger, and of course, Yair Rodriguez vs. the Korean Zombie.

The Foot Stop

The tenth technique is the foot stop. This is probably one of the most basic techniques in MMA, which is why it makes this beginner list. You don’t need any training to throw it.

It’s self-explanatory and straightforward. Usually, this technique is used while in the clinch where it’s hard to strike with anything else.

If your opponent has you tied up It could help in getting you into a better position by giving your opponent something else to think about.

Thank you and make sure you read our other great information to boost your fighting IQ and skill as soon as possible.