In ancient times, many martial arts were created by patterning their techniques off of the movements and combat skills exhibited by members of the animal kingdom. The tiger attacks head-on with sheer brute force, while the leopard relies on his superior speed for precise attacks. The crane, the snake, and the preying mantis target nerve clusters and soft tissue, while the ape and the dog attack the enemies lower hemisphere. With their greater physical strength and adeptness at surviving in the wild, animals have provided the basis for the most lethal fighting techniques ever conceived, and the combat arts created from them are just as effective today as they ever were!
And with the rise of MMA in the 21st century, some fans have begun to see the spirit of the animal kingdom emerge from some of the best known fighters in the combat sport! One such fan is Jenhao Chan of mmaverse.com. In his article “If MMA fighters were killer animals”, Chan examines the different approaches to fighting adopted by some of the best known MMA fighters in the world, and shows the clear parallel each one holds with a specific member of the animal kingdom. Check out his keen analysis of the animals of MMA below; perhaps you might discover what your own animal spirit is by the time you’ve read through the piece!
http://www.mmaverse.com/if-mma-fighters-were-killer-animals/