Combat Sports & Martial Arts Quiz

Question 1

What does MMA stand for and what distinguishes it from other combat sports?

Accepted Answer

Mixed Martial Arts — a combat sport allowing striking and grappling techniques from multiple martial arts disciplines

Answer

Modern Martial Arts — a sport that only uses modern techniques developed since 1990

Answer

Mixed Method Athletics — a combined event sport including running and fighting

Answer

Martial Methods Association — the governing body for combat sports

Question 2

In judo, what is an 'ippon' and why does it immediately end the contest?

Accepted Answer

A perfect throw where the opponent is thrown forcefully onto their back — it scores maximum points and immediately wins the contest, like a knockout

Answer

A warning for illegal technique — two ippons result in disqualification

Answer

A submission hold held for 10 seconds

Answer

A throw that scores 7 points in the new electronic scoring system

Question 3

What is the difference between freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling?

Accepted Answer

Freestyle allows leg grabs and trips; Greco-Roman prohibits holds or attacks below the waist

Answer

They use different weight classes

Answer

Freestyle is individual; Greco-Roman is team competition

Answer

Freestyle is amateur; Greco-Roman is professional only

Question 4

What is 'Brazilian jiu-jitsu' (BJJ) and which family is credited with developing it?

Accepted Answer

A ground-based grappling art focused on submissions and positional control, developed and popularised by the Gracie family

Answer

A striking art from Brazil similar to capoeira, developed by the Silva family

Answer

A Brazilian variation of Japanese jiu-jitsu focused on throws, developed by the Santos family

Answer

A hybrid art combining Brazilian capoeira with Japanese techniques

Question 5

In taekwondo, which scoring technique carries the highest point value?

Accepted Answer

A kick to the head (3 points) or spinning/jumping kick to the head (4 points)

Answer

A punch to the torso (1 point)

Answer

A spinning kick to the torso (2 points)

Answer

A takedown with ground control (5 points)

Question 6

Who is Conor McGregor and what made him historically significant in MMA?

Accepted Answer

Both B and C — he was the first two-division champion and the sport's biggest pay-per-view draw

Answer

The first MMA fighter to defeat a boxing world champion in a professional boxing match

Answer

The first UFC fighter to hold two championship belts simultaneously, in featherweight and lightweight

Answer

The highest-paid MMA fighter who brought mainstream attention to the sport

Question 7

What is 'sumo' wrestling and what body area must touch outside the ring for a wrestler to lose?

Accepted Answer

A Japanese wrestling form where the loser is the first to touch the ground with any body part other than the soles of their feet, or step outside the circular ring

Answer

A Japanese wrestling form where competitors must throw each other over a rope barrier

Answer

A competition where competitors fight to push each other onto a raised platform

Answer

A form where leg sweeps are the only permitted technique

Question 8

What is 'muay thai' and why is it important in MMA?

Accepted Answer

Thai kickboxing — uses fists, elbows, knees, and kicks — considered the most effective stand-up striking art in MMA

Answer

A Thai grappling art focused on ground control

Answer

Traditional Thai weaponry fighting adapted for unarmed competition

Answer

A low-impact Thai martial art combining yoga with defensive striking

Question 9

Karate was added to the Olympics in 2020. What are the two Olympic karate disciplines?

Accepted Answer

Sparring (kumite) and forms (kata)

Answer

Full-contact and semi-contact

Answer

Traditional and sport karate

Answer

Individual and team kata

Question 10

What is a 'rear-naked choke' in MMA and wrestling?

Accepted Answer

A choke applied from behind where the attacker's arm wraps around the opponent's neck and squeezes the carotid arteries, cutting blood flow to the brain

Answer

A standing chokehold applied from behind the opponent's neck

Answer

A wrestling hold applied to the lower back that causes pain but no choking

Answer

A submission hold that compresses the windpipe

Question 11

In Olympic wrestling, what is a 'pin' (fall)?

Accepted Answer

Holding both of your opponent's shoulder blades to the mat simultaneously for 1 second (WWE-style 3-count is not Olympic wrestling)

Answer

Scoring 10 more points than your opponent

Answer

A throw that earns maximum points

Answer

When a competitor steps out of the wrestling area

Question 12

What is the 'guard position' in Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

Accepted Answer

The position where the bottom fighter has their legs wrapped around the top fighter, controlling and attacking from below

Answer

A defensive stance used in stand-up striking

Answer

The position where a fighter stands over a downed opponent

Answer

A submission position where both fighters compete for arm control

Question 13

Judo was founded by which Japanese educator and what philosophy does it promote?

Accepted Answer

Jigoro Kano, who developed it from jiu-jitsu and promoted maximum efficiency with minimum effort

Answer

Gichin Funakoshi, who promoted 'empty hand' self-defence

Answer

Morihei Ueshiba, who created a defensive art focused on redirecting attacks

Answer

Masahiko Kimura, who promoted submission grappling as both sport and life philosophy

Question 14

What is fencing and which three weapons are used in Olympic fencing?

Accepted Answer

A sword-fighting sport — weapons are foil, épée, and sabre

Answer

A sword-fighting sport — weapons are sabre, rapier, and longsword

Answer

A sword-fighting sport — weapons are foil, épée, and broadsword

Answer

A sword-fighting sport — weapons are foil, sabre, and katana

Question 15

What does 'kata' mean in martial arts and why is it practised?

Accepted Answer

A pre-arranged sequence of movements representing imaginary fights — practised to encode and preserve techniques, develop muscle memory and focus

Answer

A competitive sparring match between two practitioners

Answer

A belt rank test in Japanese martial arts

Answer

A meditative breathing exercise practised before training

Question 16

What is the UFC's 'octagon' and why was this shape chosen for the fighting area?

Accepted Answer

An eight-sided chain-link fence enclosure — originally designed to prevent fighters from getting caught in corners as in boxing, while preventing them from escaping

Answer

A hexagonal cage — the six sides represent the six core MMA disciplines

Answer

A circular ring elevated above the crowd for better viewing

Answer

A square cage with rounded corners for safety in the wrestling exchanges

Question 17

What is the 'armbar' submission and in which combat sports is it used?

Accepted Answer

An elbow/arm extension submission where the attacker hyperextends the opponent's elbow joint — used in BJJ, MMA, judo, and sambo

Answer

A standing neck hold used in wrestling and sambo

Answer

A grip used in Olympic weightlifting

Answer

A hold that controls both of the opponent's arms simultaneously in wrestling

Question 18

What is 'capoeira' and where did it originate?

Accepted Answer

An Afro-Brazilian martial art combining dance, acrobatics, and music — developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil who disguised it as dance

Answer

A Chinese acrobatic martial art used in film choreography

Answer

An Argentine tango-based fighting system

Answer

A Brazilian military combat system developed in the 20th century

Question 19

In sambo, the Russian combat sport, what does the word 'SAMBO' stand for?

Accepted Answer

Self-defence without weapons (Samozashchita Bez Oruzhiya) in Russian

Answer

Soviet Armed Military Body Offence

Answer

Strength and Martial Body Operations

Answer

The name of its founder Vasily Sambo

Question 20

Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in judo?

Accepted Answer

Japan

Answer

Brazil

Answer

France

Answer

Russia