Combat Sports Vocabulary

noun the action of hitting or beating someone or something repeatedly

adjective relating to or involving repeated hitting or beating

• The evidence presented in court clearly showed a pattern of severe battering inflicted upon the victim.
• She finally left him after years of enduring his constant battering.
• I can't believe he's still with her after all the emotional battering she puts him through.
• The storm was so intense, it felt like nature was battering the coastline.

noun a sport or activity of fighting with the fists, especially as a form of entertainment or exercise

• The boxing match was scheduled for Saturday evening at the arena.
• I love watching boxing matches on TV with my friends.
• He's been boxing with his inner demons for years now.
• Their argument turned into a verbal boxing match, with neither side willing to back down.

noun a military person

adjective relating to or characteristic of war or warriors

• The martial arts class focused on self-defense techniques.
• He's been studying martial arts for years and is really skilled.
• I heard he's a black belt in martial arts.
• The team's unity was like a martial force, unstoppable and strong.

noun the act of parrying

verb to ward off or deflect a blow, attack, or argument

• The fencer demonstrated excellent parrying techniques during the match.
• He was really good at parrying the attacks in the game.
• She totally owned the fight by parrying all of his moves.
• In a debate, it's important to be skilled at parrying arguments effectively.

verb to penetrate or pass through with or as if with a sharp instrument

• The needle was able to pierce through the tough fabric.
• I accidentally pierced my finger with a needle while sewing.
• He pierced through the crowd like a boss.
• Her words seemed to pierce through his heart.

noun a boxer, especially a professional one

• The pugilist trained rigorously for the upcoming boxing match.
• The pugilist is getting ready to throw down in the ring.
• That pugilist is a beast when it comes to fighting.
• She was a pugilist in the courtroom, fighting for justice with every case.

noun the act of suddenly springing back or recoiling

verb to spring or jerk back, as from an impact or a blow

• The gun's powerful recoil made it difficult to maintain accuracy.
• I always flinch at the recoil when shooting my dad's old rifle.
• I can't handle the recoil on that thing, it kicks like a mule!
• She recoiled at the thought of having to confront her fears.

noun a term used in some countries as a racial slur for a person of mixed Black and White ancestry

• Sambo is a traditional Russian martial art that combines elements of judo and wrestling.
• I'm thinking of taking up sambo classes to improve my self-defense skills.
• Let's go watch some sambo fights at the gym later.
• In the business world, knowing how to navigate office politics is like mastering the art of sambo.

noun a glancing blow or hit along the side of something, especially a vehicle

verb to strike or hit with a glancing blow along the side

• The driver was charged with a sideswipe accident on the highway.
• I accidentally sideswiped a parked car while trying to parallel park.
• Watch out for that car, it might sideswipe you if you get too close.
• Her cutting remark felt like a sideswipe to my self-esteem.

verb to make an aggressive growling sound

adjective twisted or tangled in a confused mass

• The traffic snarled due to the accident on the highway.
• The dog snarled at the mailman when he approached the house.
• The teenager's hair was so snarled after not brushing it for days.
• The negotiations snarled as both parties refused to compromise.

noun a person skilled in the art of using a sword

• The skilled swordsman demonstrated his expertise in the art of fencing.
• The swordsman showed off some impressive moves with his sword.
• That swordsman is a total badass with a blade!
• She was a swordsman with words, cutting through the lies with precision.

noun a wrestling throw in which one person lifts the opponent off the ground and falls backward to slam the opponent onto their back

• The wrestler executed a flawless suplex during the championship match.
• Did you see that wrestler pull off a sweet suplex last night?
• That was a sick suplex the wrestler hit!
• Her argument was like a verbal suplex, knocking down all of his points effortlessly.

noun a specific weight that a person or animal must reach or maintain in order to compete in a fight or match

• Athletes often have to maintain their fighting weight in order to perform at their best.
• I've been hitting the gym to get back to my fighting weight before the summer.
• I need to shed a few pounds to get to my fighting weight for the beach trip.
• She felt lighter and more energetic after reaching her fighting weight in terms of emotional baggage.

noun the physical structure or enclosure where the fighting takes place

• Cage fighting is a combat sport that takes place in an enclosed area with a chain-link fence.
• I heard there's a big cage fighting event happening this weekend.
• Those guys are crazy, they're always getting into cage fighting matches.
• Sometimes life feels like being in a cage fighting match, constantly battling against obstacles.