Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is taking the world by storm. It is currently the world’s fastest growing combat sport. Not to be confused with a generic mixture of martial arts, MMA is a sport of its own, allowing a wide variety of fighting techniques from martial arts traditions. The rules of MMA allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground.
History of Mixed Martial Arts
MMA competition emerged in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC. Initially based on finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors of various arts were pitted against one another with minimal rules or concern for safety.
Over the next 10 years, MMA promoters adopted many new rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport. Mixed Martial Arts has since grown massively in popularity while promoters have seen financial success to rival other combat sports, including boxing.
MMA Techniques
In the early years, Mixed Martial Arts includes a variety of traditional styles – from sumo wrestling to kickboxing. In time, the less effective techniques were dropped. By the time the UFC was launched, three martial arts styles stood out for their effectiveness in competition: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, amateur wrestling, and shoot wrestling. This combination made fighters most effective during both striking and grappling fighting situations:Stand-up techniques – come from various forms of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and forms of full contact karate. These improve footwork, elbowing, kicking, kneeing and punching.
Clinch techniques – use freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo and judo. These improve clinching, takedowns and throws; while Muay Thai is trained to improve the striking aspect of the clinch.
Ground techniques – come from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, shoot wrestling, catch wrestling, judo and Sambo. These improve submission holds and defense against them, as well as the ability to maintain ground control.
The exact MMA rules vary slightly between competitions (some allow elbow strikes, headbutts and spinal locks). However, there is a universal ban on techniques like biting, strikes to the groin, eye-gouging, fish-hooking and small joint manipulation.
Top MMA Fighters
Mixed Martial Arts fighters come from all around the world. The top fighters currently competing in MMA include:
- Fedor Emelianenko (Russia)
- Anderson Silva (Brazil)
- Georges St Pierre (Canada)
- Randy Couture (USA)
- B J Penn (USA)
- Tim Sylvia (USA)
- Quentin Jackson (USA)
- Wanderlei Silva (Brazil)
Olympic Recognition
It was thought that Olympic recognition of Mixed Martial Arts would be forthcoming for the 2004 Summer Olympics, held in Athens, under the banner of the Greek martial art of pankration. However, the International Olympic Committee was unconvinced that Greece could handle the total number of sports proposed. There are no plans for an MMA medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics; so fans of this popular combat sport are looking towards London 2012 for its debut.MMA Fashion Brands
In line with its rise to fame, Mixed Martial Arts has acquired a number of well-known clothing brands including Sprawl, Tapout, Warrior Wear and KTFO. These popular brands offer specialist MMA shorts (ideal for kicking and grappling) as well as fashion items likes t-shirts, hoodies and hats for both men and women.
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