| Full-contact fighting appeals to participants | | | | tudo, which means "anything goes," is a form |
| who want to engage in realistic combat with | | | | of full-contact fighting. Full-contact rules |
| an opponent. Competitions tend to be more | | | | are used in almost all mixed martial arts |
| aggressive and may have few rules or almost | | | | competitions held by the UFC, PRIDE, |
| no rules except the imperative to physically | | | | Pancrase, and Shooto. Recently, however, |
| defeat the opponent. In general, competitors | | | | safety rules were written and the use of |
| have more freedom in full-contact as opposed | | | | protective gloves was added. Brazilian |
| to medium-contact fighting, though often | | | | Jiu-Jitsu and judo, which do not allow |
| there are some techniques, such as biting and | | | | striking, are still full-contact fighting in |
| attacking the eyes or groin, which are | | | | that full force can be used during grappling |
| forbidden. A point or time system may or may | | | | and submissions. Sambo has full-contact |
| not be used, as this would interfere with | | | | variations of its fighting system. |
| realistic combat. The term "full contact" may | | | | |
| also refer to the limitation of protective | | | | Some practitioners of full-contact, |
| gear. As an example, kyokushin, a variant of | | | | hand-to-hand combat believe that physically |
| karate, allows participants to wear no more | | | | defeating the enemy is the only goal in a |
| protection than a groin guard while sparring. | | | | competition. Winning a sports match by rules |
| | | | does not appeal to them. They treat |
| Depending on the rules, full-contact fighting | | | | competition in the martial arts as a matter |
| may allow participants to use full force to | | | | of life and death, and they pursue training |
| disable or knock out an opponent or achieve | | | | and the study of fighting techniques without |
| submission. At its extreme, the term "full | | | | regard to competitive rules or ethical and |
| contact" may mean that all techniques of | | | | legal concerns. Even so, with precautions |
| attack are permitted and that no zones of the | | | | such as a referee and a ring doctor, |
| body are forbidden from attack. In the early | | | | full-contact matches with basic rules can |
| UFC events, judges, time limits, and points | | | | serve as a useful gauge of a practitioner's |
| were not used. The outcome of a competition | | | | overall fighting ability and encompass |
| was determined by the inability of one of the | | | | striking, grappling, holds, and other broad |
| participants to continue. In Portuguese, vale | | | | categories. |