The History of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed Martial Arts is all about using any move orholds barred antics.
technique learned in basically any martial art toBecause of this, many people held anything goes
defeat an opponent, therefore it can be difficultmatches and more often than not, the wrestler
to place its exact creation or inception in history.won. In Europe, Jiu Jitsu versus boxing matches
Of course, the earliest contact sport or martialwere held, and sometimes, it was boxing versus
art with very few rules (or a no holds barredother styles as well. There was definitely a
concept) was called pankration and was started indemand for both people who wanted to study
Greece around the year 648 B.C., taking its placeMixed Martial Arts and observers who wanted to
among other sports in the Olympic Games.watch competitions for sport or show.
It can be safely said that while pankration mayNot surprisingly, a major catalyst in the creation
have been the parent sport of other full-contactof Mixed Martial Arts was the one and only Bruce
combat styles, it was too early a form to haveLee. Bruce Lee formed his own styles by making
any direct influence itself. However, it has takenuse of different styles such as Karate, fencing,
on many techniques from the sports and martialboxing, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and more to allow him
arts that pankration had spawned.to use what he felt were the best defenses and
Wrestling is one of its greatest influencers and tothe best attacks from each martial art. In addition
the untrained eye, a Mixed Martial Artsto Bruce Lee, a prominent figure is a man by the
competition or match can be mistaken for aname of Royce Gracie who in 1993 won the very
modern wrestling match. It was during the latefirst Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was after
1800's that wrestling and boxing became popularthis that it gained a heavy cult following and began
and participants such as John L. Sullivan and Williamto spark interest across the globe.
Muldoon were well known for some of their no