| Mixed Martial Arts | | | | dirty boxing moves. Most of these fighters |
| While browsing ESPN, you spot what seems like a | | | | started wrestling before incorporating boxing |
| boxing match, until suddenly opponents start to | | | | techniques. Don Frye, Dan Henderson and Randy |
| kick one another. The next thing you know, the | | | | Couture are familiar with this style of fighting. |
| two fighters are on the ground, striking one | | | | Ground-and-pound involves the taking down or |
| another. Welcome to the exciting and increasingly | | | | throwing of an opponent. The next step is to get |
| popular arena of mixed martial arts (also known | | | | into the dominant position, attacking with strikes. |
| as MMA). You may think this is the next wave in | | | | Wrestlers usually turn to this type of fighting, |
| martial arts entertainment, but this combat sport | | | | which has been used by the likes of Mark |
| has actually been around since the Olympic games | | | | Coleman, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz. |
| in 648 BC. | | | | Since there are so many different styles of MMA |
| What to Expect During a Match | | | | combat associated with mixed martial art, you |
| Mixed martial arts uses three different phases of | | | | may think that there is nothing a fighter can do |
| fighting - stand-up, clinch and ground. Stand-up | | | | to their opponent. In actuality, there are several |
| fighting incorporates boxing, kickboxing and Muay | | | | fouls connected to this sport. A fighter are not |
| Thai. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, | | | | allowed to head-butt, eye gouge, pull the hair, bite, |
| Sambo (from Russia), as well as Judo are used in | | | | attack the groin or strike the back of the head or |
| the clinch phase of fighting. The ground phase of | | | | kidneys of an opponent. |
| fighting is characterized by Brazilian Jui-Jitsu | | | | MMA Organizations |
| (focuses on positioning), shoot wrestling, catch | | | | Bringing the exciting world of mixed martial arts |
| wrestling, Judo, as well as Sambo. | | | | fighting to the public are several different |
| Fighting techniques that you may encounter during | | | | organizations that all have their own specific rules |
| a MMA competition includes kicks, punches, knees, | | | | and regulations. One of the most well known, the |
| pinning holds, sweeps, takedowns, throws, some | | | | Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) - - tests |
| elbowing, as well as hand-to-hand combat. A win is | | | | their fighters for steroids and other illegal |
| typically awarded through the decision of a judge. | | | | substances before allowing entrance to one of |
| Matches are timed, therefore, the decision comes | | | | their championship bouts. In this organization, |
| after the allotted time has passed. Other | | | | elbow strikes are allowed with the exception of |
| circumstances that end a fight include referee | | | | ones that come from the north-south direction. |
| stoppage, fight doctor decision, submission, | | | | PRIDE Fighting Championships mainly offer two |
| cornerman throwing in the towel and of course, a | | | | different MMA weight classes (heavyweight and |
| knockout. | | | | middleweight) and forbids fighters from |
| The Mixed Martial Arts of Today | | | | intentionally hanging an arm or leg on the ropes. |
| The kind of fighting techniques associated with | | | | With the ZST, which is an organization based in |
| the mixed martial arts of today deals with a | | | | Japan, there are two five-minute rounds. At the |
| combination of different professional fighting | | | | end of a match, a fight is deemed a draw if there |
| styles. Most commonly, a fighter started training in | | | | was no knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO) |
| one specific arena of fighting and later decided to | | | | or Submission. MMA judges are not used in this |
| branch off into other styles of combat. The main | | | | form of fighting. Shooto is another form of |
| styles of fighting include sprawl-and-brawl, | | | | combat fighting that presents separate rules and |
| clinch-and-pound and ground-and-pound. | | | | regulations for three different class levels (A, B, |
| Sprawl-and-brawl is a stand-up fighting approach | | | | and C). Level C is set aside for the amateurs. |
| that utilizes striking and purposefully avoids fighting | | | | Three 4-minute rounds are attached to the |
| on the ground. This type of fighter usually has a | | | | International Fight League, which uses a different |
| strong background in boxing, kickboxing, Muay | | | | pair of gloves, offering less padding. |
| Thai or karate. To fight in this style, MMA fighters | | | | Regardless of where or within which mma |
| have undergone training in wrestling. Well-known | | | | organization, mixed martial arts madness is |
| mixed martial artists connected to this approach | | | | sweeping the globe and is coming to a "cage" |
| include Chuck Liddell, Maurice Smith and Phil | | | | near you! |
| Barconi. | | | | Clark Swihart is the President and Founder of |
| Clinch-and pound uses clinch fighting tactics | | | | CAS Enterprises, LLC. |
| characterized by a clinch hold. While a fighter holds | | | | Please visit the following website for more |
| an opponent so that they cannot move, they will | | | | information... |
| often strike the body using their knees, or other | | | | |