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