| MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has become a huge | | | | different martial arts to adapt to any style, |
| global phenomenon over a short space of time. | | | | depending on the opponent. |
| 1. Throughout the ages, different styles of martial | | | | 6. MMA has helped martial arts evolve in terms of |
| arts, boxing and wrestling have competed against | | | | training, fitness and effectiveness. Previously less |
| each other to see which style is best. Unarmed | | | | popular or relatively unknown fighting styles have |
| combat sports were common place in Roman | | | | become more popular thanks to their success in |
| times and in ancient Greece and Egypt, so MMA is | | | | MMA competitions. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai |
| certainly not a new sport! | | | | (Thai Boxing) are two of the most effective all |
| 2. MMA today combines aspects of various | | | | round martial arts, and are part of the training |
| martial arts. Rather than fighters being highly | | | | regime for many MMA fighters. |
| proficient in just one martial art, MMA fighters | | | | 7. Improved rules and regulations has seen the |
| need to know several to be an effective fighter. | | | | reputation of MMA improve from what was |
| A successful MMA fighter will need to be able to | | | | perceived as "street fighting" or "fight to the |
| punch and block using boxing techniques, grapple | | | | death" contests to proper organised events. |
| like a wrestler and perform submission moves like | | | | 8. MMA fighters are not allowed to strike to the |
| a judo player. | | | | groin, gouge eyes, or strike an unconscious |
| 3. Depending on an MMA fighter's background and | | | | opponent for example. Each country and |
| skills, s/he may need to learn additional skills in | | | | federation has its own rules, but overall, the rules |
| order to be successful against any type of | | | | are there to protect the fighters. Some rules are |
| opponent. A fighter from a Jiu Jitsu background | | | | designed to make the fight more appealing fro |
| will struggle against a boxer if s/he can't take the | | | | spectators, and encourage the fighters to fight |
| boxer to the ground where the Jiu Jitu fighter can | | | | rather than shy away from each other. |
| utilise their floor and submission skills. Similarly, a | | | | 9. MMA was considered as a new addition for the |
| boxer, or someone with a Thai boxing or Karate | | | | 2004 Olympics under the banner Pankration, which |
| background will not want to be taken to the | | | | was the ancient Greek name for a combined |
| ground. | | | | wrestling and boxing style of unarmed combat. |
| 4. An MMA fighter with good wrestling and | | | | However, due to a vast number of new sports |
| submission skills will often look to take his/her | | | | suggested, there were no new sports introduced |
| opponent to the floor. An upright fighter will use | | | | to make it fair for all concerned. |
| kicks, blocks and punches to keep his/her | | | | 10. The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) was |
| opponent from getting close enough to force | | | | founded in 1993 to find the most effective martial |
| them to the floor. Each fighter will fight to his/her | | | | art for real unarmed combat situations. The |
| strengths, and will try and stop their opponent | | | | different competitions and weight categories have |
| from fighting to their strengths. | | | | seen some amazing fights and champions. UFC |
| 5. As a result of this, MMA fighters will learn skills | | | | has become so popular that some MMA events |
| and techniques from other martial arts. This allows | | | | have brought in Pay Per View viewers and |
| them to carry on fighting even if they are out of | | | | revenue that rival boxing and football. |
| their comfort zone. MMA fighters need to know | | | | Know you know more about it, why not try MMA |
| aspects of many martial arts to be successful. | | | | for yourself and see what all the fuss is about? |
| Bruce Lee pioneered combining elements of | | | | |