| Mixed Martial Arts is essentially an unarmed | | | | America, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, England, Holland, |
| combat sport, often described as no-holds-barred | | | | France, and Russia. Unlike other martial arts |
| combat sport. Also popularly known as MMA, this | | | | sports, rules were not standardized and the sole |
| free style martial arts involves various fight forms | | | | aim was to locate the best fighter in the world. |
| - Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, | | | | However, the fighters must follow a few rules for |
| Boxing, and Wrestling. Mixed Martial Arts is quite | | | | safety as well as to go with the spirit of the |
| popular among martial arts fans who take it up | | | | sport. Biting, eye-gouging, fish-hooking, attack on |
| for varied reasons - fitness, self-defense, fight | | | | the groin, use of abusive language, small joint |
| tournaments, or as a fun activity. | | | | manipulation, etc are considered unethical and |
| The documented history of Mixed Martial Arts | | | | illegal. |
| (MMA) competition is traced back to the ancient | | | | MMA athletes are generally categorized as |
| Greece. Back then it was known as Pankration. | | | | groundfighters, wrestlers, or strikers. A |
| Similar to today's MMA tournaments, the fighters | | | | groundfighter follows a strategy to force a fight |
| in those days used a combination of wrestling and | | | | to the ground seeking submission, while a wrestler |
| boxing techniques in the Pankration tournaments. | | | | focuses on takedown and a striker aims to win |
| However, it was in 1993, after the first Ultimate | | | | with a knockout. No matter what category they |
| Fighting Championships (UFC), that the world took | | | | belong to, a comprehensive training is paramount |
| notice of this sport. It is closely associated with | | | | in order to be a complete MMA athlete. |
| the Gracie family (the creators of Brazilian Jiu | | | | Traditionally, the MMA fighters were trained in one |
| Jitsu) as MMA tournaments are quite similar to the | | | | or more of the martial art sport like Muay Thai |
| Vale tudo martial arts tournaments held in Brazil | | | | Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or any other. Nowadays, |
| by the family in the 1920s. Not just that, the | | | | the students get trained specifically for MMA |
| winner of the first UFC was Royce Gracie of the | | | | irrespective of their previous martial arts training, |
| Gracie family. The sport is largely developed in | | | | under the guidance of professional trainers. |
| Brazil, the US, and Japan as compared to other | | | | There are a number of professional training |
| nations. | | | | schools all over United States, including in |
| Striking and grappling are the two predominant | | | | Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. area that |
| techniques that are combined in Marylant Mixed | | | | provide specialized training to be a refined MMA |
| Martial Arts and in Virginia Mixed Martial Arts Arts | | | | athlete. |
| that are borrowed from the martial art sports of | | | | |