MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) History.

MMA, Mixed Martial Arts is all about using any move or technique learned in basically any martial art to defeat an opponent, therefore it can be difficult to place its exact creation or inception in history. Of course, the earliest contact sport or martial art with very few rules (or a no holds barred concept) was called pankration and was started in Greece around the year 648 B.C., taking its place among other sports in the Olympic Games.

It can be safely said that while pankration may have been the parent sport of other full-contact combat styles, it was too early a form to have any direct influence itself. However, it has taken on many techniques from the sports and martial arts that pankration had spawned.

Wrestling is one of its greatest influencers and to the untrained eye, a MMA, Mixed Martial Arts competition or match can be mistaken for a modern wrestling match. It was during the late 1800's that wrestling and boxing became popular and participants such as John L. Sullivan and William Muldoon were well known for some of their no holds barred antics.

Because of this, many people held anything goes matches and more often than not, the wrestler won. In Europe, Jiu Jitsu versus boxing matches were held, and sometimes, it was boxing versus other styles as well. There was definitely a demand for both people who wanted to study MMA, Mixed Martial Arts and observers who wanted to watch competitions for sport or show.

Not surprisingly, a major catalyst in the creation of MMA, Mixed Martial Arts was the one and only Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee formed his own styles by making use of different styles such as Karate, fencing, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and more to allow him to use what he felt were the best defenses and the best attacks from each martial art. In addition to Bruce Lee, a prominent figure is a man by the name of Royce Gracie who in 1993 won the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was after this that it gained a heavy cult following and began to spark interest across the globe.

As MMA, Mixed Martial Arts became more and more prominent, competitions and matches became commonplace in both the martial arts world and the entertainment industry. Students learned to borrow moves and techniques from each other to help each other discover what the best and most useful defenses and attacks were. Of course, a student must be trained in several different forms before they are ready to compete in a match or competition. The popularity and recognition that it has received thus far shows absolutely no signs of slowing down, in fact, the sport is becoming increasingly attractive to both spectators and students.

MMA History and Rules.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) may seem like a very modern construct, but the truth of the matter is that people have always been interested in figuring out what styles of martial arts were the best and what would happen when one style was pitted against the other. For instance, the Greeks had their pankration, which was an event that would be very similar to anyone who has attended an MMA mixed martial arts tournament, where later on, the Romans and the Etruscans would have something a bit more bloody. During the 1800s, there was a strong trend towards mixing fighters of different styles. For instance, heavyweight boxers often went toe to toe with Greco-Roman wrestlers.

Even in our own century, MMA, mixed martial arts has a long history. There were early mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments that were known as kakutougi in Japan during the seventies, while in Brazil there was the presence of the vale tudo martial arts tournaments, which translates to Portuguese for "anything goes." MMA, Mixed martial arts first gained a widespread popularity in the United States in the early nineties when the Brazilian ju-jitsu competitor, Royce Gracie won the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gracie subdued three challengers in just five minutes, making history and bringing MMA, mixed martial arts to an audience that was very ready to receive it.

From there, MMA, mixed martial arts has only grown in acclaim and acceptance. As of 2005, the United States Army started sanctioning mixed martial arts, MMA in the first annual Army Combatives Championships. There have also been a large number of publicized events that focus on mixed martial arts, MMA and a great deal of media coverage granted to this sport as well. This is a sport which has drawn many people interested in the pure spirit of martial arts, where effectiveness is the primary consideration.

As mixed martial arts have evolved, the rules have gone beyond no-holds-barred, any style accepted rules that predominated in the early versions of the sport. As of 2000, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial arts were created, and many organizations have adopted them. Rounds are set at five minutes with a one minute break in between, and while title matches are sanctioned for five rounds, non-title bouts may not exceed three rounds. All contenders fight in shorts and they must used approved light gloves that allow fingers to grab. The ten point rule is in effect for all fights, and the winner receives ten points. All elbow strikes are allowed except for those that hit illegal striking areas on the body. Gouging, clawing, kicking a grounded opponent, spitting at an opponent and disregarding the instructions of the referee are all grounds for a foul.

As you can see, mixed martial arts have gone through quite an evolution throughout its history. As time progresses this sport will no doubt experience more metamorphosis.