FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS A CRASH COURSE IN WHERE THIS ALL STARTED MMA STUFF, HERE YOU GO! THIS IS WRITTEN 100% BY ME, IS MY OPINION, AND IS BASED ON MY YEARS OF RESEARCH, STUDYING, EXPERIENCES, AND BELIEFS.
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Mixed Martial Arts, defined
Mixed Martial Arts, commonly referred to as MMA, is a term used to describe the multi-discipline training of martial art students and/or training that encompasses an array of combat arts, blended together in to a singular program.
MMA is also defined as a competitive Combat Fighting Sport that allows competitors to strike an opponent, most often with the Hands, Feet, Legs, Knees, Elbows, and Shoulders as well as utilize physical body ‘take-downs’ by way of throws, trips, slams, and shooting. Combatants also are normally skilled at skeletal joint locks and an array of body positions and control, both standing (such as ‘the clinch’) and on the ground (such as ‘mount’, ‘guard’, ‘side’, ‘cross-body’ etc…). The goal is to gain victory over an opponent by way of Knock Out, Technical Knock Out, Tap Out (when a person gives up by physically tapping a hand or verbally to the referee), or by Judges Decision. Matches are most often held in a Roped Ring (similar to a Boxing Ring) or a Caged Ring. Standard matches are most often 3 five minute rounds, with championship fights being 5 five minute rounds. Fighters traditionally wear shorts and MMA gloves that allow for individual finger movement and normally weigh approximately 4 ounces. Mouth pieces and groin protection are also required. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is widely regarded as the first major organization to formalize the sport of MMA on a National and International level, instituting specific rules and guidelines. States in the United States and many other countries authorize MMA fighting Competition under regulations and governing institutions, such as expanded Boxing Commissions.
Origin of Mixed Martial Arts
The actual origin of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) training can be debated or it can be said that there is no real point of birth. Martial Art Scholars state that the evolution of individual arts, across the world, is the first documentation of mixed martial arts, as previously trained people founded new martial arts based on a knowledge using another combat art’s base. As it is widely held that Kalaripayattu is the oldest Martial Art form in the world, formulated and practiced in India over 3000 years ago, the moment its principles and concepts made it to China to assist in the formation of Kung Fu, that became the first mixed martial art’s training; mixing one art with another.
The earliest MMA organized competitions also have a debatable past, but the most well known (and widely held “first”) fights were held in Roman Coliseum during the original Olympic Games. A blended martial art style known as Pankration was used in full body combat. The Art uses combined principles of wrestling/grappling, boxing, and kickboxing to gain victory over an opponent.
Throughout history there are other documentations of thousands of organized fighting competitions around the world, beyond Western Pugilism (Boxing), that involves different ranges of combat and use different unarmed methods to gain victory over another person. The 1800’s showcased some of the first style-versus-style fights with Wrestlers taking on Boxers, Boxers meeting Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, Greco-Roman Grapplers fighting Judo players, and on and on. These early matches were designed to determine which combat art style was superior to the other.
Around the turn of the 20th century many more all-encompassing competitions started popping up, with Circus Wrestling across the United States, and Vale Tudo (no holds barred) tournaments in Brazil. The Father of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Helio Gracie was part of many early mixed fighting competitions, often being hailed for defeating fighters from various other disciplines. Professional Wrestling was also gaining widespread popularity with many of the earlier pioneers being skilled in Greco-Roman Wrestling, Judo, and Japanese Jujitsu.
In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Martial Arts legend Bruce Lee began formulating his concept of effective fighting known as Jeet Kune Do. Lee’s process involved deeply investigating all of the combative arts of the world and pulling in to his training the specific elements that he believed were necessary to become a complete fighter. For instance, Lee used footwork from Fencing because of it direct, linier movement, elongated kicks of French Savate, throws/takedowns of Judo, and punching/striking of Boxing, among a long list of others. His idea was that an effective combatant needed to be skilled at fighting at any range of combat, in any situation, and from any angle. Though 20 years before the first Ultimate Fighting Championship was held, in the very beginning of Bruce Lee’s 1973 movie “Enter the Dragon” he showcases his idea/view of an all-encompassing combat match that involves kicks, punches, takedowns, joint-locks, and he wins via tap-out. Lee’s various schools across the west coast taught this concept throughout the 60’s and early 70’s, until his untimely death. Following his passing, Lee’s Senior Instructor and closest friend Dan Inosanto continued on the path that Lee set, continuing to refine, strip-away, and add-to the concept of Jeet Kune Do.
At the same time wrestling legend Karl Gotch, known as “The God of Grappling” and “The Man of a Thousand Holds” was training a select group of students in his grappling/wrestling concept (referred to by Gotch student Guy Chase as Gotchism), which was developed utilizing submission arts from across the global, including Indian wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, and Japanese Judo, among a long list. Gotch was also renowned for his revolutionary strength and conditioning exercises. The famed wrestling move known as the German Suplex was named to honor Gotch. Several of Gotch’s earlier students, following early wrestling careers, laid the foundation for Pancrase, Shooto, and Shootfighting in Japan, the early incarnations of Pride Fighting; the first major competing organization to the UFC. The UFC later purchased Pride Fighting and closed down its operation. Among Gotch students was Antonio Inoki who once fought Muhammad Ali to a draw in a suito-mma fight (takedowns were not allowed at the last moment) and Ken Shamrock, who trained mainly under several of Gotch’s senior students and with Gotch himself at points. Shamrock fought Royce Gracie in the first UFC, losing after being chocked out by Royce’s Gi.
It was 1993 when that first Ultimate Fighting Championship was held, developed and owned by the famed Gracie family and modeled after the Brazilian Vale Tudo tournaments of old. This is considered the first modern day MMA organized competition in the United States. The early UFC tournaments were set up as style versus style and in bracket form, with competitors needing to fight several times in one night. This format was later scrapped as many of the fighters were not able to compete again in a single night due to injury. The style versus style showcase was also quickly dropped as competitors realized that a more well-rounded arsenal of martial art and combat weapons knowledge was necessary for victory. This is the point when former original UFC commentator and Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Jeff Blatnick is credited with coining the term “Mixed Martial Arts”, to identify the new Sport of multi-discipline combat fighting. To this day both MMA Training and the Sport of MMA continue to evolve, with fighters constantly in search of more weapons and different avenues to follow to achieve success as Professional or Amateur MMA Fighters.
Founding Arts of Modern Mixed Martial Arts
Greek Pankration – Jeet Kune Do – Gotchism Catch Grappling – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Founding Fathers of Modern Mixed Martial Arts
Helio Gracie – Bruce Lee – Dan Inosanto – Karl Gotch
