Understanding the Rules of Mixed Martial Arts

While most are knowledgeable about the many different styles of martial arts currently being practiced, there are still some people who are not aware all of the known techniques can be combined to create a completely new fighting styles known as Mixed Martial Arts or MMA.  MMA is a combat sport that involves full contact where the opponents apply any acceptable form of martial arts to their fighting matches.

MMA was created around 648 B.C. during the high point of the Greek empire.  While it was then known as Pankration, this sport was played in the first Olympic Games.  There have been other similar versions of this martial art; however, many of them were never officially introduced.  Later, MMA resurfaced during the late 1800s and early 1900s when it was finally recognized as an official standardized sport in 1993, marking the opening of the UFC, otherwise known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Ultimate Fighting Championships that the media televises today are increasing popularity at an incredible rate, beating out other huge sports such as boxing.  In terms of tickets sales and ratings, more and more people are starting to tune out of other contact sports and tune into MMA fights.

The major contrast between the MMA that we all recognize and the style before the beginning of the UFC was that the MMA was founded to take fighters from various styles and compare them in battle.  Doing this allowed studiers to analyze and determine the strengths and weaknesses of all the various martial arts techniques.  In these unofficial leagues, there were not as many rules whereas now there are rules--weight class, winning guidelines, illegal fouls, and fighting arena--established for the purpose of keeping everyone safe and preventing injuries that many feel to be inhumane.

1.  Weight Class

With Mixed Martial Arts fights, the opponent is determined based on their weight class.  The five MMA weight class include lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight.  These classes are calculated based on the fighters' weight in kilograms; a simple extra pound in weight gain can bump them up to the next level.  There are a few other weight classes, but they are not a UFC standard.

2.  Winning Guidelines

The goal of Mixed Martial Arts is straightforward; you must either knock your opponent unconscious or hurt him enough to where he will give in and tap the floor thereby declaring a submission to the other opponent.  However, if neither fighter backs down or gets knocked out by the end of a round or match, the winner is determined by the judges.  The only way a fighter will lose a match is if he gains a foul called by the referee.

3.  Illegal Fouls

A foul consists of any form of illegal contact committed by a fighter onto their opponent.  If the referee sees the contact was deliberate, he has the power to disqualify the fighter from the match and if it was not intentional, the referee can declare the match to still be in play.

4.  Fighting Arena

Another huge difference between MMA and other sports is that the MMA arena is in the shape of an octagon, resembling a structured cage, and the fighters are restricted from using padded gloves.

Photo Credits: mkm photography

Originally posted 2010-03-23 03:22:47.

This post involves:

combat sport, contact sports, different styles of martial arts, early 1900s, first olympic games, fouls, full contact, greek empire, high point, late 1800s, martial art, martial arts techniques, mixed martial arts, olympic games, strengths and weaknesses, styles of martial arts, ufc, ultimate fighting championship, ultimate fighting championships, weight class

... and focuses on:

Martial Arts, mixed martial arts, Sparring

Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on February 3, 2012 in Martial Arts, mixed martial arts, Sparring. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.