Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts or in short MMA is a relatively modern type of full contact competition. MMA has become popular by the comparison fights in the context of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) of the early 1990s, in which techniques from different martial arts are applied.

The fighters make use of both - the punch and kick techniques (striking) - of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and karate as well as of ground fighting and wrestling techniques (grappling) of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo and sambo. Techniques from other martial arts are also used. That one may even beat and partly kick at ground fighting is the key differentiator to other full-contact sports.

The objective of MMA is to defeat the opponent in a fight until he gives up by tapping, until he goes KO (he faints) or until the referee stops the fight. A points win is possible as well. At MMA in contrast to classic wrestling it does not matter to fix the opponent with both shoulders on the ground. Even from the supine position out you can defeat the opponent yet. At competitions the fighters are divided into different weight classes.

Unlike e.g. many traditional kung fu or karate styles mixed martial arts does not contain of forms or techniques that are not directly utilizable in a fight. Likewise, due to sportization pure self-defence techniques such as finger stabs, karate chops, nerve pressure, disarming and weapon techniques are not trained.

From 776 to 720 before Christ mainly various running sports counted to the Olympic disciplines, until 708 B.C. wrestling was launched. Boxing was still added to the Olympic disciplines in 688 B.C.. Boxing was a very popular sport at the Olympic Games, and very quickly the following questions arose: Who is the best fighter? Is it the boxer or the wrestler? These questions refer to the actual birth hour of the MMA sport.

In some countries broadcasting of MMA fights on television has been banned because of the brutality of the fights.