Mixed Martial Arts

I would like to write about my main hobby, which is Mixed Martial Arts, in some opinions the fastest growing sport in the world. MMA is a discipline in which competitors fight under rules that permit a large scale of techniques from many various martial sports and arts. Fights have as low restrictions as its possible, but at the same time maintain rules minimizing the risk of death and serious and permanent injury.

History

First protoplast of MMA is Pankration, one of sports of ancient Olympic Games, often mistakenly named as wrestling. It had more to do with today’s MMA than wrestling because a wide range of strikes was allowed in this ancient sport.
Modern mixed martial arts have its origins at the beginnings of XX century, in 1920s Brazilian vale tudo tournaments took place , and in the 70s Japanese competition called Kakutougi. The initial period of development of sport occurred in the first half of the 90s, when the U.S. held their first official tournament under the name UFC 1 in 1993, and Japan established organizations Shooto and Pancrase.
Today many MMA competitions are held throughout the world. The best-known organizations with a global reach includes a UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM, Sengoku and bought in 2007 and soon killed by UFC, the legendary PRIDE FC.



Rules



In a typical mixed martial arts fights there are allowed kicks, punches, throws, locks and chokes. All techniques that can pose significant danger to the health of athletes are prohibited. The rules of most organizations usually prohibit: biting, hooking (putting fingers in the physiological holes, such as the mouth or nose), attacking the genitals, eyes, throat, head banging, hitting the spine, the use of leverage on small ponds like fingers. Often, the organizers put additional restrictions, prohibiting such moves like elbows, levers on the spine, heel hooks (techniques that could damage a knee), kicking down the opponent in the head or, in general, kicking on the ground.



Fights can be solved by KO (including technical), submission or the umpire’s decision.
Fights take place in a boxing ring or cage, which is better because of preventing fighters from accidentally leaving the fight place.
Fighters must have mouth guards and gloves, usually 4-7 oz, without fingers, to enable grapple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA30hTyi1EY

The best of MMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44E-lW3aYhM

One of my favorite fighters from Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGYMu2PqYhs

True legend from Brazil

Training

In past years MMA was confronting styles, every fighter trained his own sport, nowadays fighters train just MMA - cross training, choosing best working techniques from many sports.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIW_ggk_hdI

Training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9eznPL4_ns

Silva's training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezHlByHZwXA

Grappling circuit

Summary

Some may say that MMA is just pure violence, bloody sport for brainless, others think that's the hardest and the most demanding sport. What do you think about it? Do you think that's brutal? And what do you think when celebs, like Mariusz Pudzianowski, fight? Could you watch MMA or its not for you?