What Is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?

People believe that Mixed Martial Arts competitions are just a free for all in a cage or ring. This is not true. There are rules to the sport. First and foremost there are NO weapons allowed. The competitors enter the ring with only their skills and bodies to fight with. They are not allowed to gouge at their opponents eyes or poke any body crevices such as ears or mouth and as in boxing the groin is also off-limits.

The Mixed Martial Arts or MMA form of fighting has had a growing fan base since its inception in 1993. Several organizations have been established for these fighters, the first being the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Since then organizations have sprung up everywhere including the IFC (International Fighting Championship) and Elite XC.

These groups have come to the forefront of the sporting and entertainment world more recently since they have begun to be televised by networks such as CBS and Spike TV. Almost any night of the week you can find one network or another showing MMA matches between competitors from one groups or another.

The fans of this sport are ravenous for more. The live attendance at one of these matches has been steadily growing and the sales of merchandise has exploded. Videos of the bouts are flying off the shelves as fast as they can get them out there. Like with all sports, fans have chosen their favorites and the ones they love to hate. T-shirts, hats and posters are also among the some of the other things that people are grabbing up as quickly as they can.

Some say that the main appeal of the MMA is due to its unscripted nature. Unlike wrestling where every move in every match is practiced and rehearsed, the Mixed Martial Arts bouts are completely “real”. When the competitors walk into the ring their only concern is winning the match not following a pre-determined script which tells them how and when to do something.

The more diehard fans have even found gyms that offer classes in the sport. Some are looking to break into the growing sport while others use it as another form of a great workout. They do it instead of exercising on standard equipment or running miles a day to improve their physique. The fast paced workout which includes the use of boxing and martial arts moves is a fun and effective workout.

Although brought to the attention of the general public a short 15 years ago, the sport of mixed martial arts has been around for over 2,000 years. The Greeks brought it to the Olympics when it was known as Pankration. Some wanted to bring the sport back to the Olympic games in its modern form in 2004 when they were held back in Athens. Although still on the list of sports that are being considered for admittance to the games, even as recently as the 2008 games in Beijing they tried again but were once again denied. But this does not discourage the competitors who are content, for now, to continue in the organizations that they are with.

The Greeks started this trend toward Mixed Martial Arts competition back when the Olympics were new and now, some 2,000 years later we are once again enamored by this sport.