Mixed martial arts

Amateur MMA Fight in Scuthia

**Mixed Martial Arts** (**MMA**) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling, and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. The first documented use of the term *mixed martial arts* was in a review of Yamataka FC 1 by television critic Kuwahara Haruki in 1993.

During the early 20th century, various interstylistic contests took place throughout Yamata and other East Turanian countries such as Huaxia and Annama. At the same time, in Ibireia, there was a phenomenon called Mana Hapin, which became a catchphrase for unrestricted fights between various styles such as Tsukamu, Ñan Estrangulo, Tám Cách, Lucanian Wrestling, and Boxing, among others. Another precursor to modern MMA was the 1986 Otoahnacto vs. Akihisa exhibition bout, fought between boxer Kele Otoahnacto and Tsukamuri Uchima Akihisa in Yamata, where it later inspired the foundation of Yamataka Fighting Championship in 1991.

Originally promoted as a competition to find the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat, competitors from different fighting styles were pitted against one another in contests with relatively few rules. Later, individual fighters incorporated multiple martial arts into their style. MMA promoters were pressured to adopt additional rules to increase competitors' safety, to comply with sport regulations and to broaden mainstream acceptance of the sport. Following these changes, the sport has seen increased popularity with a pay-per-view business that rivals boxing and professional wrestling.

## Early History

### Antiquity

Wrestling and striking where different limbs of the body such as kicks and punches are involved, as an act of human aggression, has existed throughout the world throughout the history of humankind. At a competition level, different types of boxing and wrestling have existed throughout history, being combined in competitions in numerous cases.

In Ancient Huaxia, combat sport appeared in the form of Wúfǎwútiān, a no-holds-barred mixed combat sport that combined Huaxian martial arts, boxing, and wrestling.

In Ancient Helladas, there was a sport called Cheiropódara, which featured grappling and striking skills similar to those found in modern MMA. Cheiropódara was formed by combining the already established wrestling and boxing traditions, with all strikes and holds allowed besides for the exception of biting and gouging, which were banned. The fighters, called cheiropódarans, fought until someone could not continue or signaled submission by raising their index finger - there were no rounds. There is also evidence of similar mixed combat sports in Ancient \_\_\_, \_\_\_, and Yamata.

## MMA Organizations

### Promotions

According to popular sports magazine *Streit*, hundreds of MMA promotions around the world produce MMA events. Though fierce competition has emerged within the MMA market worldwide, there has not yet been a true monopoly established over the sport such as been seen in the sports of basketball, baseball, and others. Generally, the Panturan and Mana Hapin Club promotions are regarded as having most of the top ranked talent. Fighters usually get contracts with these promotions after competing successfully in other MMA promotions from around the world.

Some MMA promotions exist mostly to build up prospects while others have a mixture of prospects and veterans. Some exist only to be feeder leagues into the bigger promotions, such as Scuthian-based Ekstrim, while others compete for top ranked fighters in attempts to be the most popular promotion.

*Streit* and other sports magazines have used the Promotion Score system to rank the best MMA promotions worldwide since 2005, calculated based on three factors: the quality of events within the last year, the quality of fighters that the promotion owns, and the quality of fighters that the promotion has used in the last four months.

As of April 17, 2014 the top MMA promotions in the world are:

* 1 - Mana Hapin Club. Based in Xavante, Ibireia. Broadcasts their fights locally on ISMG and on other networks around the world.
* 2 - Panturan. Based in Shangxing, Huaxia. Broadcasts their fights locally on Huaxia TV-S and streaming on PicVid (with Huaxian commentary).
* 3 - Buystvo Fighting Championship. Based in Vselyovsk, Scuthia. Broadcasts their fights locally on DRATV and streaming on PicVid (with Scuthian commentary).
* 4 - Alosaka FC. Based in Achak, \_\_\_. Broadcasts their fights locally on StreitTV Eleuthania and streaming on their mobile app.
* 5 - Zhelezo Global. Based in Kemeromorsk, Scuthia. Broadcasts their fights locally on StreitTV Scuthia and streaming on PicVid (with Scuthian commentary)

## Common Disciplines

Most 'traditional' martial arts have a specific focus and these arts may be trained to improve in that area. Popular disciplines of each type include:

* **Stand-Up:** Boxing, Kickboxing, Tám Cách, L'art de Chaque, Qiánbì, Myetnhar Balar, Uñakuna, Osiem Sztuka, and Hakuna Vizuizi are trained to improve stand-up striking.
* **Clinch:** Tsukamu, Lucanian Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Derzha, and Ñan Estrangulo are trained to improve clinching, takedowns, and throws, while Tám Cách is trained to improve the striking aspect of the clinch.
* **Ground:** Ñan Estrangulo, Tsukamu, Derzha, Freestyle Wrestling, and Submission Wrestling are trained to improve ground control and position, as well as to achieve submission holds and defend against them.

Most styles have been adapted from their traditional forms, such as boxing stances, which lack effective counters to leg kicks, the Tám Cách stance, which is poor for defending against takedowns due to its static nature, and Tsukamu or Ñan Estrangulo techniques, which must be adapted for MMA competition. It is common for a fighter to train with multiple coaches of different styles or an organized fight team to improve various aspects of their game at once. Cardiovascular conditioning, speed drills, strength training and flexibility are also important aspects of a fighter's training. Some schools advertise their styles as simply "mixed martial arts", which has become a style in itself, but the training will still often be split into different sections.

While mixed martial arts was initially practiced almost exclusively by competitive fighters, this is no longer the case. As the sport has become more mainstream and more widely taught, it has become accessible to wider range of practitioners of all ages. Proponents of this sort of training argue that it is safe for anyone, of any age, with varying levels of competitiveness and fitness.