What is MMA: Understanding the Sport

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is considered to be one of the fastest-growing forms of sports in the whole world. MMA involves the use of other fighting techniques such as Muay Thai (Thai boxing) wrestling, judo, jujitsu, and other disciplines. Simply put, this is a full combat sporting technique where the people who are fighting are allowed to strike their opponents when they are both standing and on the ground. They can incorporate martial arts into their fights.

Growth of MMA

When Mixed Martial Arts started growing, most sports reviewers were sceptical about it. They were concerned over the aggressiveness and lack of order that they considered to be misplaced in the world of martial arts. By the early 21st century, the negative image that defined MMA had started fading, and more people were getting interested in the new things that MMA had to offer.

Over the years, it has become a very popular site, and in the US, all 50 states acknowledge it as a sport that can be showcased in front of an audience.The word Mixed Martial Arts was first used in 1993 by a television critic in the US called Howard Rosenberg. It was further popularised by newfullcontact.com, a website that covers sports that reused the article that Rosenberg had done.

MMA Across the World

In the 20th century, there were many contests that were held in Japan and other countries, and the reception was overwhelming. Brazil is also known to be one of the countries that embraced MMA by having Vale Tudo, a form of sport that has no rules. In the western world, MMA was popularized by Bruce Lee in the late 60s even though it was not a defined and acceptable sport. Boxers such as Muhammad Ali also made it more acceptable when they incorporated martial arts and combat.