A discussion of mixed martial arts covers its history and culture, moves, equipment, and competitive aspects.

Mixed Martial Arts is a full-contact combat sport, which takes its techniques in hand-to-hand combat from various martial arts. Learn about Aikido's history, moves, training, and more with this title. Complete with a photo diagram, informative sidebars, and glossary. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an international phenomenon, with a fascinatingly diverse and complex history that stems from fighting sports around the world. In Mixed Martial Arts: A History from Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC, L.A. Jennings explores the vast global history of martial arts—including Asian martial arts, African fighting sports, European pugilism and wrestling, and the fighting styles of North, Central, and South Americas—and how they gave rise to the modern sport of MMA. Jennings shares some of the most famous moments in fighting history alongside stories of the fighters themselves, such as the infamous 1976 fight between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki. When the Ultimate Fighting Championship premiered in 1993, it introduced the world to the controversial “cage fighting” at a scale never seen before. With the assistance of technological innovations and globalization, MMA has become the fastest growing sport on earth, the culmination of thousands of years of fighting for sport. Featuring fascinating stories and photographs of fighters from around the world, Mixed Martial Arts reveals the long and captivating history of this often-misunderstood sport.

Mixed martial arts (MMA)—unarmed fighting games permitting techniques derived from a variety of martial arts and combat sports— has exploded from the fringes of sport into a worldwide phenomenon, a sport as controversial as it is compelling. This is the first book to pay MMA the serious philosophical attention it deserves. With contributions from leading international scholars of the philosophy of sport and martial arts, the book explores topics such as whether MMA qualifies as a martial art, the differences between MMA and the traditional martial arts, the aesthetic dimensions of MMA, the limits of consent and choice in MMA and whether MMA can promote moral virtues. It also explores cutting-edge practical and ethical topics, including the role of gender in MMA, and the question of whether trans athletes should be allowed to compete in the women’s divisions. The contributors to this anthology take down, ground and pound, and submit many essential questions about this fascinating recent development in the culture of sport and spectacle. This is important reading for anybody with an interest in combat sports, martial arts, or the philosophy, sociology, culture or history of sport.

Barbaric. Savage. Violent. Words often used by critics to describe the sport of mixed martial arts. To this can be added lucrative, popular and flourishing. MMA has seen astronomical growth since the 2000s, spurred on by its biggest promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Along the way, legal issues have plagued the sport. This book provides an overview of the most important cases and controversies arising both inside and outside of the cage--antitrust suits by fighters against promoters, fighters suing other fighters, drug testing, contractual issues, and the need for federal regulation.

In retrospect, all martial arts are mixed, but MMA has taken on a mystique of its own in the newest wave of combative experimentation. This book presents an encompassing perspective of this phenomenon in eight chapters written by experts in the field. In their individual chapters they provide analyses of the techniques utilized during many of the leading competitive events, mainly the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), and give practical “how to” instruction. This book pulls together some of the best writings published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts regarding modern mixed martial arts. Daniele Bolelli uses a scholarly approach to produce two excellent chapters, as does Rhadi Ferguson with his two chapters. Bolelli provides a superb overview by analyzing 176 matches that took place between 1993 and 1999 under the UFC umbrella. He also highlights the different ways in which grappling techniques are currently used in mixed martial arts competition. While utilizing a comprehensive approach, Dr. Ferguson zeros in on armbar and chokehold submissions to conclude just how often these were utilized in 1,263 UFC bouts. His works here can assist mixed martial arts professionals with analytical information to help them in training practices and winning strategies. What do the analyses show? Well, one thing is that all the techniques used are found in many old martial traditions. Some techniques are extremely old. Certainly cavemen used chokes. Many are from the previous millennium, as hinted by the numerous Japanese terms used since the samurai sipped sake. Fundamental techniques are discussed by Andew Zerling and Steve Scott. Four other chapters provide insightful text and the photographic detail to present the theory and practice of the major techniques utilized by mixed martial artists: chokes, armlocks, and leg locks. Zerling offers three chapters with the precious help of his teacher, Renzo Gracie. Scott’s chapter is a highly detailed piece on the cross-body armlock, giving four primary applications all will appreciate as vital to MMA practice. The eight chapters are filled with analytical text helpful for the pursuit of combat expertise. There is enough here to find of great value. But there is more. In the chapters you’ll also find perspective and insight that illuminate what is occurring in the evolution of MMA competition. Read closely and you’ll see that—beneath the hype—changing competitive rules and dollar amounts play a role in the outcome of championship belts and competitive crowns. We need to factor these aspects into our quest to understand the rich variety of martial traditions.

For those of you who have experience in grappling and striking, but do not know quite how to put it all together, this book may be for you. From the beginning to the end, "An Introduction to MMA" verbally and visually illustrates how to combine common techniques from boxing, kickboxing, and grappling into a single art - mixed martial arts. The text focuses on basic to intermediate striking combos, striking to takedown combos, and even grappling combos (submission chaining), not to mention addressing a few other areas as well. Boxing combos lead into takedowns, which lead into submissions or ground and pound, sometimes both, as you work through this text. Aimed at helping you put together techniques you already know, "An Introduction to MMA" does not spend a lot of time reviewing the basics from each art, but instead focuses on what techniques from each art flow together. Therefore, if you have a basic knowledge of boxing, kickboxing, or both, and a bit of grappling under your belt, this manual may be able to help you take your skills to the next level, or at least improve what you do know. Either way, you are in for an informative and entertaining read. HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.

A Must-Have Resource for all Warrior Athletes Regardless of your skill or fitness level, The Ultimate Mixed Marital Arts Training Guide - with more than 300 step-by-step photographs, detailed callouts, and comprehensive instruction - is the personal trainer you need to accomplish your workout goals and sharpen your techniques. You'll learn: • Cardio and strength training exercises like mountain climber push-ups, partner closed guard sit-up reaches, and the Muay Thai scarecrow • Striking and defense techniques such as the jab, cross, hook, overhand, Muay Thai knee, inner/outer thigh kick, and head kick • Wrestling and countering techniques including the dirty boxing clinch, the over-under clinch, and the Muay Thai clinch • Takedowns like the hip throw, shoot takedown, and single and double leg takedown • Jiu-jitsu passing and escape techniques for the full mount, knee mount, closed guard, open guard, and more • Winning submission moves like the arm bar, Kimura, omoplata, guillotine, ankle lock, and triangle choke • Drills to improve your punching and kicking speed and accuracy • Mental exercises to sharpen your focus, reduce your fears, and increase your concentration • Diet and nutrition techniques the pros use to stay in top fighting condition - whether they're in training mode or cutting weight before a match Whatever your personal fitness and fighting ambitions might be, The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide is your all-in-one resource to peak physical conditioning, clear mental focus, increased confidence, and superior fighting skills.

Mixed martial arts hasn t been dubbed the world 's fastest growing sport for nothing. It 's noticeably rocked the sporting world since the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship nearly two decades ago and has even shaken up the pop culture scene. Who would have expected popular MMA fighter Chuck Liddell to trade in his sparring gloves for dance shoes on "Dancing with the Stars"? A combo of grappling, punching, kneeing, and kicking, this sport looks like it will be grounding and pounding, sprawling and brawling, for some time to come."Mixed Martial Arts Most Wanted " steps into the cage and brings you round after round of fighting deeds and details worthy of a sport known for bloody battles and ingenious tactics. Authors Adam T. Heath and David L. Hudson Jr. have knocked out sixty top-ten lists detailing the low blows, grappling greats, human anomalies, and fighting females that make up the compelling world of mixed martial arts.There 's no need to be an insider Heath and Hudson bring you all of the sport 's best bouts, dirtiest moves, and brainscrambling kayos in a book that will keep MMA enthusiasts reeling for months.

These exceptional photographs put you right in the cage with the fighters and take you behind the walls of the dojo and into their lives - you can't get closer than this. Lee Whitehead has spent over five years training in the sport of mixed martial arts and photographing it at the highest level, covering top fighters all over the world. His own MMA experience has given him the unprecedented ability to read fighters' movements and capture stunning, high-impact shots as well as intimate portraits that reveal the self-sacrifice and passion of the fighters.