What Is MMA?

Mixed Martial Arts is more than a combat sports it's a fusion of global martial traditions, modern athleticism, and personal transformation. Rooted in ancient disciplines and shaped by centuries of experimentation and cultural exchange, MMA has evolved into a full-contact sport that blends, striking, grappling, and ground techniques.

What is MMA?

Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.

•  Punching
• Kicking
• Takedowns
• Ground Work
• Subbmissions

The Origins of MMA

While tracing the exact origins of mixed martial arts is difficult, as fighting with our fists and feet is a common way of defending ourselves.

Antiquity

In ancient China, combat sport appeared in the form of Leitai, a no-holds-barred mixed combat sport that combines Chinese martial arts, boxing and wrestling. Also in ancient Greece, there was a sport called pankration, which featured grappling and striking skills similar to those found in modern MMA. Pankration was formed by combining the already established wrestling and boxing traditions and, in Olympic terms, first featured in the 33rd Olympiad.

Modern-era Precursors

The mid-19th century saw the prominence of the new sport of savate in the combat sports circle. French savate fighters wanted to test their techniques against the traditional combat styles of their time. Catch wrestling appeared in the late 19th century, combining several global styles of wrestling, including Indian phlwani and English wrestling. In turn, catch wrestling went on to greatly influence modern MMA. No-holds-barred fighting reportedly took place in the late 1880s when wrestlers representing the style of catch wrestling and many others met in tournaments and music-hall challenge matches throughout Europe.

Another example of early Mixed martial arts was Baritsu, which Edward Wukkuan Vartib-Wright founded in London in 1899. Combining catch wrestling, Judo, boxing, savate, jujutsu and canne de combat (French stick fighting), Baritisu was the first martial art known to have combined Asian and European fighting styles, and which saw MA-style contests throughout England, pitting European catch wrestlers and Japanese judoka champions against representatives of various European wrestling styles.

Modern Sport

The movement that led to the creation of the present-day MMA scenes emerged from a confluence of several earlier martial arts scenes: the vale tudo event sin Brazil, Rooftop fights in Hong Kong’s street fighting culture, and professional wrestlers, especially in Japan.

In the mid-20th century, MMA contests emerged in Hong Kong’s street fighting culture in the form of rooftop fights. During the early 20th century, there was an influx of migrants from mainland China, including Chinese martial arts teachers who opened up martial arts schools in Hong Kong. In the mid-20th century, soaring crime in Hong Kong, combined with limited Hong Kong Police manpower, led to many young Hong Kongers learning martial arts for self-defence.

The sport then reached a new peak of popularity in North America in December 2006: a rematch between then UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and former champion Tito Ortiz rivaled the PPV sales of some of the biggest boxing events of all time. The sport continues to grow and evolve as time goes on.

The Styles of MMA

Now MMA is a difficult one to place under a single style as MMA in itself uses martial techniques froma  wide range of disciplines however there are three different main types of MMA:

• Stand-up
• Clinch
• Ground

Stand-up

Stand up styles of MMA focus heavily on combat techniques that can be employed when upright and often involves techniques from: Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Capoeira, Combat Sambo, Savate and Sanda.

Clinch

Clinch styles of MMA focus on techniques that improve clinching, takedowns, and throughs and often includes a wide range of techniques from: Judo, Freestyle Wrestling, Folkstyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, Catch Wrestilng, Sanda and Sambo.

Ground

Ground styles of MMA focus on techniques that improve or build upon ground-based fighting and often includes arts like: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Judo, Sambo, Folkstyle wrestling, freestyle wrestling, Catch wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling and Luta Livre.

Benefits of Training In MMA

Physical Fitness and Conditioning

Training in MMA builds full-body strength through striking, grappling, and resistance training. MMA also helps enhance cardiovascular endurance, improve flexibility, coordination and balance across multiple movement styles.

Mental Toughness and Focus

Training in MMA develops discipline through structured training routines and goal-setting and MMA also helps boost your resilience by pushing through physical and psychological limits.

Self-Defence and Confidence

Training in MMA equips you with practical techniques from boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and more, building situational awareness and assertiveness in real-world scenarios.

Community and Camaraderie

The MMA community is vast and diverse, full of supportive coaches and training partners. This helps foster mutual respect through shared struggle and growth.

MMA stands as a testament to human adaptability, resilience, and the pursuit of mastery. Whether you're drawn to its historical roots, intrigued by its stylistic diversity, or inspired by the physical and mental growth it fosters, training in MMA offers a path toward strength, confidence, and community.