Mixed martial arts facts for kids
Mixed martial arts (or MMA) is a sport that combines different fighting styles. Think of it as a mix of various martial arts like boxing, wrestling, and jujutsu. Fighters use punches, kicks, and grappling moves.
MMA is a popular sport with big organizations like the UFC, Bellator, WSOF, and ONE Championship. These groups organize exciting fights where athletes test their skills.
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Rules of MMA
The rules for MMA fights are set by the people who organize them. There isn't one single rulebook for all MMA fights worldwide. However, many places have rules to keep fighters safe.
MMA fights used to have very few rules. But over time, more rules were added to protect the athletes. Other fighting sports, like boxing, also have their own rules, which are different from MMA.
Fighters can use any martial art they know. They can fight standing up with punches and kicks. They can also grab each other in a "clinch" or fight on the ground.
Moves That Are Not Allowed
Some moves are against the rules to prevent serious injuries. For example, the "12-6 elbow strike" is illegal. This is when a fighter strikes downwards with the point of their elbow. This rule helps keep fighters safe from bad injuries.
How a Fighter Wins
A fighter can win in a few ways:
- Submission: One fighter makes the other give up, often by using a hold that causes pain or pressure.
- Knockout: One fighter hits the other so hard that they can't continue the fight.
- Judges' Decision: If the fight lasts for its full time, judges decide who won based on who performed better.
A referee is always in the fight to make sure rules are followed and to stop the fight if someone is getting hurt too badly.
History of Mixed Martial Arts
Ancient Roots
The idea of combining different fighting styles is very old. In Ancient Greece, there was a sport called pankration. It was an unarmed combat sport that mixed wrestling and boxing. The Greeks even included it in the Olympic Games in 648 BC.
Public fights that mixed different styles also happened in Europe in the late 19th century. These events featured fighters using jujutsu, wrestling, and other methods.
Modern MMA Begins
Modern mixed martial arts grew from two main types of competition:
Vale Tudo
Vale Tudo means "anything goes" in Portuguese. It started around 1930 in Brazil. The Gracie family, famous for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, invited fighters from all styles to compete. This was called the "Gracie's Challenge." These fights helped show how effective Brazilian jiu-jitsu was.
Japanese Shootfighting
In Japan, around 1970, a wrestler named Antonio Inoki organized mixed-style fights. These led to "Shootwrestling" and later to the first official MMA organization called Shooto.
MMA became very popular in the United States in 1993. That's when Rorion Gracie helped create the first UFC event. In 1997, Japan saw the creation of another big MMA organization, Pride Fighting Championship.
The Gracie family played a huge part in making these open competitions famous, especially through television.
How Fighters Developed
Around the 1990s, three styles were known for being very effective in MMA fights:
- Wrestling
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Shootwrestling
These styles were strong because they focused a lot on grappling and holds. Before the 1990s, many martial arts focused more on striking (punches and kicks). But MMA showed that knowing how to grapple was just as important.
Where MMA is Popular
MMA is now a global sport, with events and organizations all over the world.
North America
MMA is very popular in the United States and Canada.
South America
Brazil is a major hub for MMA, with many local organizations like Meca FC and Jungle Fight.
Europe
MMA has a strong following in countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Poland.
Asia
Japan has a rich history in MMA with organizations like Pancrase, Shooto, and K-1 Hero's.
Images for kids
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A fighter in action during a UFC event.
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A Greek statue showing pancratium, an ancient fighting style.
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A scene of Ancient Greek pankratists fighting, from a Panathenaic amphora.
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A fighter wraps their hands before putting on gloves.
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Ronda Rousey, a famous Bantamweight fighter.
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A doctor checks on a fighter after a match.
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A Chinese martial artist preparing to throw his opponent during a lei tai contest in Ancient China.
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Masahiko Kimura vs. Hélio Gracie, a 1951 fight between Japanese judo fighter Masahiko Kimura and Brazilian jiu jitsu founder Hélio Gracie.
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Bruce Lee helped popularize the idea of mixing martial arts with his system, Jeet Kune Do.
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Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki, a 1976 fight between boxer Muhammad Ali and wrestler Antonio Inoki.
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A Vale Tudo match in 1984.
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Yuki Nakai fighting Gerard Gordeau at Vale Tudo Japan 1995.
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MMA gloves. These fingerless gloves allow both striking and grappling.
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A fighter performing a takedown on an opponent.
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Gina Carano using a "Ground-and-Pound" technique.
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A ring used by PRIDE.
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An Octagon cage used by the UFC.
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See also
In Spanish: Artes marciales mixtas para niños
