A full contact sport that offers a wide variety of techniques from different styles, both stand-up and on the ground is called Mixed Martial Arts or MMA. Judo, Muay Thai, kick boxing, Karate and wrestling are just a few of the utilized skilled arts. Whole body fighting is acceptable in MMA by combining joint manipulating techniques with throwing and striking.

Muay Thai, for example, was utilized for warfare in the 1800’s. These fights became spectator sports for Kings in various countries over the years. Muay Thai means “Art of Eight Limbs” and makes use of eight contact points. These include knee hits, punches, kicks and elbow strikes performed in a stand-up position. Western boxing holds no comparison to this sport with its use of only two points, hands and feet.

Similar to wresting, ground fighting involves holding the opponent down through grappling moves. Clinched fighting is when the opponent tries to prevent strikes or get the dominant position while on the ground. Very little equipment is needed and usually only requires small gloves, open-fingered or closed, depending on the type of fight. Victory is resolved by knockout, doctor stoppage, or submission. Referees have the ability to stop a fight if one of the opponents has sustained serious bodily injury or there have been numerous warnings and fouls causing disqualification.

Mixed Martial Arts became an official sport in the US in 1992 when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was held. The first no-holds-barred fights were disciplined into a sport including time limits and restrictions to prevent bodily harm. The UFC expanded from the United States to Canada in 2008. Pay-per-view events began drawing huge audiences making Calgary comparative to large cities such as Los Angeles or Chicago. Shows are sold out within minutes by people of all ages and lifestyles.

Individuals from all over the world travel to Calgary to attend one of the many schools prominent in MMA to learn from the best teachers. If this sport interests you, it is cautioned that one should watch a few sessions before committing. Professionals are eager to speak with potential students and enroll them in starter classes to make sure this is an adequate sport for that person. Competitive martial arts differ from self defense and should not be categorized as the same. There may be some overlapping techniques, but many of the ideas are not practical for someone to utilize in an attack type situation.

This website will provide more information about MMA:
Calgary MMA
Calgary wrestling