What is MMA?

Mixed Martial Arts is a style of fighting that revolves around competition with as few rules as possible. Read on, and see why MMA is the strongest style for self defence, fitness and competition!

That means, fighters can Punch, Kick, Knee, Elbow, Wrestle, Throw, Choke, Lock, Kick "downed opponants", Pin fighters on the ground and strike.

Fighters are not allowed to Bite, Eye gouge, "Fish Hook" etc
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Where did MMA come from?

Infact, MMA is the oldest Martial Art in the world. History has shown that MMA, called Pankration was practiced in Ancient Greece. It was lost for a long time, until in Brazil a family named the Gracies invented a style of fighting called Brazilian Ju Jitsu, based on Japanese Ju Jitsu or Judo.
The Gracies wanted to prove that their style of fighting was the best, so for many years MMA was practiced in Brazil and called "Vale-tudo" which means "anything goes". The Gracies were the most dominant fighters.
In the 1990'2 the Gracies went to America and started the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the original cage fighting organisation most people know. It is know shown on Bravo on Saturday and Sunday.

The 3 ranges of fighitng

When 2 people fight, there are three areas it can take place in. Standing, where they throw punches, maybe kicks. Clinched, where they are in close range. Usually in street fights nothing much happens, in a Boxing match the referee "breaks" the fighters, but in MMA fighters can throw, knee, elbow, punch etc. Likewise, in the ground range, in most sports when fighters go to the ground the referee "stands the fighters back up" but in MMA fighters can continue to punch and use submission holds to win fights.

You can think of a combination of 3 Olymic sports, Boxing, Wrestling and Judo.

More specifically, MMA is a combination of Boxing and Mauy Thai Boxing, Wrestling and Brazilian Ju Jitsu.

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Is MMA dangerous?

Like all contact sports there is an element of risk. However, because MMA is about punching and kicking, it is no accident to get punched in the face. In a rugby match you may or may not get punched, in MMA you will, therefore it is a much more easily controlled enviornment. So "accidents" are much more rare.
We control the class, we make sure peole "respect the tap" and that safety is the most important factor in our training. MMA is one of the safest sports you can enjoy.
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Fighters in the "stand-up" range

Fighters in the "Clinch"

Fighters on the ground

The fighter on Bottom has a Kimura or "Arm Lock" on the fighter on top

MMA for fitness?

There are very few sports that compare to the complete fitness required and gained from MMA. Strenght, Flexibility, Power, Coordination, Stamina etc are all required for MMA. By training in Fianna you gain in all of these fields.
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