Mixed Martial Arts

Maybe it is that I am just not with the modern fighting scene, maybe it was childhood days spent reading books on the secrets of Ninjitsu and watching movies like American Ninja... I don't know. What I do know is that I can't understand what the fuss is about Mixed Martial Arts. I was asked about my opinion and at first I spent a long time pondering it and trying to determine what the big deal was, but now I am just shaking my head over it all.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are no different from anything else in the fight world in my opinion. What makes pro wrestling any more acceptable? In my opinion I would rather watch a MMA match than a professional wrestling match because the MMA guys and gals are more real. Don't get me wrong, I grew up when names like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were turning into household names, but really, why do we perceive MMA to be less than pro wrestling?

If you have been watching Human Weapon on TV then you have probably heard of Pankration (see image to right). Pankration is a Greek form of fighting that was developed centuries ago and is believed by many to be the first all-encompassing fighting style. It is comprised of the Greek words "pan" (meaning "all") and "kratos" (meaning "strength" or "power") and is pronounced pan-krΑt-ee-on.

While many consider Mixed Martial Arts to be a brutal sport that should indeed be banned, there really is nothing to the sport that can not be found in other martial art sports - indeed, the whole concept of MMA is to determine which fighting styles are the most effective in a real fight situation rather than the competition fights that so many have come to think of when they think of martial arts fighting.

While it is still mostly a rough fighting style, there have been rules added to MMA that help to ensure the safety of the fighters. There is also MMA gear that can help protect a fighter such as the MMA Rash Guard that can help protect a fighter from scratches during grappling situations. There are also MMA Gloves that can help to protect the delicate bones in the hands from fractures while leaving the fingers open to provide minimal interference to possible holds when grappling.

So, is MMA a more brutal sport than other martial arts? No, because it is other martial arts. MMA might be different, but in my opinion it is a better form because unlike the simple choreographed fighting styles that are most often seen when watching professional wrestling or the highly regulated matches of martial arts tournaments, MMA is a genuine test of fighting styles and fighter skills.

Brutal? Yes, any fighting is brutal. But is it more brutal than other forms? I don't think so. And besides, if you are writing about two people fighting, as I often find myself doing, wouldn't you like to know what style would win out in a match between two people trained in different styles rather than having everyone in your novel using the same fighting styles? That is why I would like to watch some MMA competitions.