Brief History Of MMA & BJJ
Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is a new term for combat sports which has been performed
for thousands of years; even before the first Olympics. The first forms of no-holds barred
competition on record were the ancient Greek Pankration matches which were
documented as early as 648 B.C. when the Greeks introduced the sport of Pankration into
the Olympic Games.
The word Pankration is a combination of two words PAN meaning “all” and KRATOS,
meaning “powers”. Pankration matches took place in an arena, or ring which was
square and approx. 12 – 14 feet across, which the Greeks hoped would encourage close
quarter combat. Common techniques included punches, joint locks, choke holds, elbows
and knee strikes, and kicks.
Pankration is the first recorded form of what would later come to be known as mixed
martial arts. Following the decline of Pankration in Greece, which coincided with the rise
of the roman empire mixed martial arts fell by the wayside in favor of other combat sports
such as wrestling and boxing in the west, while traditional martial arts swelled in
popularity in Asia. This remained the case for centuries until 1925 in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, when the sport of mixed martial arts experienced a revival. In the early 1900’s a
Japanese man named Mitsuyo Maeda immigrated to Brazil. Maeda was a renowned
champion in the Japanese martial art of Judo. Maeda became friends with Gastao Gracie
and offered to teach his son, Carlos, the art of Judo. Carlos then passed it onto his
brothers. From there the Gracie brothers began to adapt the art to suit themselves, and to
make it more practical. Carlos later issued a challenge what is now famously known as
the “Gracie Challenge”. This effectively began the revival of pro mixed martial arts in the
western world as the Gracie’s took on all comers in Vale Tudo matches. These matches
closely resembled the Pankration matches of Ancient Greece and were participated in by
representatives of area karate schools, pro boxes, capoeira champions, and various others
sought to prove that they were better than the Gracie’s. The new combat sport of Vale
Tudo fighting became immensely popular in Brazil. Leagues and organizations were soon
formed and events were held regularly all over Brazil. As a result of these events Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu grew in popularity in Brazil which caused the Gracie’s to branch out to the U.S.
In the 1980’s, Helios oldest son Rorion, came to the U.S. to teach Brazilian or Gracie Jiu
Jitsu, as he preferred to call it, in California. Like his father and uncle before him, he
issued the Gracie Challenge in his new home. As Rorion realized the potential this style
of fighting offered to spread his families art, he sought to create an organization that
would promote this sort of fighting in the U.S. This organization was the Ultimate
Fighting Championship, or UFC. Initially the UFC did not have many rules, no weight
classes, no time limits, no rounds or mandatory safety equipment. The matches took place
inside an octagonal cage, dubbed “The Octagon”. Over time and new ownership the UFC
evolved and began to implement weight classes, rules and rounds which ultimately
gained them popularity and mainstream acceptance. The UFC was instrumental in
America in the growth of this ever evolving sport known as Mixed Martial Arts.
Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is a new term for combat sports which has been performed
for thousands of years; even before the first Olympics. The first forms of no-holds barred
competition on record were the ancient Greek Pankration matches which were
documented as early as 648 B.C. when the Greeks introduced the sport of Pankration into
the Olympic Games.
The word Pankration is a combination of two words PAN meaning “all” and KRATOS,
meaning “powers”. Pankration matches took place in an arena, or ring which was
square and approx. 12 – 14 feet across, which the Greeks hoped would encourage close
quarter combat. Common techniques included punches, joint locks, choke holds, elbows
and knee strikes, and kicks.
Pankration is the first recorded form of what would later come to be known as mixed
martial arts. Following the decline of Pankration in Greece, which coincided with the rise
of the roman empire mixed martial arts fell by the wayside in favor of other combat sports
such as wrestling and boxing in the west, while traditional martial arts swelled in
popularity in Asia. This remained the case for centuries until 1925 in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, when the sport of mixed martial arts experienced a revival. In the early 1900’s a
Japanese man named Mitsuyo Maeda immigrated to Brazil. Maeda was a renowned
champion in the Japanese martial art of Judo. Maeda became friends with Gastao Gracie
and offered to teach his son, Carlos, the art of Judo. Carlos then passed it onto his
brothers. From there the Gracie brothers began to adapt the art to suit themselves, and to
make it more practical. Carlos later issued a challenge what is now famously known as
the “Gracie Challenge”. This effectively began the revival of pro mixed martial arts in the
western world as the Gracie’s took on all comers in Vale Tudo matches. These matches
closely resembled the Pankration matches of Ancient Greece and were participated in by
representatives of area karate schools, pro boxes, capoeira champions, and various others
sought to prove that they were better than the Gracie’s. The new combat sport of Vale
Tudo fighting became immensely popular in Brazil. Leagues and organizations were soon
formed and events were held regularly all over Brazil. As a result of these events Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu grew in popularity in Brazil which caused the Gracie’s to branch out to the U.S.
In the 1980’s, Helios oldest son Rorion, came to the U.S. to teach Brazilian or Gracie Jiu
Jitsu, as he preferred to call it, in California. Like his father and uncle before him, he
issued the Gracie Challenge in his new home. As Rorion realized the potential this style
of fighting offered to spread his families art, he sought to create an organization that
would promote this sort of fighting in the U.S. This organization was the Ultimate
Fighting Championship, or UFC. Initially the UFC did not have many rules, no weight
classes, no time limits, no rounds or mandatory safety equipment. The matches took place
inside an octagonal cage, dubbed “The Octagon”. Over time and new ownership the UFC
evolved and began to implement weight classes, rules and rounds which ultimately
gained them popularity and mainstream acceptance. The UFC was instrumental in
America in the growth of this ever evolving sport known as Mixed Martial Arts.
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| "There are probably four or five great teams that are capable of putting out world champions, and American Top Team is one of them." Quote by UFC President Dana White from a Miami News Times article. |
| Danny Savery (401) 639-9973 44 Aquidneck Drive, Tiverton, RI 02878 |
