MMA

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Page:

What is MMA?

MMA - also known as mixed martial arts - is an all new type of sport that has become a favorite on Guam of all ages and other countries as well. Training for an MMA competition requires dedication and practice. It could take years for somebody to grasp the elements of MMA techniques and how to utilize it for fighting. They will start as amateurs and slowly work their way up to becoming pro fighters.

This Page Contains:

Articles

Local Interviews

Photos

Training Videos

MMA on Guam is huge. We don't promote violence but we believe it's for mature audience and to those who knows the difference between right and wrong.

MMA Interviews:

Eric Santos

Interviewed by: Joel Dela Cruz | MMA| February 08, 2010

Eric is a former bodybuilder. He joined the Guam national bodybuilding and figure contest when he was only 17 years old and placed 5th in the junior division. Eric said he had no regrets joining and would probably try out bodybuilding again if he ever quit MMA. Two years after his first competition, he joined MMA and quickly developed passion for the sport

MMA Articles:

by Andrew Christopher

All across there in the wide expanse of the internet, hundreds of people ask the question, which is the "best" martial art. People on forums calling themselves "tough-guy" names like "killer" are asking which style of fighting would allow them to "harm" their opponent the quickest. Some ask what is the most "effective" fighting style.
Whilst the internet is a marketplace of ideas and answers, this is one question which can never be answered for you by an anonymous "internet fighting expert". Instead, to answer this question yourself, you should consider several things.

Why do you want to learn martial arts or any fighting style?

- To look good? If so, kung fu maybe a good option. You ever seen a Bruce Lee film? Its impressive stuff.

- To be able to successfully defend yourself? Krav Maga, or Kapap. Israeli fighting systems designed by Israeli elite commandos. This is accessible, practical, easy to grasp, and proven on the battle field.

The above would be my advice. But, what is effective for one person, maybe useless for another. Many people talk about how impractical "Karate" is for example. It is often written off as a useful martial art. It may surprise you to learn that using Karate, I won my first fight as a young kid. One nicely placed round house kick. Worked wonders. My next fight? Pretty much same thing. Two spin kicks with a round house kick to the face. It worked.

However, just because Karate worked for me, does not mean it works for everyone. Finding out what will work for you will be a matter of trial and error. Many martial arts schools offer free trials. Go and try them out. You have to go and experience it to see what works. Quite often, the teacher teaching you is the biggest factor. How will you ever know what teaching style suits you best if you never go out and EXPERIENCE it?

My advice to you is, ignore the internet chatter, look in the local phone book, and see what works for you.

Most important of all though, stay safe, and take care.

by Todd Smith

There once was a time when boxing ruled the sports landscape. The heavyweight champion was the most feared and famous athlete
on the planet. Boxers like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Mike Tyson were household names throughout the world.

However, over the last decade, a sport with history and honor has lost its popularity to upstart sports like mixed martial arts (MMA). The decline of elite fighters in the heavyweight division and the lack of knockouts have led many young men to look for action and excitement in sports like MMA.

Because of the decline of boxing, mixed martial arts has taken over and has become the sport of choice for the age 18-34 demographic and put the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on course to join the ranks of elite sports leagues like the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.

"MMA resounds with 18-34 (year olds) because that age range has a shorter attention span than other age groups. They buy video games, fast cars, cool clothes, all on credit because they want it now. They want instant gratification. In the UFC, the normal bout consists of three five-minute rounds," said long-time fan Giam Sigaud, 35, of Houston.

According to UFC.com, MMA is an intense and evolving combat sport in which competitors use interdisciplinary forms of fighting that include jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and other techniques to their strategic and tactical advantage in a supervised match.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship began in 1993, but mixed martial arts dates back to the Olympic Games in Athens, according to UFC.com. "About 80 years ago, a Brazilian form of MMA known as Vale Tudo (anything goes) sparked local interest in the sport."

Now that interest is felt throughout the world as the UFC now offers 12 to 14 live pay-per-view events annually through cable and satellite providers. Recently, a UFC event in Columbus, Ohio attracted more than 19,000 people--the largest audience in North America to witness a mixed martial arts event.

More than 4.7 million viewers tuned in to see UFC 75, the first ever title bout on Spike TV. On a Saturday night, it outdrew college football among young men.

Viewers of UFC 75 saw Quinton "Rampage" Jackson defeat Dan Henderson to unify the UFC and PRIDE titles in the 205-lb weight-class. Cheick Kong defeated Mirko Cro Cop and Houston Alexander knocked out Alessio Sakara in one minute of the first round.

In the title fight, Jackson became the first man to unify a major title with a five-round victory. Judges scored the bout 48-47 and 49-46 twice for Memphis, Tenn. native.

Fans attribute the success of the UFC to clever marketing such as the reality show "The Ultimate Fighter," because fans can become acquainted with the athletes and begin to follow their careers.

The million-dollar question is why are violent sports so popular among young men?

"I suppose I like it for the same reason you rubber-neck at a traffic accident. You want to see how bad it can get. You want to see how bad the knockout will be or how slick a submission will be. You want to speculate what you might do in a similar circumstance," said Sigaud.

To many fans, mixed martial arts have already surpassed boxing in popularity, and some feel it will not be long before it is on par with mainstays like football, baseball and basketball.

The steroids scandal in Major League Baseball, along with the NFL's image crisis and the NBA gambling scandal are many reasons why sports fans are turning to alternative sports like MMA. Questionable decisions and a lack of star quality have led to the UFC regularly outperforming boxing in its pay-per-view intake.

With such quick success, it seems as if the UFC will soon revival the three big sports leagues in popularity and profit.

And for those who have not yet caught the MMA bug, Sigaud asks "them to watch the reality show from the beginning. The UFC packages the fights amidst bad blood while living with each other and training with each other. Also going online and watching some of the signature fights helps. I would (also) ask them to ... watch a pay-per-view event or a free night on Spike TV."

After watching one fight, the UFC is certain that it will not be the last.

by Jimmy

So you want to get into this new sport, "Ultimate Fighting". Those who want to become cage fighters cannot learn MMA techniques from books and videos alone. Mixed Martial Arts Gyms are popping up everywhere; there are at least 3 within a 20 mile radius of where I live. Finding the gym for you can take some time and research. You wouldn't buy anything without trying or researching the product right?

You cannot be taught "MMA" but you can be taught the most popular martial arts that are used in the sport today. So you will want to find a gym that teaches Muay Thai, Judo, Western Boxing, and Jiu Jitsu. Most of these gyms however will teach all these popular styles and then incorporate them into a MMA class.

So lets find a MMA gym that's perfect for you with these tips I used before committing to my gym.

* Shop Around
+ Find out when a class is being held, stop in and watch. Observe the instructors, the students, the training regiments, and so on and so forth.
+ Most gyms will give free lessons or trial periods, use them.

* The Instructor
+ Find out who the instructors are trained under. For instance an instructor who has been trained by the Gracie Family will certainly be a legitimate Jiu Jitsu teacher.
+ Is the way he teach the way you'd like to be taught? Is he a drill sergeant or is he very laid back. This is your preference and should not be overlooked.

* Price and Scheduling
+ There really isn't a benchmark for expensive and cheap (not that I'm aware of) when it comes to MMA schools but make sure you can get the bang for your buck.
+ I've seen gyms that cost 150 dollars that only teach 2 or 3 nights a week and other gyms for the same price who have classes almost every night.

+ During the visit, check out what they have to offer in terms of equipment. Do they have plenty of heavy bags, mats, pads, and even a cage?
+ GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR, NOTHING LESS.
+ Ask about a student rate, my school has one.

* Frequency of sparring/rolling. You can do all the pad work in the world but sparring and rolling is where it comes together. Make sure there is enough sparring during your "shopping around" period.

* Some gyms just train those who want to fight, and there are gyms that welcome those who just want to learn any of the arts they offer. Join the gym that aligns with your goals.

So take them tips into consideration, see you in the cage.