Mixed martial arts (MMA) has exploded in popularity over the past two decades. It’s not just a sport; it’s a global phenomenon. Some fans even argue it’s on track to dethrone boxing as the world’s top combat sport. Modern MMA, as we know it, kicked off in the early 1990s when Rorion Gracie and Art Davie launched the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States.
It was nothing short of mind-blowing for those lucky enough to witness the early UFC tournaments. For the first time, practitioners of different martial arts faced off under one roof. Karate masters squared up against wrestlers; boxers duked it out with judo practitioners. The fights weren’t just entertaining—they changed how the world viewed martial arts.
The showstopper? Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Royce Gracie’s dominance in the first few tournaments shattered the mystique of many traditional martial arts, catapulting BJJ into the spotlight. It was a seismic shift, leaving styles like Karate and Taekwondo scrambling to reclaim their relevance.
Not everyone was thrilled. Critics, including the late U.S. Senator John McCain, slammed early MMA as “human cockfighting” and pushed to have it banned. Thankfully, the UFC evolved, introducing rules, weight classes, and round limits to transform it into the legitimate sport we know today.
But here’s the thing—modern MMA wasn’t born in a vacuum. The idea of pitting fighters from different styles against each other has been around for centuries. Let’s explore the ancient and modern fighting styles that paved the way for today’s MMA.
Ancient and Modern Fighting Styles That Inspired MMA
1. Pankration
Think MMA is revolutionary? Ancient Greece would like a word. Enter Pankration, a combat sport that predates modern MMA by over two millennia. First introduced in the Olympic Games around 648 BC, it combined boxing, wrestling, and submission techniques into a brutal spectacle.
The rules? Almost nonexistent. Fighters could punch, kick, grapple, and choke. Eye-gouging and biting were technically prohibited, though Spartan warriors reportedly ignored even those minimal restrictions. Weight classes? Forget about it. Matches were divided by age—men or boys—turning every bout into a test of raw grit.
If you’ve ever watched an MMA fight and thought, “This is intense,” imagine it without gloves, time limits, or safety officials. Pankration set the foundation for mixing martial arts, proving humans have always loved a good scrap.
2. Shuai Jiao
China’s Shuai Jiao dates back to the Han Dynasty, making it one of the oldest recorded martial arts. Initially developed for battlefield training, this hybrid style fused kung fu strikes with grappling techniques. Soldiers learned to punch, kick, throw, and lock joints, ensuring they could handle themselves in close combat.
Over the centuries, Shuai Jiao evolved, shedding its striking techniques to become a grappling-only martial art. While its modern form resembles judo, its early version had MMA written all over it.
3. Jeet Kune Do
No conversation about MMA’s origins is complete without Bruce Lee. A martial artist, philosopher, and movie star, Lee was decades ahead of his time. Frustrated by the rigid structures of traditional martial arts, he developed Jeet Kune Do, a philosophy rather than a formal style.
Lee encouraged fighters to take the best techniques from all disciplines, discarding anything ineffective. “Be water, my friend,” he famously said, advocating for adaptability and creativity in combat.
While Lee never saw MMA’s rise, his philosophy influenced countless fighters and helped popularize the idea of cross-training. Fun fact: Muhammad Ali’s legendary bout with Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki is considered an early precursor to MMA.
4. Shootfighting
Japan gave us more than sushi and samurai—it also contributed Shootfighting, a proto-MMA style combining wrestling, karate, and Muay Thai. Fighters could use punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and even headbutts. The rules were minimal: no gloves, no face punches, and no strikes to the groin or windpipe.
Shootfighting produced some legendary names, including Ken Shamrock and Kyoji Horiguchi. While it lacked the polish of today’s MMA, it was a crucial stepping stone, proving hybrid combat sports could thrive.
5. Vale Tudo
Brazil’s Vale Tudo is the closest ancestor of modern MMA. Translating to “anything goes,” it was popularized in the 20th century by the Gracie family. These no-holds-barred matches allowed fighters from any discipline to test their skills.
Rorion Gracie brought Vale Tudo to the U.S., founded the UFC, and introduced the world to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Over time, Vale Tudo’s anything-goes approach gave way to MMA’s unified rules. Yet, in Brazil, the term “Vale Tudo” remains synonymous with MMA, highlighting its profound influence on the sport.
6. Sambo
A bonus addition to this list is Sambo, a Soviet martial art combining judo, wrestling, and striking. Developed in the 1920s, Sambo prepared soldiers for hand-to-hand combat and has since produced stars like Fedor Emelianenko. Its emphasis on grappling and submissions has made it a valuable tool in the MMA arsenal.
The Legacy of MMA’s Influences
Modern MMA owes its success to the experimentation and evolution of these ancient and hybrid fighting styles. Whether it’s Pankration’s brutal simplicity or Jeet Kune Do’s philosophical depth, each contributed something unique.
The sport’s beauty lies in its adaptability—fighters continue to blend techniques, proving that no single style has all the answers. From the octagon to your local gym, MMA remains a testament to martial arts’ endless innovation.
What’s Next?
The evolution of MMA is far from over. With fighters constantly pushing the boundaries, the sport will develop even further. Who knows? Maybe future MMA stars will borrow techniques from today’s emerging martial arts.
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