Is MMA a style now?

**gregaquaman** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 1:21am

Originally Posted by danno

I think it's much better to give the style and the ruleset different names and maintain that mental differentiation. MMA is the ruleset, call the style/s whatever you want (except for "MMA", please).

Historical information and definitions ripped directly from Wikipedia.

So to use integrated as an example. Integrated is the style and mma is the rule set. Or you would do SPMA style MMA

**ZenMMA** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 2:00am

MMA Rule Set (or UFC interpretation of..)

Illegal moves -

Butting with the head
Eye gouging of any kind
Biting
Spitting at an opponent
Hair pulling
Fish hooking
Groin attacks of any kind
Putting a finger into any orifice or any cut or laceration of an opponent
Small joint manipulation
Striking downward using the point of the elbow
Striking to the spine or the back of the head
Kicking to the kidney with a heel
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
Grabbing the clavicle
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
Stomping a grounded opponent

So MMA the style.... includes every single combat move ever invented excluding those listed above. So, yes, it is a style, but an "almost" all encompassing style.

**CNagy** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 3:57am

Originally Posted by ZenMMA

MMA Rule Set (or UFC interpretation of..)

Illegal moves -

Butting with the head
Eye gouging of any kind
Biting
Spitting at an opponent
Hair pulling
Fish hooking
Groin attacks of any kind
Putting a finger into any orifice or any cut or laceration of an opponent
Small joint manipulation
Striking downward using the point of the elbow
Striking to the spine or the back of the head
Kicking to the kidney with a heel
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
Grabbing the clavicle
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
Stomping a grounded opponent

So MMA the style.... includes every single combat move ever invented excluding those listed above. So, yes, it is a style, but an "almost" all encompassing style.

Coming late to the party and at this time of the morning definitely not reading the whole thread yet, but I thought I'd throw my $.02 in.

The bolded is kind of dumb. MMA as a style is going to be striking techniques, submissiong grappling, and throwing. Assuming that it is becoming a "style" because people are training in it with no intention of ever competing and thus need an in-house ranking system, then one could very well expect to see self-defense focused MMA--in which case none of the rules are really going to apply. They probably won't be training trachea strikes, but I don't see why an instructor wouldn't point out that something like "this is a good time to grind your knee into his groin while working for X" or any other dirty move that facilitates the application of another technique. Good or bad, it's bound to happen.

Now, if you're training for competition or being trained by someone who does compete, I imagine you'd be practicing stuff that stays within the bounds of the unified ruleset.

**danno** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 4:17am

Originally Posted by gregaquaman

So to use integrated as an example. Integrated is the style and mma is the rule set. Or you would do SPMA style MMA

i dunno, i don't know what to call it.

when you look at the fighters coming out of those schools, they look pretty similar when they actually fight. the training methods differ a bit maybe. is there enough of a difference at the end of the day that we should label them as different styles? but if one of them taught a hybrid of boxing and greco roman for example, that's a big difference.

it's pretty common at the moment to refer to different parts of the fight according to where the techniques came from. when someone throws a crisp punching combination, we say "nice boxing!". when someone lands a submission it's "slick jiu jitsu!". i like dividing it up that way. some fighters are pretty rudimentary in most ranges but excellent in one and it can still work today.

has anyone every said "his MMA is fantastic"?

should we think of it as a multi-discipline event??? like the pentathlon... just putting some ideas out there.

**danno** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 4:29am

Originally Posted by CNagy

MMA as a style is going to be striking techniques, submissiong grappling, and throwing. Assuming that it is becoming a "style" because people are training in it with no intention of ever competing and thus need an in-house ranking system, then one could very well expect to see self-defense focused MMA

if you label it MMA, i think most people would expect that someone training there will be competing in it. it would be expected that you taught techniques which are legal under an MMA ruleset.

if you simply don't label the style MMA, that problem disappears.

but i guess it's already known as that. maybe it's too late to debate about it.

**downtime** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 10:57am

Originally Posted by CNagy

Assuming that it is becoming a "style" because people are training in it with no intention of ever competing and thus need an in-house ranking system, then one could very well expect to see self-defense focused MMA

The following is taken from the Miletich fighting system website. Bolding is my emphasis.

Given the knowledge of these different types of martial arts and athletic endeavors he has pursued, Mr. Miletich has been able to formulate a martial arts training system that enables students of all levels to enjoy the benefits of his years of training. Whether it’s a 5 year old student, a housewife, a business man, or a person that wants to become a world champion we offer something for everyone.

Pat Miletich has trained more world champions than any other trainer in the world and takes great pride in getting a fighter to the pinnacle of mixed martial arts. However, most people do not know that 90% of the people under MFS have no intention of ever stepping in the ring and fighting.

Our Miletich Fighting Systems instructors understand that everyone has the desire to get in great shape, learn how to defend themselves, and at the same time avoid injury. Our workouts have a proven safety record that will enable students to train in a safe, fun, and controlled class setting.

I do think it's important to note that Pat doesnt refer to it as a style but a system...Do you guys feel these are interchangeable terms or have distinct meanings.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 11:46am

And...?

MFS is one of the hybrid styles that defines the modern approach to MMA. You could say the exact same thing about RVT. The people still arguing about this are the people that haven't read everything that's been posted.

Yes, it's inaccurate to call what's going on in the UFC, KOTC, etc. 'MMA' (because that term refers to the format). Does it follow that the modern approach to competition doesn't/shouldn't/can't have a name?

Just give it a different name.

**downtime** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 9:39pm

Originally Posted by Matt Phillips

And...?

MFS is one of the hybrid styles that defines the modern approach to MMA. You could say the exact same thing about RVT. The people still arguing about this are the people that haven't read everything that's been posted.

Yes, it's inaccurate to call what's going on in the UFC, KOTC, etc. 'MMA' (because that term refers to the format). Does it follow that the modern approach to competition doesn't/shouldn't/can't have a name?

Just give it a different name.

Not disagreeing just pointing out to Cnagy that what he stated is actually already happening.

**gregaquaman** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 10:02pm

Originally Posted by danno

i dunno, i don't know what to call it.

when you look at the fighters coming out of those schools, they look pretty similar when they actually fight. the training methods differ a bit maybe. is there enough of a difference at the end of the day that we should label them as different styles? but if one of them taught a hybrid of boxing and greco roman for example, that's a big difference.

it's pretty common at the moment to refer to different parts of the fight according to where the techniques came from. when someone throws a crisp punching combination, we say "nice boxing!". when someone lands a submission it's "slick jiu jitsu!". i like dividing it up that way. some fighters are pretty rudimentary in most ranges but excellent in one and it can still work today.

has anyone every said "his MMA is fantastic"?

should we think of it as a multi-discipline event??? like the pentathlon... just putting some ideas out there.

Locally yes. My coach (Specialises?) in transitioning that is his strength. In otherwords his MMA is greater than the sum of its parts.

I am sure we could find other examples of better people.

From a practical standpoint I think you would break your brain trying to do a MMA fight by boxing kickboxing wrestling and BJJing.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 4/18/2012 11:43pm

Originally Posted by downtime

Not disagreeing just pointing out to Cnagy that what he stated is actually already happening.

OK, and I'm just pointing out to you that this whole conversation is a consequence of us not having any distinct name for the modern hybrid approach. If Joe Rogan called it "Combat Sub Grapple" (or whatever) everytime he was on the air, this would have lasted less than a page.