The term MMA

[Choke]

How is MMA considered a style?

If I did Judo/Boxing/Kyokushin I would be a MMA.

If I did BJJ/MT/Sambo I would be a MMA.

If I mixed only tradional MA's like Akido/Shotokan/JJJ I would be a MMA too.

If the above is true how can MMA be considered a single style?

[Fisting Kittens]

I'll field this one. Although the words Mixed martial arts semantically mean only that you mixed various martial arts, the connotation of the word is completely different. MMA is a sport where near;y every competitor shows a similar style. MMA in the common parlance of today means a combination of Muay Thai, wrestling, and BJJ. Pretty much everyone does those arts and THAT is modern MMA. Also MMA generally means that you are combining those arts specifically for the ring. MMA is a sport, not an art form.


If you do other combos I would call you a martial artist that crosstrains. But if you do what I mentioned above I would call you MMA

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Shut up and train

[FingerorMoon?]

I kind of agree with FK.

MMA is a sport, not a style.

But I believe, anyone that crosstrains in different styles can say they are a mixed martial artist.

[Choke]

Pretty misleading name for a sport. Maybe some new jargon should be in the works.

So MMA for the most part is a combo of some sort of kickboxing and some sort of ground grappling style.

I've heard posters here call Vale Tudo and NHB a style.

Example: You should take Vale Tudo/NHB

Aren't those just rules for two similar types of competition? Like I could only use Karate or Muay Thai and compete in a Vale Tudo or NHB tournament.

[Fisting Kittens]

Again MMA, Vale tudo, and NHB are all pretty much the same thing. A sporting competition that uses similar rules. You CAN compete in it using anything you want, but most people that compete in those event have a very similar style. If someone tells you to do MMA/Vale Tudo/NHB style they are probably telling you to train Muay Thai, Wrestling, and BJJ.

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Shut up and train

[Choke]

BJJ/MT seems to be the preffered mixture.

[MrMcFu]

Just to be an irritant, where does Paulsen's Shooto fit in?

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http://www.zanshin-dojo.de

[Xuanlong Xian]

Choke: no, wrestling is important to seal the two. We've come a long way from the days where Gracie could just shoot in.

[Blad3]

Osiris is correct.

Submission fighting is a "style" and it's also MMA - usually boxing, kickboxing(MT), wrestling, BJJ/Judo etc - in a specific style trained full contact with the intent of full contact competition and/or hand-to-hand self defence.

"Wrestling is the Martial Art of America";
"If you don't know how to wrestle you don't know how to fight, that's the prerequisite to fighting" David Tank Abbott (http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/displayfighter.cfm?fighterid=110)