Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use
of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the
ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different
backgrounds to compete.
The roots of mixed martial arts can be traced back to various mixed
style contests that took place throughout Europe, Japan and the
Pacific Rim during the early 1900s. Modern MMA competition emerged
in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship,
although professional MMA events had been held in Japan by Shooto
starting back in 1989. Originally organized with the intention of
finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat
situations, competitors were pitted against one another with minimal
rules for safety. Later promoters adopted many additional rules
aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream
acceptance of the sport.
At SPSMA the MMA style trained in is a mixture of semi-contact and full contact techniques, techniques used are from a veriety of martial arts including Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Judo to name but a few. Training involves bag and pad work, Ground work, skipping, shadow boxing, fitness and circuit training.