What is MMA and How Did it Start
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of different Martial Art disciplines, to be used in competitions. The rules allow both striking and grappling/wrestling techniques to be used both while standing and on the ground. This type of competition has revolutionized Martial Arts because it truly shows what techniques are, and are not effective under the real pressure of combat.
The history of modern MMA started in the early 1900's with mixed Martial Art style contests throughout Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim. The Gracie family started Vale Tudo Martial Arts Tournaments in Brazil in the 1920's. The first was the Gracie Challenge issued by Carlos Gracie as an attempt to show that Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was superior to other Martial Arts Styles.
It was these type of Vale Tudo tournaments in Brazil that lead to the most common MMA competition in the world today, known as the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championships. The UFC started out as a no-rules elimination tournament that showcased fighters from different disciplines. Royce Gracie won the first UFC which thrust MMA & Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu onto the world stage. The UFC later under went reform to gain public acceptance and sanctioning with State Athletic Commissions in the USA.
Mixed Martial Arts has come a long way in the last 10-years and has become a Martial Arts Discipline of it's own. MMA continues to develop and become more refined as the fighters become more all rounded in their skills. Many that fight in MMA have helped the sport evolve and Martial Arts evolve in general by developing new and exciting techniques. These techniques have been proven to work even in the most extreme fighting situations.
Why Train MMA at SASSOM
There are a lot of Gyms & Martial Arts Clubs that claim to teach MMA, now some of these gyms and clubs know what there are talking about and have the ability to train you in MMA, the problem is most don't, and are just looking for the latest fad, and a way to take your money.
The main components of MMA is standup & ground - striking, grappling, takedowns, wrestling and submissions. At SASSOM we teach & compete in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-GI and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-No Gi / Submission Wrestling.
Muay Thai is one of the most devastating and complete striking systems in the world. Muay Thai uses punches, kicks, knees, elbows, standing grappling, dumps & throws. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission wrestling teaches and uses takedowns, throws (like Judo), ground - control, positions, submissions, and escapes.
When Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is is performed in a Gi (judo uniform) it teaches you how to gain better control over your opponent and gives you the chance to learn & understand leverage, weight placement and how to apply techniques correctly with control. When Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is performed without a Gi or in the case of submission wrestling you learn to move & think faster.
At SASSOM our MMA practitioners train in the Muay Thai & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons as well as in their own MMA lessons. This concept ensures that the standup & ground skills needed to be effective in MMA are developed to the best level possible. Then the standup & ground skills are combined to work seamlessly together to ensure we have an all-round MMA fighter, not just a striker or wrestler trying to rely only on their chosen discipline to get them through.
BJJ Beginners Course
The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Beginners Course is designed for beginners to teach the new BJJ & MMA enthusiast the basic skills needed to understand ground fighting concepts. There are 8-lessons in this beginners course that cover all the fundamental positions, moves & skills needed to get you rolling and moving on the ground. The Beginners Course is run over a 4-week period on a Monday & Wednesday night from 7-8pm at the Woolloongabba facility, located at 19 Holden Street. The course costs only $99.00 and is taught without a Gi / uniform, this keeps the starting costs to a minimum and the initial commitment short. Click Here for More Information
Training Times
- Striking Skills: Monday - Thursday 6:00pm - 7:00pm
- Wrestling Skills: Monday & Wednesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm Saturday 10:30am - 12:00pm
- MMA Competition Training: Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm - 6:00pm
- Sparring: Saturday 8:45am - 9:45am
- Open Session: Friday 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Training Costs
- First Training Session is Free
- Unlimited Sessions $66.00 per fortnight - Direct Debit on a 6-month contract
- Unlimited Sessions $77.00 per fortnight - Direct Debit No Contract
- Casual $20.00 per session
