Striking MMA at IFC event in Trier, Germany
GAMMA adds “Striking MMA” as new style
The Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) has added “Striking MMA” as a new style to further develop the sport of mixed martial arts
GAMMA, the leading International Federation for Mixed Martial Arts has launched a new twist to mixed martial arts, the fastest growing discipline of combat sports in the last decade.
Why Striking MMA?
Today, mixed martial arts is the most popular discipline of combat sports worldwide and has the youngest fan base among all combat sports. Even though many mixed martial arts athletes and champions come from different fighting backgrounds such as Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, Judo and Wrestling, before progressing into mixed martial arts, it is not an easy task for them to learn and master all the techniques of the sport i.e. striking, submission and grappling.
For example, athletes in striking-based combat sports such as Boxing, Kickboxing and Karate would be unfamiliar with submission grappling, and would be unprepared to deal with submission techniques by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
As a result, the GAMMA Technical Committee has decided to launch Striking MMA, a fighting system based on traditional rules of MMA to facilitate a smooth transition and pathway into mixed martial arts regardless of the technical knowledge of the athletes.
What is Striking MMA?
The rules are intuitive as they include all the techniques which have made mixed martial arts popular except with the exclusion of the ground and pound techniques. Athletes are still allowed to submit their opponents to the ground and have maximum 30 seconds time to finish the submission to get tap out and win. The fighter who was saved by the 30 sec. rule gets a point deducted similar like a knock down in stand up.
The future
GAMMA will pilot Striking MMA at an international stage with the Striking MMA World Cup before holding regular Championships in each continent and culminating with the World Championships. Official seminars will be conducted as a first step towards introducing this new style.
The Sustainable Development of mixed martial arts
GAMMA’s main objective with this initiative is to implement a list of activities to offer another approach and perspective to our beautiful sport while breaking down remaining barriers to realize full globalization of the sport. Striking MMA is accepted by the MMA community as mixed martial arts and well received by sport federations, promotions as added value for the sport of MMA. The exclusion of ground and pound techniques has a positive influence on the acceptance of MMA as a sport. A result can be seen in television stations that had restrictions in timeslots before for MMA are now accepting Striking MMA as sport like others.
Striking MMA has been extensively tested and discussed with our German National Federation
Before GAMMA made this step to add Striking MMA as an extra style, our German Member Federation tested this at both its amateur and professional events. We saw increased participation as more athletes were encouraged to participate since it was a gradual introduction into MMA. At the same time, it helps to generate interest towards the sport. Professional fight promoters have taken “Striking MMA” onto their fight card as it was easier for non-Wrestling fans to understand.
Striking MMA will officially be added as a style to GAMMA in the upcoming GAMMA Congress Agenda.
