The most spectacular and traumatic sport today is rightfully recognized as a fight without rules. This category of martial arts has long attracted the attention of millions of people around the world. During fights, the adrenaline level surpasses not only the athletes themselves, but also all spectators without exception.
General concepts and classification
Wrestling without rules is a special type of martial arts, in which the use of technical methods by any parts of the body is allowed. Arsenal of fighters may include captures, punches, blocks and throws. In this form, receptions from any martial arts are allowed. On the other hand, for example, the rules of sambo wrestling or some other do not apply here. Battles in this category have their own rules. Both judges and athletes must obey him.
Some viewers believe that in the regulation most of the rules are free-style wrestling. This is a big mistake. In fights without rules, fights always take place without the use of any means of defense. Here the priority is full contact, but in the free-style wrestling - vice versa.
Today, about 100 official tournaments for fights without rules are held annually in the world. The main and most authoritative associations in charge of these competitions are M-1 (Russia), UFC (USA), Pride (Japan) and others. Along with these countries, Holland and Brazil are also at the forefront of the modern struggle without rules.
Over the past couple of years, this type of battle has received several new names at once: mix fight, pankration, absolute fights.
To achieve success, it is advisable for athletes to know the basic techniques of martial arts such as boxing, muay thai, jujitsu, sambo, judo, sanda, karate, taekwondo, etc.
The history of the struggle without rules
An analogue of this type of martial arts was widely popular back in ancient Greece. In the 7th century BC, pankration was included in the main program of the Olympic Games, and victory in it was considered the most prestigious result of the tournament. At that time, the rules of competition were used in battles, that is, with complete freedom of action. Rivals were allowed not only to apply any painful techniques, but also to bite, tear off the enemy’s ears, squeeze out their eyes and much more.
Over time, this sport began to become obsolete. It was only at the end of the 19th century AD that the so-called cross-matches returned fights without rules to their former glory and excitement. At that time, fights took place between world champions in different types of martial arts, for example, a boxer against a karate or a judoka against a sambo wrestler.
Modern rules of the struggle without rules were finally put together and spelled out in international regulation only in the mid-1990s. Gradually, branches of the leading associations of the planet began to appear in different countries. And as soon as the winners' fees began to amount to millions of dollars, the most powerful fighters of the world reached the ring.
Equipment
Initially, the fighters declared for the tournaments were specialists in a separate category (karate, boxing, sambo, etc.). However, over time, it came to be understood that this was not enough for victory. To win against all your competitors, you must be a pro in mixed discipline. To equalize the chances, the organizers introduced new rules for fighting on the ground. Now, to participate in the official tournament, a boxer must be able to put his opponent on the shoulder blades and grabs, and a sambo fighter - apply accurate hooks with both hands.
Modern pankration can be divided into three components: a rack, a clinch and a horizontal. Each of these provisions requires special technical skills. Their absolute world champions have been developing for years. In fact, mixed fighters can be called universal. On the other hand, they can be divided into drummers and wrestlers, depending on which kind they are more attracted to (kickboxing, judo, etc.).
Rules of struggle without rules do not prohibit participants from using their hands or feet more often. How to fight is a matter of the fighter himself and his preferences. In any case, before meeting in the ring, you should study all the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent to find out how best to act against him. Perhaps the most effective would be to use a choking technique if the opponent is unable to get out of this position.
Equipment Standards
Participants in mixed martial arts fights must be in the ring with special gloves. No foreign objects can be sewn into them. The gloves are made so that the fingers remain open, and the palm completely closes. Their total weight should be in the range from 110 to 115 grams. For example: boxing gloves have a mass of 3 times more.
Clothing fighters should be light and loose. In the men's category, an athlete may only wear underpants. Shoes and other equipment attributes are prohibited. Women's wrestling without rules regarding clothes is more humane. Weak sex allowed a bra and tight-fitting T-shirt.
International regulations
It should be noted right away that there is no single regulation for all versions of the pankration. The rules of the struggle without rules are prescribed only by associations under the auspices of which competitions are held, and today there are more than a dozen of them. Nevertheless, the principle for all these versions of the mixfight remains the same: maximum freedom of action and minimum equipment. This is the only way to achieve the ideal realism of the fight.
The current rules of fighting without rules prohibit “heavy” tricks that can lead to inevitable consequences: squeezing the eyes, fracture of the spine, blows to the groin and throat, grip the clavicle, etc. Also, at the time of entering the ring, don’t wear accessories such as earrings, chains, bracelets, pins, etc.
Fights are held in 3 or 5 rounds of 5 minutes, depending on the significance of the match (championship or not). Rivals are divided into weight categories, of which there are only nine: from the lightest (up to 56.7 kg) to the heavyweight (over 120.2 kg).
If for all the rounds the rivals could not force each other to surrender, then the winner of the sparring is determined by the sum of the points set by the judging commission.
Serious violations for which a fighter can be disqualified are spitting, insulting, assault after the fight, a soles kick on the lying opponent and others.
Russia
On the territory of the Russian Federation, fights without rules began to be held only in the 1990s. Prior to that, they were officially prohibited by law. At present, in Russia there are more than a dozen large centers for the development of pankration.
Also in the country there are several separate organizations that are responsible for holding absolute fights. The headquarters of the international association WAFC, which began operations in 1995, is located in Moscow. In St. Petersburg, mixed martial arts are run by the M-1 League, subordinate to the international federation IMA.
The most famous Russian fighter is Fedor Emelianenko.
Mix Fight in Europe
Here, the undisputed leader is Holland. It is there that the most cruel and sought after tournaments are held among the audience, one of which is 2 Hot 2 Handle.
In the Netherlands, this kind of martial arts, such as kickboxing, is very developed. Therefore, it is unimaginably hard to withstand any fighter against the Dutch without exception.
At the moment, it is the Netherlands kickboxing school that is the best and most outstanding on the planet. The rest of the European countries are mixed martial arts away from Russia and the Netherlands.
Asia
The foremost power in pankration in this region is Japan. Here, the struggle without rules has reached a completely different level than in the same Europe.
As you know, many Asians from childhood are fond of such types of fights as karate, jujitsu and many others, including ku-do.
The most popular wrestling tournament in Asia is Pride, which is held annually in Tokyo and Osaka. Also known around the world are the K-1 competitions, where preference is given to kung fu, kickboxing and taekwondo.
Fights in north america
Since the beginning of the 20th century, underground battles were in demand in the United States, in which there were practically no restrictions. As soon as such martial arts were legalized, America was stirred by a wave of people wishing to enter the ring. The whole country instantly clung to the blue screens to view not wrestling, namely pankration.
The most prestigious and richest tournaments in North America are the fights under the auspices of the UFC. By the way, this is one of the oldest associations in the world.
South America
Absolute fights here have been held since 1920. At that time, the Brazilian clan Gracie was in charge of the tournaments. Competitions were held until the complete victory of the competitor without any restrictions.
Today in Latin America there are several associations of pankration, but the most famous and authoritative of them remains Brazilian. It is under her auspices that the Vale Tudo battles are held.
In these competitions, ju-jitsu and kickboxing are preferred.