The Evolution of Combat Sports

Combat sports have withstood the test of time. In fact, mixed martial arts dates back to the Olympics of ancient Greece. But just how have they evolved over thousands of years? And how do aspects of today's combat sports reflect on that of the past?

During the Roman era, gladiators were pitted in brutal matches, often to the death. In modern times, we see professional fighters whittle each other down and submit their opponents in potentially bloody bouts. The rules and cultural implications of the "popular" combat sport changed, but the concept is still the same. The athletes risk everything for fame and glory; the fans cheer on their favorite fighters. Society as a whole, regardless of class or wealth, has the opportunity to participate.

Gladiator, (Latin: “swordsman,” from gladius, “sword”)

The Romans held gladiator battles, sometimes every month. It served as a form of control and pacification, keeping the poor and unemployed occupied. Gladiators, usually prisoners of war turned slaves or criminals, tolerated the risk of death for a chance to gain fame and glory. Successful gladiators could become major stars of the Roman world much like the star MMA fighters of today, such as Conor McGregor.

While a Roman gladiator was a professional fighter who specialized in fighting with a weapon, an MMA fighter is a professional fighter specialized in unarmed combat. Part of MMA's roots lie in the Greek Olympic fighting sport that was called "pankration". Over time, many different countries also developed their own fighting style, leading to the wide variety of martial arts still in practice to this day: kung fu, judo, karate, brazilian jiu jitsu, sambo, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing.

Organized fighting events started out with barely any rules. There was no weight classes, and oftentimes fighters would only be experts in one particular martial art. Gradually, it dawned on fighters that a well-rounded kit was necessary to be a successful in the long run. Fighters began developing unique styles, adding various tools from different disciplines to their arsenal. Organizations began enforcing weight classes and rules.

Looking back through history to where things stand now, there's a pattern. The art of fighting took different routs and expanded into many variations, only to be consolidated and pieced back together. We end up with better equipped fighters. In this sense we can construct a basic model for evolution, or progress. Take an idea, expand it by breaking it down into a specific aspect and make adaptations to it, then combine multiple adaptations to create the best results.

Globally commercialized fighting events have become prevalent due to professional MMA organizations like the UFC.

Works Cited

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Mixed Martial Arts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts.

“History of Mixed Martial Arts Fighting.” Dummies, www.dummies.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/history-of-mixed-martial-arts-fighting/.