While mixed martial arts seems like a relatively new development in the world of sports, each of the roots of MMA derive from sports and martial arts that are thousands of years old. Boxing, for example, was a spectator sport as far back the days of ancient Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. Boxing, in an early form, was even part of the first Olympic games around 680 B.C.E.
While one can presume that boxing didn't suddenly disappear, recordings of boxing matches are fairly scarce until the late 17th century when there are published accounts of bare-knuckle boxing in England. The sport was highly popular in England, and there were even official rules for the sport, known as Broughton's Rules. Broughton not only created rules for the game, he also invented the first type of padded gloves.
Broughton's rules continued to evolve and change until about 1867, when the Marquess of Queensbury financed the publication of uniform boxing rules, and while they weren't written by him, they are known as the Marquess of Queensbury Rules. Most of these rules are still in practice today in the professional boxing world.
The Queensbury rules include a dozen regulations that range from the size and shape of the boxing ring, the length of rounds and total number of rounds in a full match. Rules about gloves, referees and coaching also were included in these rules.
Boxing was for hundreds of years a financial enterprise for both the fighters and the spectators. When the Olympic Games were resurrected in the early 1900s, however, amateur boxing was added. Amateurs, of course, were unpaid, and the rules for amateur boxing are much different than in the professional world. The differences include the length of the fights and the addition of protective headgear.
Today, of course, both professional and amateur boxing exist, and most mixed martial arts fighters also take boxing classes as part of their training. While MMA history has shown that relying solely on boxing skills is highly ineffective as a game plan, the conditioning and skills learned through boxing are still highly important. A fighter that is trained in boxing, as well as wrestling, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and other fighting arts will always have the advantage over someone who focuses on one single skill set.
While one can presume that boxing didn't suddenly disappear, recordings of boxing matches are fairly scarce until the late 17th century when there are published accounts of bare-knuckle boxing in England. The sport was highly popular in England, and there were even official rules for the sport, known as Broughton's Rules. Broughton not only created rules for the game, he also invented the first type of padded gloves.
Broughton's rules continued to evolve and change until about 1867, when the Marquess of Queensbury financed the publication of uniform boxing rules, and while they weren't written by him, they are known as the Marquess of Queensbury Rules. Most of these rules are still in practice today in the professional boxing world.
The Queensbury rules include a dozen regulations that range from the size and shape of the boxing ring, the length of rounds and total number of rounds in a full match. Rules about gloves, referees and coaching also were included in these rules.
Boxing was for hundreds of years a financial enterprise for both the fighters and the spectators. When the Olympic Games were resurrected in the early 1900s, however, amateur boxing was added. Amateurs, of course, were unpaid, and the rules for amateur boxing are much different than in the professional world. The differences include the length of the fights and the addition of protective headgear.
Today, of course, both professional and amateur boxing exist, and most mixed martial arts fighters also take boxing classes as part of their training. While MMA history has shown that relying solely on boxing skills is highly ineffective as a game plan, the conditioning and skills learned through boxing are still highly important. A fighter that is trained in boxing, as well as wrestling, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and other fighting arts will always have the advantage over someone who focuses on one single skill set.
About the Author:
Nolan Barias likes blogging about mixed martial arts advantages. For additional details about martial arts San Diego or to find a local San Diego boxing gym, please go to The Arena MMA site today.
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