MMA
Mixed Martial Arts
Where the striking and the grappling meet. Wrestling, BJJ and kickboxing blended into one class — beginners are never expected to spar on day one.
Modern Martial Arts Center in Saskatoon is proud to offer Mixed Martial Arts, aka MMA classes.
Mixed Martial Arts has existed as a sport for less than thirty years but its growth has been truly phenomenal, with the UFC paving the way as the leading promotion in MMA.
Whilst similar sports such as Pankration — which mixed wrestling and striking — can be traced back to the days of the Ancient Greek Olympics, its more modern inception began when the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practicing Gracie family looked to promote their art by entering Vale Tudo matches. These matches allowed fighters to use different martial arts and were virtually rule-free.
In 1993, the Gracies went to the United States and founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Initially marketed as a tournament to find the most effective martial art for unarmed combat, fighters from different backgrounds competed against each other in a single elimination format. Despite being significantly smaller than the majority of his opponents, Royce Gracie tore through the first tournament. Whilst this established Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a very efficient martial art, other styles have had their moment in the spotlight, with high level kickboxers, Muay Thai practitioners, Olympic wrestlers, karate and judo players demonstrating just how efficient they can be.
Today, anyone in Saskatoon or nearby can train Mixed Martial Arts by joining MMAC. Classes typically involve a warm-up routine, such as shadowboxing, skipping or jogging, then focusing on grappling technique such as BJJ or wrestling. Kickboxing techniques will be included, and eventually a blend of all relevant techniques from any discipline. Beginner students are not expected to spar in their first sessions. We encourage all prospective members to participate in our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and BANG Muay Thai programs if their focus is MMA.
It doesn't matter if you've never thrown a punch before, or have never heard of “sprawling” — MMA is a great way to actively destress, get your heart pumping and focus your attention, all whilst in a fun, friendly and safe environment.