What do you think?
Rate this book
Mixed Martial Arts: A History from Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an international phenomenon, with a fascinatingly diverse and complex history that stems from fighting sports around the world.
In Mixed Martial A History from Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC, L.A. Jennings explores the vast global history of martial arts—including Asian martial arts, African fighting sports, European pugilism and wrestling, and the fighting styles of North, Central, and South Americas—and how they gave rise to the modern sport of MMA. Jennings shares some of the most famous moments in fighting history alongside stories of the fighters themselves, such as the infamous 1976 fight between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki.
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship premiered in 1993, it introduced the world to the controversial “cage fighting” at a scale never seen before. With the assistance of technological innovations and globalization, MMA has become the fastest growing sport on earth, the culmination of thousands of years of fighting for sport. Featuring fascinating stories and photographs of fighters from around the world, Mixed Martial Arts reveals the long and captivating history of this often-misunderstood sport.
In Mixed Martial A History from Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC, L.A. Jennings explores the vast global history of martial arts—including Asian martial arts, African fighting sports, European pugilism and wrestling, and the fighting styles of North, Central, and South Americas—and how they gave rise to the modern sport of MMA. Jennings shares some of the most famous moments in fighting history alongside stories of the fighters themselves, such as the infamous 1976 fight between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki.
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship premiered in 1993, it introduced the world to the controversial “cage fighting” at a scale never seen before. With the assistance of technological innovations and globalization, MMA has become the fastest growing sport on earth, the culmination of thousands of years of fighting for sport. Featuring fascinating stories and photographs of fighters from around the world, Mixed Martial Arts reveals the long and captivating history of this often-misunderstood sport.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2021
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Jennings
2 books4 followersL.A. Jennings is a Media Studies professor specializing in Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and history. She published her first book, She’s a Knockout! a History of Women in Fighting Sports, with Rowman and Littlefield in 2013, and is the owner and head striking coach of Train.Fight.Win. MMA in Denver, Colorado.
L.A. holds a Doctorate in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, and B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Florida State University.
She has been interviewed by NPR, The Economist, Cosmopolitan, and the HISTORY channel as an expert on the history and culture of MMA, and regularly contributes to VICE SPORTS on fighting sports history and issues of gender in the world of MMA.
L.A. holds a Doctorate in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, and B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Florida State University.
She has been interviewed by NPR, The Economist, Cosmopolitan, and the HISTORY channel as an expert on the history and culture of MMA, and regularly contributes to VICE SPORTS on fighting sports history and issues of gender in the world of MMA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.