Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has taken the world by storm.
However, martial arts has never been limited to turning the body into a
human weapon. In fact, martial arts encompasses all skills that also
include the use of weaponry. So I had an idea. What if there was a
division of MMA that brought the weapons back in. Let's discuss.
The concept: So the idea is really simple.
Add weapons into an MMA match. Obviously, these would be of a
non-lethal variety to ensure safety, and the combatants would wear a form of
armor. The armor would protect the wearer from the most powerful blows,
but still allow the fighter to know and feel that they got hit. However, if they
somehow lose their weapon in the midst of the bout, they could still
demonstrate their skills by fighting barehanded as there is a segment of
martial arts moves which are designed to defeat armored opponents and also to
be used while wearing armor. This also allows for moves that include
disarmament to be integrated into the match. Basically, this brings in a
whole new set of martial techniques into the ring which typically are not seen.
Acceptable weapons and win conditions: Foam staff and club weapons seem to
be the most appropriate. These weapons are easily seen and felt. So
this could also include nunchuks, three section staffs, tonfas/police baton,
and escrima sticks. Large polyurethane knife like weapons would work such
as knives with blades over 5 inches in length, or short swords like machetes,
and of course long swords like the Katana, and hand-and-a-half sword. Points
will then be awarded as normal with judges looking at the number of landed
blows which will be one point, and glancing blows being a half point. If
the weapon such as a spear is used and the spear point (a cushioned bulb in
this case) would strike a vital area on the body, then a point and a half would
be awarded. Take downs with or without a weapon will be given two full
points, and strikes without a weapon would be given a 1/2 point. Or you can win
by submission in which points become irrelevant.
Rope, and whip like weapons would be
banned due to the potential problems with chokes, and entanglement and weapons
under 5 inches would not work because they are not very visible but there are exceptions like knuckle dusters, and gauntlets which are weapons combined with the
fist and the strikes can be seen. Fantasy weapons like combining a tonfa
with a knife would be allowable once tested for safety. Shields are also
an allowable weapon/defense tool as they too have a martial application on
attack like a spike shield or hooked shield being used to punch, parry a blow
or grapple. Projectile weapons will never work because they defeat the
purpose of integrating the other martial arts weapons, for they were designed
as an equalizer on the battlefield for troops as opposed to professionally
trained sword fighters. And there you have it, these foam/hard plastic
weapons would work perfectly for our purposes.
Forbidden strike zones:
In this case hitting to the groin is never acceptable, and head shots to the
back of the head, neck and thrusts to the face (unless barehanded to the face)
are also off limits despite protective gear due to the possible severe damage
that can be caused. Weapon hits with hard plastic to an unprotected head, or
other parts of the body that cannot endure such punishment will not be allowed, foam weapons will be allowed as they are safer. Beyond
that, everything is protected and thus seems to me a legal target.
Conclusion: This is a concept that would be
cool. MMA got its start by asking who would win if a karate fighter took on a
kung Fu fighter. And from there it evolved. This weapon variety now
integrates unused moves and looks to also see if a European Rapier can take on
a Katana in a match. Obviously more must be put in to ensure safety as
different varieties of armor modeled on various historical types would all have
to be tested to allow for variety and add to the flavor of the match, suitably
modifying them for the ring of course. So what do you all think?
Is this a potentially good idea, or just a pipe dream? I'll
let you, my readers, decide.
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