Filipino Mixed Martial Arts

Athletes: Enduring and Coping

with Physical Pain
By
Andrew John Fernandez
MA Anthropology student
University of San Carlos

Rationale
*Many people or observers find cage
fighting labeled as distasteful, considered
a brutal, violent and illegal sport enjoyed
by only a bloodthirsty few.

con

Ultimate fighting can be extremely brutal

and has been described as human
cockfighting.

For the view of untrained eye, Mixed

Martial Art matches are sanctioned bar
brawls.

Research Problem
The goal of this ongoing study is to take
step in understanding the different
motivations of mixed martial artist to
continue the cage fight . Despite of the
risk of getting hurt or the danger of
getting injured, there are increasing
number participants or athletes for this
sport. They are willing to endure the
physical pain just to be declared winner.

Methodology
This follows the purposive study of participant
observations and in-depth interviews.
It gathers data from several interviews with
MMA practitioners of the sports. It
investigates how the techniques are learned
and acquired by the fighters and its
attachment to their identities.

The research focused on the following

questions:
What are the different motivations to
continue the Mixed Martial Arts?
Are the Mixed Martial Artists earned from the
Sports?
What are the preparations and strategies they
must avail for a fight?
What are the techniques and preparations to
endure and survive any physical pain in the
sport?

History of Mixed Martial Arts

The world was first introduced to organized,
minimal-rules fighting when the ancient Greek
Pankration debuted in the Olympics Games in
648 B.C. ( What Is MMA, UFC ROCKSTAR,
http://www.ufcrockstar.com/?page_id=46)

con

The word Pankration is a combination of the

two Greek words: pan, which means
everything, and kratos, which means strength.
An Ancient Martial Art, NEWSFINDER (Jan.
2003),http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/pankration
an_ancient_martial_art/.

24,

con

It was not until the late 1800s that major

intra- discipline competitions took place in the
United States. Eventually, participants began
training in multiple disciplines,creating what
would become known as the sport of MMA. (
What
Is
MMA,
UFC
ROCKSTAR,
http://www.ufcrockstar.com/?page_id=46)

con

Mixed Martial Arts is a combat sport in which

different martial arts styles or techniques,
including striking and grappling, are
permitted. MMA was introduced to the public
for the first time when the first UFC was held
in Denver, Colorado, in November 1993. (An analysis
of spectator motives and media consumption behaviour in an individual combatsport: cross-national
differences between American and South Korean Mixed Martial Arts fans by Seungmo Kim)

Philippine Mixed Martial Arts

The Philippines had several forms of martial
arts and combat sports including boxing
(Panantukan), grappling (Dumog), foot fighting
(Sikaran), and weapon- based arts (Kali and
Escrima). (http://www.ocmma.net/history-of-mma-mixedmartial-arts/)

con

Before the Americans entered the Philippines

around 1898, the Filipinos would settle their
differences with duels using swords. In the
1930s, in an effort to make it more humane,
the duels became full-contact bouts where
the combatants used rattan sticks. sweeps and
throws. (http://www.ocmma.net/history-ofmma-mixed-martial-arts/)

con

At close range, striking with the butt of the

weapon, punches, elbows, knees and kicks were
allowed as were grappling, submissions, sweeps,
and throws. (http://www.ocmma.net/history-of-mma-mixed-martial-arts/)
Yaw-Yan, also called Sayaw ng Kamatayan or
"Dance of Death is a Filipino Hybrid style of
kickboxing.

Yaw-Yan closely resembles Muay Thai, but differs

in the hip-torquing motion as well as the
downward-cutting nature of its kicks, and the
emphasis on delivering attacks from long range
(while Muay Thai focuses more on clinching).

Before Engaging MMA

The fighters have different sports or
techniques. (such as boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,
Aikido, karatedo, taekwondo, judo, and yawyan)
Joining MMA was influenced by third party

Reasons of Joining MMA

To widen their knowledge and training on
other techniques.
The sport is explosive and wide techniques to
win the game.

Increase their discipline with the sport and

having a healthy lifestyle.

Some are advice or recruited by the master or

head of the fight club.
Because of the wide range of techniques or
combination of the fight sport, the age
limitation is higher compare to the other
physical contact sports.

A hobby or body formation and knowledge of

fighting techniques increased.

Strength and Conditioning

It is mandatory for the fighters to jog, sprint,
exercise the foot work everyday (weather or
not there is an upcoming fight).
* Stamina
* Endurance
* Speed
* Resistance

Diet - in order to catch weight, the fighters are

required to have an extreme diets and eat
nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables.
Smoking, Drugs, and drinking hard liquors strictly
prohibited.

The training is daily because of the wide range or

dynamic coverage of the sport. (striking,
wrestling, grappling, and hand to hand combat)
Striking this ability or strength are on the advantage
with the basic skills of Boxing, kickboxing, karatedo,
and yaw yan.

- Grappling this are advantageous among

the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, aikido, and judo.
Wrestling - this is more advantageous on
judo, aikido and wrestling praticioner.
Hand to hand combat - this are the strength
aikido and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Every fighter must constantly increased his

basic strength and add or continue to learn
the other techniques or their weakness.

Training During an Upcoming Fight

Stamina
The fighters are required to run at least 10 to 16
kilometers and must finish the run not more than
1 and half hours. (uphill and straight)
The athletes must do the exercises for
conditioning.

Endurance
The fighter must do the weights and other muscle
resistance exercises.

Hardening
The fighters are constantly being hit with the use
of rattan or wood all over the body (except the
face).
While doing the set-ups, the fighters abdomen will
be hit or punched by the trainer.
The legs and arms will be constantly being kicked
and punch by the trainer until the fighter will get
used to hit.
Some fighters will use abaka tied with ropes as
their punching bags.

Sparring
The fighters will be trained with different
opponents and techniques.
To make them familiar to the moves of other
techniques and quick to defend themselves.
Breathing Techniques and Timing for the use of the
strength.

INJURIES
The fighters have experienced various type of
injuries such as:
Pop up elbow
Broken finger
Groin enlargement
Tooth extraction
Head cut
bruises

The fighters, except for broken bones, will just

take a time off of 2 to 5 days rest for the
recovery of injuries.
The fighters will just take paracetamol or
ibuprufen for anti inflammatory.
The other fighters will use traditional
medicinal leaves such as Gabon or Germilina

As long as the fighters have not experienced

broken bones, they dont usually go to the
doctor for regular check ups.
The expenses will be paid by their personal
expense unless it is included on the contract
between the fighter and the promoter.

The fighters have no life or accident insurance

while fighting on the cage.

Reasons Staying or Continue with

MMA
It provides increase in confidence and to feel
the experience was real.
To know the limits and boundaries of their
strength and endurance.

To increase the feeling of being stronger and

tough than the other fighter.