Shields Kendall - The MMA Encyclopedia

On its surface, mixed martial arts is a simple game. Theres something universal about fighting, after all. And when two combatants square off inside a cage in a brutal contest that leaves one man standing and the other unwilling or unable to continue, audiences connect on a visceral, primal level, not an intellectual one. So why, you might ask, is this book necessary?

Because, as simple as the concept of mixed martial arts may be, the execution is infinitely complex. Take the fistic repertoire of traditional western boxing and add to that the precise savagery of Muay Thai kickboxing, the explosive athleticism of collegiate and international wrestling, the dynamic grappling techniques of judo and sambo, and the methodical submission fighting of the worlds top Brazilian Jiu-jitsu stylists. These diverse disciplines, each one complex enough to warrant a lifetime of study on its own, now regularly collide, with fascinating results, at MMA events the world over.

With The MMA Encyclopedia we hope to provide some insight into the techniques, styles, and tactics on display in the cage, as well as shed light upon the fighters and promotions that have helped make MMA one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Along the way, many of the sports luminaries tell their own stories under the heading In Their Own Words. The entries are arranged alphabetically, and when we make reference to a topic addressed elsewhere in the encyclopedia, the subject appears in bold type. As youll see, the world of mixed martial arts is deeply interconnected.

Peter Lockley has provided some of his top notch photography to illustrate the book, and Chris Mookie Harrington helped put together the appendices: a complete look at the results from every major fight show in both America and Japan as well as a collection of interesting miscellany. We hope youll agree that these combined efforts have yielded the best overall picture of the mixed martial arts industry ever put to press.