Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact "combat sport" that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete.
Whether you want to learn to defend yourself in the street or compete in the ring, it is necessary to train in the Three Ranges of Fighting: Standup, Clinch and Ground. We do not like to think in terms of specific techniques so much as what will work best at any given moment at any of the aforementioned ranges. As Krishnamurti often said... "The word is not the thing!" A punch is a punch, a kick a kick, an elbow an elbow, a knee a knee, a choke a choke, a throw a throw, an armlock an armlock. It does not matter where it originated from and what fancy name it has been given - it only matters that you can use it when it counts.
The Three Ranges of Combat and MMA:
STANDUP
The range in which both combatants are on their feet. Fighting in this range pulls extensively from Boxing and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Here you will learn how to use close fisted punches like a boxer, open hand strikes, elbow strikes and knee strikes like a Muay Thai fighter, kicks like a Muay Thai fighter and "single leg" and "double leg" takedowns like a wrestler.
CLINCH The range in which both combatants are in physical contact. Fighting in this range pulls extensively from Greco Roman and Free Style Wrestling as well as Muay Thai Kickboxing and you will learn how to control with and escape from positions like the "neck tie", the "underhook", the "body lock", the "whizzer" and more. You will also learn how to effective takedown an opponent and prevent them from taking you down.
GROUND
Oddly enough this is the range in which both combatants are on the ground. Fighting in this range pulls almost entirely from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Whether with a gi or without, BJJ is by far the most effective art for fighting on the ground. On the ground you will learn how to use positions to control and dominate your opponent to apply strikes or to escape the same positions and defending the strikes from your opponent.
Stand Up
Clinch
Ground
Mixed Martial Arts for YOU...
ICS MMA is taught and trained in a way that allows you to feel all the benefits of this style of training without having to compete yourself. All training is done in a positive, fun and above all - SAFE way. Your training will include conditioning and fitness exercises, punching, kicking, knees and elbows on pads and bags as well as skill-developing partner drills to get you in great shape - looking and moving like a real fighter - without ever having to compete. Training also includes lots of partner work in the clinch and on the ground to develop your skills but also give you are great workout and develop your fitness. We have students from age 13 to 40, male and female, of all levels of physical ability and fitness.
Our instructors allow you to work at your own pace and guide you onto higher levels of skills and fitness. You will build in confidence go on to learn new and exciting techniques. On top of all that, our system of Mixed Martial Arts is fully structured, graded and certified ensuring that you will get the most out of your training and have skills for life. It is important to note that Gladstone Martial Arts does not have any "street fighters". The gym has combat athletes concerned with being able to defend themselves in the street. A byproduct of that training is sometimes the desire and ability of its athletes to compete in MMA,Muay Thai,BJJ or submission wrestling competitions. It is training in an "alive" manner that will better prepare our members to be successful in whatever endeavors they choose.
The vast majority of the members at Gladstone Martial Arts train exclusively for fitness and fun, which translates to stress release and a sense of well being. Drilling and sparring for sport translates to the most intensive, challenging and safe way to build the necessary attributes for self-defense as well as build overall fitness.
A Short Clip Showing Our MMA Students During Their Belt Test In 2009:
The History of Mixed Martial Arts
In 648 B.C.E., the Greeks introduced the sport of pankration into the Olympic Games. The word pankration is a combination of two Greek words, pan, meaning “all,” and kratos, meaning “powers.” This is an accurate depiction of the sport itself, as it was a potent mixture of Hellenic boxing and wrestling. The sport only truly had two rules: no biting and no eye gouging, though even these techniques were allowed by the Spartans. The bouts could end only when one competitor was knocked unconscious, or submitted to his opponent by raising his hand. Often times, these matches would last for hours, and sometimes ended with the death of one, or even both competitors. The sport became the most popular event in the Olympic Games, and across the Hellenic world.
Following the decline of pankration in Greece, which coincided with the rise of the Roman Empire, mixed martial arts fell by the wayside in favor of other combat sports. Sports such as wrestling and boxing became the dominant forms of combat sport in the West, while traditional martial arts swelled in popularity in Asia. This remained the case for centuries until 1925 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the sport of mixed martial arts experienced a revival in the form of Vale Tudo.
Together, three men established the “Ultimate Fighting Championship” which held its first event in 1993. The first “Ultimate Fighting Championship” (or UFC as it is more commonly known) event sold 86,000 pay-per-view buys, and by the third event, the buy rate was up to 300,000 pay-per-view buys per show. This secured a place for the sport of mixed martial arts in the United States and brought fame across the globe.
Mixed Martial Arts has its roots in the oldest of combat traditions
The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) is the pinnicale of profesional MMA competition
Women are now beginning to compete in MMA
What You will Learn
STAND UP POSTURE & FOOTWORK: Fighting Stance, Step & Slides, Switch, Penetration Stepping (shotting for takedowns), Sprawls (defending takedowns) and More ...
STAND UP PUNCHES & DEFENCES: Jab, Cross, Hooks, Uppercuts, Overhands, Covers, Slips & Weaves, Level Changes, Crashes and More ...
STAND UP KICKS AND DEFENCES: Push kicks, Round Kicks, Side Kicks, Blocks, Parries, Catches, Evasions and More ...
STAND UP ELBOWS: Round, Over, Uppercut, Jumping, Spinning and More ...
STAND UP KNEES: Straight, Round, Jumping and More ...
STAND UP TAKEDOWNS: High Single Legs, High Double Legs, Low Singles and More ...
STAND UP TRANSITIONS: Cover and Crash, Parry and Crash, Level Change and More ...
CLINCH POSITIONAL CONTROLS: Neck Ties, Underhooks, Body Locks, Whizzers, Against a Wall/Cage and More ...
CLINCH POSITIONAL ESCAPES: Face Pushes, Cross Faces, Using Other Positions and More ...
CLINCH POSITIONAL TRANSITIONS: Snaps Downs, Duck Unders, Arm Drags, Level Changes and More ...
CLINCHING STRIKES: Punches, Elbows, Knees, Kicks and More ...
CLINCHING TAKEDOWNS: Body Turns, Trips, Reaps, Hip Throws, Double Legs, Single Legs and More ...
GROUND POSITIONAL CONTROLS: Mount, Side Controls, Back Control, Kesa Gatame and More ...
GROUND POSITIONAL ESCAPES: From Mount, From Side Controsl, From Back Control and More ...
GROUND POSITIONAL TRANSITIONS: Mount to Side, Mount To Back, Side to Mount, Side to Kesa Gatame and More ...
GROUND GUARD WORK: Holding/Sweeping/Passing from Closed Guard, Open Guard, Spider Guard and More ...
GROUND STRIKING: Punches, Elbows and Knees from All Positions, Defending and Escaping From All Positions and More ...
GROUND SUBMISSIONS: Armbars, Shoulder Locks, Chokes, Leg Locks and More ...
A Typical Class Would Be
Joint Warm Up
Skipping (for stand up), Clinch Drills (for clinch class) or Ground Drills (for ground class)
Strength and Conditioning Exercises
Solo Skill Drills and/or Partner Skill Drills (movement drills with high repetitions)
Skill Work using Shadow Work, Partner Work or Pad Work
Isolated Sparring Drills to Improve "live" Skills Against a Resisting Partner
Sparring - Stand Up Only, Clinch Only, Ground Only or Full MMA Depending On Class Topic
ICA Mixed Martial Arts Grade Progression
The ICS Mixed Martial Arts system is a totally systemised, tested and certified class. Each level requires a minimum amount of time, a minimum number of classes as well as a formal skill testing process before a student is allowed to proceed to their next goal (which is a coloured belt or thick black stripe on their coloured belt). Examinations are held 4 times a year but only students meeting the requirments are eligble to attempt them. Testing for the next Belt requires a fee, but all "Tip" testing is free.
Grade
Classes Needed
Minimum Time
White Belt (beginner)
White Belt with Black Tip
10
2 months
Yellow Belt
+ 15
+ 3 months
Yellow Belt with Black Tip
+ 15
+ 3 months
Orange Belt
+ 15
+ 3 months
Orange Belt with Black Tip
+ 15
+ 3 months
Blue Belt
+ 20
+ 3 months
Blue Belt with Black Tip
+ 20
+ 3 months
Green Belt
+ 20
+ 3 months
Green Belt with Black Tip
+ 20
+ 3 months
Brown Belt
+ 30
+ 3 months
Brown Belt with Black Tip
+ 40
+ 3 months
Level 1 Black Belt
+ 50
+ 6 months
Level 2 Black Belt
+ 150
+ 18 months
Level 3 Black Belt
+ 200
+ 2 years
Level 4 Black Belt
+ 250
+ 3 years
Level 5 Black Belt
+ 250
+ 3 years
ICS Mixed Martial Arts Grading Requirements
This is the basic format of the gradings and you will notice that everyone is required to show the skills they have in each area of our system. Although everyone at all levels is asked to demonstrate at the same time, each level up is required not only to show a better level of skill and detail in techniques but also show a greater number of skills in each and every area. For example, a yellow belt might be expected to know 1 guard pass and 1 guard sweep whereas a brown belt is expected to know at least 3 of each and do them well.
Joint Warm Up
Skipping
To Yellow Belt 1 min
To Orange Belt 2 min
To Blue Belt 4 min
To Green Belt 6 min
To Brown Belt 8 min
To Level 1 Black Belt 10 min
To Level 2 Black Belt 15 min
To Level 3 Black Belt 15 min
To Level 4 Black belt 15 min
Push Ups-Sit Ups-Squats
Yellow Belt 10-10-10
Orange Belt 15-15-15
Blue Belt 25-25-25
Green Belt 35-35-35
Brown Belt 50-50-50
Level 1 Black Belt 100-100-100
Level 2 Black Belt 125-125-125
Level 3 Black Belt 150-150-150
Level 4 Black Belt 150-150-150
Level 5 Black Belt 150-150-150
Skills
Demonstrate Footwork & Posture in Shadow Work
Demonstrate Stand Up Strikes on Partner
Demonstrate Stand Up Takedowns on Partner
Demonstrate Takedown Defence against Partner
Stand Up Only "Technical" Sparring
Demonstrate Clinch Positional Controls on Partner
Demonstrate Clinch Positional Escapes on Partner
Demonstrate Clinch Positional Transitions on Partner
Demonstrate Clinch Strikes on Partner
Demonstrate Clinch Takedowns on Partner
Demonstrate Clinch Takedown Defences against Partner
Clinch Only "Technical" Sparring
Demonstrate Ground Positional Controls on Partner
Demonstrate Ground Positional Escapes on Partner
Demonstrate Ground Positional Transitions on Partner
Demonstrate Guard Sweeps and Passes on Partner
Demonstrate Ground & Pound Attack and Defence on Partner
Demonstrate Submissions on Partner
Grapple Only "Technical" Sparring
Full MMA Rules Sparring
To Yellow Belt 1 x 3 min rounds
To Orange Belt 2 x 3 min rounds
To Blue Belt 4x 3 min rounds
To Green Belt 6x 3 min rounds
To Brown Belt 8 x 3 min rounds
To Level 1 Black Belt 10 x 3 min rounds
To Level 2 Black Belt 3 x 5 min rounds
To Level 3 Black Belt 5 x 5 min rounds
To Level 4 Black belt 5 x 5 min rounds
