Brings readers the history and information surrounding the contemporary world of MMA.

Fistic combat represents the greatest human drama in all of sport. Roman gladiators thrilled citizens and emperors alike when they entered the octagon to face an intense, life-threatening experience. Boxing, the sport of kings, also has its roots in the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Banned in 500 A.D. by the Emperor Theodoric, it resurfaced twelve centuries later in England. John Milton praised it as a noble art for building character in young men, and sports writer A.J. Leibling dubbed it the Sweet Science. Many of its major protagonists - men such as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali - have become transcendent, near-mythic heroes. But boxing is not the only combat sport, and mixed martial arts, in all their ferocious beauty, represent the fastest growing sports genre in the world. Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) has joined boxing in paying seven figures to some of its champions, and draws millions in its pay-per-view events. This book details leading figures in boxing, sumo wrestling, kickboxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and mixed martial arts (including organizations such as Ultimate Fighting, PRIDE, K-1, Total Combat, and SportFighting). Over 150 entries cover champions, contenders, and other famous combatants from all over the world, as well as legendary promoters, managers, trainers, and events. Also included in this encyclopedia are sidebars on controversies, highlights, brief bios, and other noteworthy events, along with a general timeline. .

The oldest and most respected martial arts title in the industry, this popular monthly magazine addresses the needs of martial artists of all levels by providing them with information about every style of self-defense in the world - including techniques and strategies. In addition, Black Belt produces and markets over 75 martial arts-oriented books and videos including many about the works of Bruce Lee, the best-known marital arts figure in the world.

A unique look into a side of MMA that only a few know and only Genia can give. —Chris Palmquist, partner, MixedMartialArts.com Out Freakin' Cold Forget pay-per-view. Forget championship belts or sanctioning bodies. This is Mixed Martial Arts combat in its purest, rawest form. Follow Jim Genia into the illicit world of vale tudo (anything goes). Locations are always changing and known only to a few, from run-down, shuttered gyms to speakeasy combat cages. The ruthless damage exacted on the human body leaves a trail of hard-won scars. The fighters battle for everything but a payday, risking it all for honor and pride. In a world of conformity, these are men of action who struggle against rules, selling out, and their own demons. Jim Genia offers on-the-mat access to a brutal arena and the men who spill their blood there. "Captures the good, the bad, and the ugly." —Matthew Polly, author of American Shaolin "It's a raw, wild scene and Genia takes you in his pocket for the ride." —Sam Sheridan, author of A Fighter's Heart 16 Pages of No-Holds-Barred Photos

Knowing the physical skills of art is not enough. If you want the edge, you need strategy. In this book master strategist Hanho teaches you all there is to know about strategy in the martial arts. Regardless of style, you will see why this book is being called the authority on fighting strategy by some of the top martial artists in the world. Learn the keys to mastery including: distance control; direct attack; combinations; initiative attack; range fighting; mental conditioning; footwork; feinting; concealing; flexibility; adaptation; physical fitness; combat rhythm; timing; coupling force; hand skills; kicking; throws and takedowns; ground fighting; stance; terrain psychology; psyching-up; tactics; defensive principles; stamina; indirect attack; counterattack; circular force; efficiency; joint locks; evasion; parrying; guerrilla attacks and over 100 more.

The oldest and most respected martial arts title in the industry, this popular monthly magazine addresses the needs of martial artists of all levels by providing them with information about every style of self-defense in the world - including techniques and strategies. In addition, Black Belt produces and markets over 75 martial arts-oriented books and videos including many about the works of Bruce Lee, the best-known marital arts figure in the world.

A complete overview of all aspects of combat, from the primitive to the cutting-edge, Immortal Combat uses Bruce Lee’s life and work as a martial artist to examine the crucial differences between the soldier and the warrior. It draws an analogy between the ambitions of the competitive, ego-driven martial sportsman, typified by the career of karate champion Joe Lewis, and the spiritual aims of the martial artist, personified by the life of Morehei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. Bruce Lee represents the man torn between his ambitions and his art, who somehow has to reconcile the two. The book argues that the path of the martial artist is that of self-mastery and self-knowledge, while the ambition of the martial sportsman is to set himself above and apart from others. This thought-provoking read moves beyond the popular image of Bruce Lee as an action hero, placing his life and legacy in a deeper context.