Mixed Martial Arts

Nature: Balanced Origin: Republic of Valentine Flourish: Crippling

A relatively young but flexible style, mixed martial arts, otherwise known as MMA, was a style innovated by Kelsey North most often used by members of The Seekers. It is a hybrid style, best represented by the ideal that its practicioners learn multiple martial arts and then synthesize them, stripping away anything that isn't efficient. It abandons tradition in favor of what is most useful from each style, and it favors its fighters being as well-rounded as possible: Capable of being efficient strikers, throwers, and submission artists. It is somewhat controversial amongst the Wulin, as many believe it to be a barbaric art that disrespects the history and tradition of martial arts. Despite this, MMA fighters are some of the most successful fighters in Prisma, and they remain popular with the general public.

MMA fighters are great-all arounders, but they typically toss aside anything particularly flashy in favor of what is the most efficient. They'll throw punches, kicks, elbows, and knees- but nothing that's too complicated. They'll use suplexes and takedowns, but you won't see them use a flashy show wrestling move, likewise with their submissions. With that said, MMA fighters know how to best harm their opponents, and they are quite efficient at tearing their opponent's defense apart before knocking them out or submitting them. As such, MMA's flourish is Crippling.

Core Principles

There are a few key elements to those who practice MMA. These elements are central to the martial art's key concept: Developing a well-rounded moveset, then using their balanced toolset of techniques to either knockout or submit their enemies.

• Variety: At the end, MMA is a hybrid style, and each fighter's style depends on the different martial arts they're incorporating. One MMA fighter may get their strikes from boxing, while another gets it from Shoto. This will decide whether they're efficient at punching or have more well-rounded strikes. The same goes with throws: An MMA fighter may use old-fashioned wresting for their grappling, or they may rely on the Jipangu grappling art of Goro.

• Supreme Conditioning: What separates most MMA fighters from other martial artists is their focus on conditioning. Stripping aside many advanced techniques and traditions, the MMA fighter can now focus on building their body into something truly dangerous. MMA fighters have immense stamina and toughness, and their reflexes are often nothing to sneeze at either.

• Well-Rounded: MMA fighters are exceptional at having no clear weaknesses. They're quite adept at both offense and defense. They know striking, throws, and submissions. If they're fighting a striker, they can use submissions to catch their opponent off guard. If they're fighting a wrestler, they can catch them off guard with strikes instead. MMA fighters are also adept both standing and in ground fighting.

Weapons

MMA is developed mainly for professional fighting, with many MMA Seeker competitions just not particularly concerned with weapon fighting. As such, the only weapons a fighter may know would be weapons they may have learned when learning one of the styles that makes up their hybrid techniques.