Looking for a good read today? Well I have an interesting but good read for you today. And for those of you who can't be bothered to read long drawn out books you are in luck cause this book is rather short. But what it's not short on is great information. I know there are a lot of men and some women who are fans of the ever popular UFC shows. These shows consist of athletes that take part in what is called MMA which is Mixed Martial Arts. So i'm probably losing some of your interest now cause you're thinking oh its that sport where men and women pummel each other to a bloody pulp so no thanks. Well as someone who has a family member who enjoys it and knows of many who do also I would be with you on that. But what led me to wanting to read this book was the idea of the history behind this sport. I wanted to learn more of what it was before television networks sensationalized it. I am thoroughly interested in finding out the story behind the sport to better understand it rather than just base it off what they show on television.
And in reading this book I truly learned to appreciate the sport more and it's rich heritage including all of the historic figures who could be tied to the sport. It has been called by so many names but we basically know it as MMA and most only know it because of the UFC organization. What I really liked is it is told by an actual former MMA athlete. As you will see below in the description of the book the author was a former MMA athlete who had his career cut short due to an injury. Instead of sitting on the sidelines and feeling bad about himself or be mad at the sport that injured him he decided to write a book on the history of the sport he's passionate about so that others could truly understand this sport and see it's much more than meets the eye. It has a long rich history and I think we can all appreciate this sport after reading this book.
Told by a former MMA combatant whose promising career came to an unexpected end due to a freak sparring session injury, “Saleh Stevens' History of MMA - From Rome to Today” covers the many critical influences that ultimately shaped the practice of mixed martial arts as it is understood today. In his first book, the author begins by offering his insight into the role of the earliest practitioners of pankration, a sport that was included in the original Olympic Games. Starting with a centuries-old sport and style of combat mythologized in the stories of a number of Greek and Roman heroes, Stevens goes on to detail how MMA came to grow out of a variety of concepts and philosophies coming from seemingly disparate sources. From Japan to England, Brazil, the United States and beyond, the history of MMA frequently crosses international borders and is often adopted with great zeal by those who encounter a teacher capable of sharing the principles of an approach to martial arts that favors adaptability over rigidity. In presenting the history of MMA all the way through the contemporary era of UFC and “The Ultimate Fighter,” Stevens offers a number of interesting anecdotes in addition to the detailed overviews aimed at providing the reader with the proper background and context. Whether it is President Theodore Roosevelt’s regular practice of engaging in MMA-style training sessions at the White House or Muhammad Ali’s boasting in advance of his match with Antonio Inoki, “Saleh Stevens' History of MMA - From Rome to Today” succeeds in providing an entertaining and informative look into the people, organizations and events leading up to MMA’s rapid growth in popularity over the last decade. Formerly an MMA competitor whose success as an amateur seemed to foreshadow a lengthy career as a professional, Stevens has shifted his focus to coaching after suffering a severe lower-leg injury that eliminated any possible future as a combatant. As a coach, Stevens believes in a detailed approach to training and has therefore placed a significant limit on the number of athletes he is willing to work with at any given time. A certified nutritionist who holds degrees in biomechanics, exercise physiology and history, Stevens spends his time away from training up-and-coming fighters by writing for the popular MMA website he founded several years ago. Though MMA seems to be at the core of Stevens’ varied pursuits, the coach and author is just as likely be watching a Bruce Lee film as he is to be reading the works of Aristotle.
I highly recommend you purchasing this book and giving it a read as it is packed with great information on this often misunderstood sport. It certainly changed my views on it. If you would like to purchase the book and learn more about the author I have left two links below as to where to get more information and where to buy the book.
I did get my copy in exchange for my review but it was only after reading the book that I actually left my review.
