The following research (translated from Spanish) was recently published in the Colombian National Olympic Committee Journal and was conducted by Jaime S. Barón Cuervo, President of OCAMM – the Colombian MMA Association (Asociación Colombiana de Artes Marciales Mixta). As an introduction to assessing MMA’s values and Olympism on a regional level, as a sport that is on the rise within the South American nation, the National Olympic Committee research piece begins by gathering data on the physical similarities and differences between mixed martial artists and competitors from other combat sports, with a view to exploring further depths, the end goal being a thorough collection of data contributing to national validation of the sport.
OCAMM is officially recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Sport and operates as the national governing body for MMA under the IMMAF.
To view the original magazine PDF with data charts (Spanish version) click HERE. INTRODUCTION At present there is a wide variety of sports and recreational practices that have grown vertiginously in our country, especially in the main cities; alternatives that grow every day as well as the environments themselves and that are established as very attractive options for youth. One of these modalities is the practice of Mixed Martial Arts, which thanks to its visual impact and entertainment, offers its practitioners the development and improvement of various physical abilities, as well as learning values of martial arts. This creates the need to design a research process that allows us to know how this discipline contributes to the development of values of sport and Olympism in our society. According to the regulations of the National Sports System and the concept covered by resolution 1440 of 2007 (Coldeportes, 2007), for the establishment of a new sport in the country, a number of requirements must be fulfilled. However, currently Mixed Martial Arts are contemplated as a recreational activity directed by the Colombian Association of Mixed Martial Arts OCAMM, an entity officially recognized by Coldeportes. This entity seeks to establish itself as a Sports Federation in the medium term, thanks to the support of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), which at the moment meets the necessary requirements and is carrying out the relevant processes to enter Sport Accord and consolidate worldwide Practice of MMA as an officially recognized sport. When searching the term “Mixed Martial Arts” in academic databases, there is an increasing interest in this topic, with the generation of new knowledge about this sport, as indicated (Marinho, Franchini, & F, 2011) ‘Mixed martial arts (MMA) is defined as a complex combat sport that requires its competitors to maximize the development of condition and coordinating physical abilities in their performance, due to the wide range of techniques of striking, grappling and submissions used in competition.’ However, the accelerated growth of mixed martial arts at both the global and national level reflected in the number of sports competitions held. Venues for training and dissemination in the media constitute important antecedents that demonstrate the need for a line which describes the characteristics of the Colombian MMA competitor and its relationship with similar disciplines. MORPHO-FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITORS IN BOGOTA ABSTRACT Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is defined as a complex combat sport that for competitors demands maximal development of conditional and coordination capacities to achieve high performance, due to the wide range of hitting, fighting and grappling techniques used in competition. The accelerated growth of Mixed Martial Arts both globally and nationally, the increase of organized competitions, training facilities and a mayor diffusion by the media sets the need to establish a base line that describes the actual state of the Colombian MMA fighter. Purpose: To characterize at the morphologic and functional levels a sample of Mixed Martial Arts fighters in Bogota. Likewise, comparisons between the Mixed Martial Arts fighters and other combat sports athletes. Methods: This research is part of minimal risk parameters according to Resolution 8430 of 1993, Colombian Law. The subjects participated on three measurement sessions with 48 hours between each one; the participants did not perform any extra physical activity form the one done during the application of the measurement protocol, data recollection was completed during the general physical preparation phase of the subjects. The sample consisted of 12 competitors, age: 28,75 ±5,2 years, with two or more years of training, active participants on national tournaments. RESULTS Body Fat percentage obtained by anthropometry was (7,35±0,97 %), dominant somatotype on these subjects was mesomorphy (5,27±0,88). Vo2MAX determined with Protocol PWC 170 was (47,4 ± 4,43 ml/Kg/min), score on Flexitest was (42,6 ± 6,37), level of maximal strength on abdominal flexion registered with Torsocheck® was (229,4 ±67,65 N/m), lower body power through Wingate Test was (11,3 ± 1,59 W/kg) and, on the thirty seconds Countermovement Jump (CMJ) the result was (17,8 ± 2,82 W/kg), specific index of fatigue resistance tested with de Paiva and Del Vecchio protocols was (0,8 ± 0,21). CONCLUSION The Mixed Martial Arts competitors of Bogota show a low body fat percentage similar to other combat sports athletes like kick boxers and boxers, their somatotype is defined as balanced mesomorph, related to the type of training used in this sport. Maximal strength levels were found to be similar to judokas and wrestlers; additionally the lower body power obtained by Wingate Test was superior to the one found in other combat sports. Therefore, due to the growth of this sport we will need to continue with the researches in order to provide objective evidence regarding training programs and test validations in this sport. Authors: Barón C. Jaime S; Rodríguez Perdomo Leonardo; Rodríguez Jaime Orlando; Moreno Moreno Cesar Barón Cuervo Jaime Sneyder, Barón C. Jaime S. Physical Activity Instructor and Sports Training Training Center in Physical Activity and Culture. SIGN. Regional, Capital District. Researcher Research Group on Physical Activity and Sport SENA Bogotá. Line of Research in Force Professional in Nutrition and Dietetics (U. Nacional). Specialist in nutrition applied to sport (FUNIBER – U. León España) President Colombian Association of Mixed Martial Arts OCAMM Email: [email protected] Rodríguez Perdomo Leonardo Physical Activity Instructor and Sports Training Training Center in Physical Activity and Culture. SIGN. Regional, Capital District. Research Group on Physical Activity and Sport SENA Bogotá. Line of Research in Force Professional Physical Education and Sports University Incca Master’s Degree in Sports Sciences and Technologies U. Manuela Beltrán Email: [email protected] Rodriguez Peña Jaime Orlando Contractor instructor Training Center in Physical Activity and Culture. SIGN. Regional, Capital District. Research Group on Physical Activity and Sport SENA Bogotá. Line of Research in Force Physiotherapist University Manuela Beltrán Magister in Physical Therapy of Sports Activity and Sport CEU San Pablo Madrid. Specialist in Physical Exercise for Health. University of Rosario. Email: [email protected] Moreno Moreno Cesar Sports Director Ultimate Fighting Club WITH SAS Professional Technician in Sports Performance University Foundation San José Email: [email protected]
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