a new sport-team MMA

[8stepmantis]

Starting in China. Still hammering out rules and protective equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Please try this out and report what you find.

3 on 3. Not tag team, 6 people fighting at once. The only rule changes are that kicking a downed opponent is allowed and a standing lock held for 5 seconds is considered a submission. I eventually want to get 5 on 5.

It has been as big an eye opener as when Gracie first shot for the legs in the early UFC days.

Footwork and stability take on new life. Grappling is still vital, but locks must be finished quickly or else other teammates may help. Laying on your back and waiting is not such a good idea with people running around and kicks to ground opponents being allowed.

Tapping means they they leave the fight for the sidelines and the remaining players must fight with a disadvantage.

This by far the most realistic sporting format I have seen and its a huge eye opener.

[Penance]

I've thought about stuff like this before. At first it seems like a really cool idea, but it's getting closer and closer to gladiator type stuff.

What's next...weapons? Then will you throw some traps and maybe a tiger or a lion in the ring?

Kicking a downed opponent is really dangerous. Especially when they're concentrating on something like a submission. Grappling is not the best style vs multiple opponents anyway.

When you get into 2 on 1, or 3 on 1 situations, it's going to get either really dangerous or really boring. People will either immediately throw in the towel or it will just be a beat down brawl. The only other possibility is that they line up and fight the remaining guy 1 on 1 like Double Dragon or something which will be boring and unfair.

I think the risk (of death or boredom) is way too high compared to the potential entertainment value.

[8stepmantis]

I find it safer. Just as MMA has more variables and so is more safe than boxing, you can't focus your sole attention on any individual.

The fighting starts to look jumpy with tenative hits and lots of movement. A few rounds later and it starts to look more like traditional martial arts. There are wider stances, more large movements and less wasted motion. Having potential for human pile ups is dangerous, but no more so than a game of rugby.

I'm a big believer in changing competition formats to train your martial arts.

I occasionally play basketball to help with my circular stepping footwork to get around people. I've wrestled, boxed, submission grappled, done push hands, anything to bring out greater attributes to help me as a martial artist.