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The arts that make MMA
Jan 11, 2026

The arts that make MMA

Luta Livre, or freestyle fighting, is a Brazilian martial art created by Euclydes Hatem in Rio de Janeiro. It's a cool blend of catch wrestling and kosen judo, plus it incorporates ground striking with hands, feet, knees, and elbows. Some well-known practitioners include Marco Ruas, José Aldo, and Darren Till.

There are two styles: esportiva (sporting) and combate (ground strikes), and both are no-gi. In esportiva competitions, grappling is the name of the game, focusing on techniques to subdue your opponent. There's also "Luta Livre Vale Tudo," which is similar to modern MMA, allowing both standing and ground strikes along with submissions.

In this style, it's all about strategy—using moves like armlocks, leglocks, chokes, or winning by points through takedowns and control positions. While punches and kicks aren’t allowed in esportiva, combate brings in striking techniques on the ground, allowing palm strikes and kicks, but grappling and submissions still take center stage. This style is also what you’ll see in MMA fights.