Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society (Paperback)

~ David Mayeda (Author), David Ching (Contributor)
Key Phrases: heavyweight champion, welterweight title, heavyweight title, Travis Lutter, Randy Couture, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In recent years, mixed martial arts, also known as “ultimate fighting”, has become the fastest-growing sport in American society, but it is also considered the most controversial. Based on interviews conducted with forty mixed martial arts athletes, Fighting for Acceptance answers these questions:

• Who are the ultimate fighters?
• How did they become involved in the sport?
• What goes on in their heads while competing?
• Do the fighters feel a social responsibility to preach nonviolence out of the sport?
• How do they see themselves fitting into today’s society?

Authors David Mayeda, a mixed martial arts fan and occasional fighter, and David Ching explore these political and sociological issues through in-depth interviews with fighters such as Randy “The Natural” Couture, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, “Dangerous” Dan Henderson, Jason “MayheM” Miller, Antonio McKee, Frank Trigg, Travis Lutter, Chris “The Crippler” Leben, and Guy Mezger.

Fighting for Acceptance is for the sport’s fans and its critics alike as it delves into the ramifications of the athletic event. This growing phenomenon is so controversial that many still question if it should even be considered a sport.

About the Author

David Tokiharu Mayeda received his PhD in American Studies from the University of Hawaii in 2005, where he also served as an assistant professor. He recently entered his first amateur mixed martial arts competition.

David E. Ching received his MA in Economics from California State University, Long Beach and also taught at the University of Hawaii. He and his wife, Una, have a daughter, Natalie, and reside in Honolulu, Hawaii. E-mail us at [e-mail]

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (January 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595478913
• ISBN-13: 978-0595478910
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #529,014 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely entertaining & informative read!, January 30, 2008

By	Michael Onzuka (Mililani, HI, USA) - See all my reviews

This book will bring very important issues regarding MMA to both the hard core fan as well as the casual sports fan that sees MMA as a new sport on the block. The authors provide many references from actual fighters to solidify their points which are interesting to read to see the actual viewpoints of these world class athletes that compete in the ultimate test of man vs. man. Although written by two university professors, the book is a very good read and does not come off as too scholastic, but it makes great points and is a must read for all MMA fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a beginner's primer of the business of MMA, October 3, 2008

By	Elton Tui Suganuma (Kawaihae, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Should you be a newly introduced fan or an aficionado of long standing, this book is an excellent window into the realities of MMA. Using direct quotes gained through arduous interviews it weaves a tapestry that touches upon the trials and anxieties of trying to keep it together while trying to make it. And shares the bare bones of a 3-tier system that is the business of MMA. Regardless if you want to be ringside or inside the ring or cage for that matter, consider this book, it's a great text.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars uncritical, lacked depth, yet a step forward for MMA research, July 5, 2008

By	MMA Researcher (Florida) - See all my reviews

Madeya and Chings book was a step forward in terms of the limited academic research that has been conducted in the field of Mixed Martial Arts.
I found the book to be well grounded in terms of literature around sports sociology, masculinity research, and what little is aready written about MMA. These foundations, along with the rich type of data they had should have provided a rich critical analysis of the sport, it's commodification, and it's participants. However, the analysis of Madeya and Ching's book was shallow, uncritical, and at times overly biased towards the sport. One gets the notion that the authors were star-struck by the famous athletes they interviewed.
These critiques aside, Madeya and Ching lay the groundwork for further research in this field and for this I offer my thanks.