Customer Reviews

Total MMA: Inside Ultimate Fighting

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As the sport of Mixed Martial Arts grows, as does the public's interest with the fighters, the personalities and the history of the sport. Of course, to meet that demand that means that publishers are going to start to demand books on the subject are available. With that being said, Total MMA: Inside Ultimate Fighting by Jonathan Snowden sets itself away from the rest of the pack by doing what nobody else has done; present a thorough history of Mixed Martial Arts dating back to the inception of Judo and everything else leading up to modern Mixed Martial Arts. Not only is it the information that sets Total MMA apart, but the narrative style and passion the writer has for the sport of MMA.


Total MMA is written in a way that is both engaging and informative; to not only appeal to a newer fan of the sport who might not know much of the storied history behind the sport, but to the avid fan who has heard many of the tall tales and third-hand accounts of stories recounted in this book. As opposed to a simply linear presenation, Total MMA moves back and forth, jumping between countries, promotions and personalities. One chapter will present what was happening in the United States with the Ultimate Fighting Championships, while the next chapter will tell of the events unfolding at the same time in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championship. No stone remains unturned in the major history of MMA, as everything from Antonio Inoki's appeal in Japan as a martial arts champion to the Fertitas and their links to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and organized crime.

A lot of fans of the sport will easy recognize many of the stories told in Total MMA, but the painstaking research that has gone into this book to not only retell these stories, but to find as many sources as possible for each story and tell the most accurate account of the event possible. From interviews with fighters, people behind the scenes to sourcing other publications, Total MMA reached into the heart of the sport, from insiders to fighters to fans, to retell the story of Mixed Martial Arts. It not only looks at the obvious, such as the formation of the UFC, its rise to power or the rise of PRIDE, but also looks at some of the individuals and their cultural significance and impact on the sport. It looks at fighters like Ken Shamrock, his younger adopted brother Frank Shamrock, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson and how they affected the sport as well as helped it grow in the United States. On the other side of the ocean, it looks at stars like Nobuhiko Takada, Masakatsu Funaki, Akira Maeda, Antonio Inoki, Kazushi Sakuraba right up until the cultural phenom Bob Sapp and how each one has affected modern MMA in Japan.

Total MMA is easily the most complete history of Mixed Martial Arts available today and was written by a writer who is a passionate fan of the sport in a style that can appeal to both fan and non fan, the hardcore or the novice. Buy this book, devour it and enjoy it.

Waaooww...!! that's the first impression when I read this book for its first couple pages. Then I can't stop reading it although it has almost 400 pages!! This book is a total package of the history of MMA in the world, even it goes back to early 19th century, from any part of the world! Jonathan Snowden, the writer has a lot of credibility in his life. And the way he tells us the history and his opinions are awesome. He's very detail in explaining the events, feeling and histories and also he always gives us the pros and cons of every thing and character (which is very true in this life, there's always two sides of a coin).

From the fierce competition inside and outside the arena or even the feeling of each chareacter. He doesn't just tell the story in a chronological time, but he goes a little bit back and forth without too much confusion involved. That way he makes us all think , memorize something or even looking for that particular reference in the earlier ares of hte book to double check the fact or the real zone for that particular event or character.

I have two thumbs up from my hands and if it counts, I give an extra two thumbs from my toes when I jump up and down getting excited reading this book ;p

Thanks

I really enjoyed Total MMA. It's a quick read with lots of broad ranging detail. I especially appreciated how Snowden covered a lot of history, but didn't bog it down with detail far too minute to hold a UFC fan's attention.

I cannot say I knew much about mid 90's Japanese MMA/Shoot fighting or about the Gracie legacy pre-Royce, so this book got me up to speed and allowed me to seek out more detail elsewhere if I chose.

The book takes a fairly 3rd part perspective as to not choose sides, though at times, Snowden definitely nudges you in one direction. Nonetheless I was satisfied with everything overall.

So this is a great book if you want a general background on how MMA came to be the International success it is without having to feel like you're studying for a mid-term out of a text book.

Jonathan Snowden is a talented author whose genuine love of MMA history comes across on every page. Snowden's extensive knowledge of the sport will illuminate any reader with an interest in this growing phenomenon.
Exhaustively researched, Total MMA covers the wide (and much longer than you may know) history of the sport, bringing us up to the present day. He presents a fair and not always pretty portrayal of the inner workings of the business, casting a sometimes unsettling but always illuminating portrayal of the athletes, promoters, and other bizarre hangers on of the mixed martial arts world.
In addition, this book will make you fall in love with Kazushi Sakuraba all over again. Whether you're a MMA diehard or a TUF noob, this book will educate you to facets of the sport you may never have even known existed. Buy it!

I was a little weary about the fact that Snowden uses the misnomer "Ultimate Fighting" to refer to the sport of MMA. I thought this was just going to be blatant propaganda for the UFC. But from the beginning Snowden establishes an insider's view into the short history of MMA, and it is not, as I originally thought, a propaganda tool for pushing the UFC.

Snowden's book begins with a detailed history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He describes the "Gracie Challenge" and Helio Gracie's fight with Masahiko Kimura with great lucidity. All this, of course, leads to the rise of Gracie Jiu Jitsu and the birth of MMA. The book continues on with stories of Ken Shamrock, the rise of the UFC, Pride, and TUF.

Sometimes critical but always insightful, Snowden gives the reader a front row seat to the story within the history of how MMA became the sport that it is today. The key word here is story - since the book reads like a story and not like a history text. Thoroughly researched and full of original interviews, Total MMA is a must read for any true MMA fan.

Also check out these other excellent books about MMA - The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game, Brawl: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Mixed Martial Arts Competition, and No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution

Enjoy

I just wanna say if you're a fan of MMA, this is THE book to own. The detailed history and endless sources Jonathan Snowden used to put this book together is amazing. He did an awesome job., one can only wonder the countless hours he spent putting this all in order.

this is a must have book.

A few years ago, Jonathan Snowden, an attorney-turned-soldier in the US Army looked for a substantial book on the rise of mixed martial arts.

Unable to find one he found complete, he wrote it himself.

Total MMA: Inside Ultimate Fighting is Snowden's attempt to offer a complete history of MMA, from its roots in Brazilian vale tudo to today's "Ultimate Fighter." Some of its material is already available on the internet and may be familiar to long time fans, but Total MMA also includes some new material as well.

Snowden tracked down Bob Meyrowitz and Campbell McClaren to discuss the early days of the UFC, and clearly has a ton of fun recalling everything from its oddball opening (noting that "the UFC began not with a bang but a belch") to its fall. A particularly strong account of the early days of the Lions Den, including both sides of Frank Shamrock's departure, is presented with the help of its best fighters. Japan's pro wrestling organization UWF-I and their attempt at attaining legitimate respect, and how it led to the birth of PRIDE, is detailed in another particularly strong chapter.

The book moves into more familiar territory with the rise of the ZUFFA era UFC. Snowden is critical of ZUFFA, describing Fertitta as a man running illicit gambling operations, and name dropping White's "Boxercise" in an early joke in the book. But, he is also quick to compliment their dedication to the sport and its fans.

Throughout Total MMA, the author reveals himself to be more passionate about some aspects of MMA than others (perhaps an entire chapter on Bob Sapp would seem a bit much?). But it is to his credit that he gives everyone at least some fighting chance to get their two cents in. Snowden isn't afraid to kill a sacred cow, nor is he afraid to give the devil his due.

We've never met, but the Snowden and I have been in contact for years, including work together on a website also named Total-MMA, which once housed a newsletter and now features articles in a blog format. We've argued back and forth about some of the opinions he shares here. For example, I find Pancrase to be of less importance to MMA history than Snowden implies; and Shooto, which barely merits mention here, much more important than he does.

But he's undeniably a talented writer who has done his research, and the work here is impressive. Here he has assembled what is possibly the best way for a new fan to familiarize him or herself with the sport's history and offers some good insight for the longtime fan as well. Total MMA is simply a beautifully assembled book, priced under $20 at more than 400 pages. It's chock full of excellent material and an easy recommendation to buy.

This is not a horrible book. It had good parts and lots of background and behind the scenes information.
It was kind of hard for me to get into after the section on the Gracies though. It seems like there was a very clear bias against them and that the author picked primarily the worst things others had said about them to quote.
I know there's always human bias in any kind of history book, probably even more in modern history like this, but it's nice when the author at least attempts to minimize it.
Others might like this book more than I did. It is an interesting read. But please don't make it your only source of MMA history.

My personal pick for a much less biased book (in my opinion) is Clyde Gentry III's "No Holds Barred."

Okay, I just got back from a local chain bookstore after spending the past two hours in the martial arts section reading this book. How did I know that I had spent the past two hours reading it? Well, when you have a very irritated girlfriend tell you that she has been starving for the past two hours waiting for your dumb butt to hurry up, you know that she isn't lying!

Anyhow, I couldn't believe the amount of research and behind-the-scenes information that was compiled in order to give the readers of this book a NHB look at the UFC from its initial start all the way through its up-and-down history to the success it is today. The author deserves a great amount of praise for the level of professionalism and his commitment to telling the truth about what really has gone on to make the UFC as popular as it is today.

Now you may not agree with or even appreciate some of what the author tells you, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. If you open your eyes and your mind before reading this book, I am willing to bet that you will come away from it with a new appreciation for the UFC and the sport of MMA. But hey, don't take my word for it. Purchase this book and read it yourself, and then tell me that it wasn't worth it. Bet you won't be able to!

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

I will be brief, i am still reading (and i can't stop reading it).
It is awesome, direct, fascinating, etc etc
But i can't help felling the author has something against Gracie family.... Course I am Brazilian, but....
And Brazilian Vale Tudo deserved more space, there were MUCH more lines for those fake japanese wrestling.