Fight sports have been an intricate part of human history and development. Ancient civilizations utilized combat sports for many different reasons: sports, entertainment, decision-making, and many other uses. Fight sports have continued as rich traditions through centuries and their popularity continues. Today people are becoming interested with the traditions, and fight sports are also being hybridized into modern exercise programs.
Personally, I have always been interested in combat sports, but have lacked the gumption to participate. As a child, I grew up watching big names like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, as a teenager it was “Stonecold” Steve Austin and Dwight “The Rock” Johnson, and as a young adult John Cena, Randy Orton. Though all of these celebrities come from one type of sport (WWE), they still represent to me the idea and fascination of fight sports.
This project intended to create a comprehensive summary of the rich history, traditions, and cultural influences that these combat sports have contributed to society. The work aims to help people develop a stronger appreciation for the history and influence, and be brought further in by the portraiture that represents each sport.
With this project, I am delving deeper into the understanding of the sports through the history, appeal, and influence. I discovered differences between the sports; the evolution and interrelationships. I wanted to expose the audience to the art inherent in these violent sports.
Models: Richard Wingert, Hans Pierre, Jason McCloud, Moises Bournigal, Tayler Mears, and Brandon Phillips