The GAMMA Technical Committee decided to launch striking MMA as a new style to facilitate a smooth transition into mixed martial arts regardless of the technical knowledge of the athletes.

Many athletes come to MMA from sports such as boxing, kickboxing, muaythai, jiu-jitsu, judo and wrestling and have to learn techniques such as striking, submission and grappling.

Athletes in striking-based combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing and karate would be unfamiliar with submission grappling, for example.

The striking MMA style is designed to make the process of learning new techniques easier. 

The new style includes all MMA techniques apart from the ground and pound techniques. 

Athletes are still allowed to submit their opponents to the ground and have a maximum of 30 seconds to finish the submission to earn a tap out and win. 

The fighter who was saved by the 30-second rule gets a point deducted. 

Striking MMA was trialed at a number of amateur and professional events in Germany, where it was reported to have high participation rates as a gradual introduction to MMA.

GAMMA will now pilot striking MMA on the international stage with a World Cup, before staging regular events and a World Championships. 

Official seminars will be conducted as the first step towards introducing the new style. 

GAMMA, which says it "has the long-term ambition to obtain international recognition for mixed martial arts as an Olympic sport", is a rival to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation as the sport's world governing body.