Fashion and Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts, or MMA as it is also known, is a martial arts form that mixes various forms of fighting. It began its rise to popularity in the early 1900s in Brazil. MMA had its first Ultimate Fighting Championship competition held in 1993. Today, MMA has a devout following with a popularity that rivals both professional wrestling and boxing.
One of the offshoots of the MMA success is a very cool clothing line that sprang into existence because of the brilliance of two of the greatest MMA professional fighters in the country.
Genius at Work
In 1997, Charles Lewis, Jr. and Dan Caldwell (known in the MMA world, respectively, as The Mask and Punkass) designed the first tapout urban clothing line in their small California apartment in San Bernardino. In 1999 their small idea grossed $30,000.
Ten years later the gross had grown to almost $200 million with the popular urban fashion line selling in 6000 stores.
Now, not only is tapout considered the best in expressing the masterful, and yet somehow elegant, aspects of MMA style, it is also one hip line of clothes that young urban mixed martial artists feel speaks out for them and their passion for their sport.
Style as a Way of Life
Currently on the horizon of this successful company is the goal of not only continuing the success of its line of urban style, but the building of top-of-the-line facilities to include a new training program for the best of MMA trainers, headquartered in Las Vegas.
To an avid mixed martial arts supporter, this clothing company not only exemplifies the sport, it also sets a standard for fighters and fans as a way of life. The popularity of MMA and the great success of tapout are synonymous; they have become great together.