Even as barriers impeding participation in sports by women are eliminated, differences between male and female including gender-segregated competitions and different rules still exist. Mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, which have been gaining popularity since the 1990s in both Japan and the United States, are held under different rules for the different genders. There are more restrictions (prohibitions) in the rules for female than those for male. MMA is dangerous in the sense that the objective is to knock out the opponent or to force the opponent to give up. The author examined the types of conduct that are prohibited in MMA, which entails these risks, because they are dangerous, and whether there are any differences between competitions for male and female. For this research, the author analyzed the rules of MMA, clarified the background on how the rules for female were adopted and their purposes through surveys of those who were involved in establishing the rules, and verified the validity of adopting rules that differentiate between the genders. Through an analysis of the results, it became clear that different rules by gender were adopted based on the following considerations: (1) the skill level needed to overcome the danger; and (2) physical and social disadvantages that women suffer as a result of injuries. Nonetheless, there is no denying the existence of a certain gender bias when there is an assumption that women suffer more social disadvantage than men as a result of facial injuries. The fact is, however, that these disadvantages are recognized in courts cases and other situations, and event organizers and rule developers have no choice but to take them into consideration.

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The previous study (Matsumiya, 2010) clarified the course and background of the formulation of rules for women in mixed martial arts through interviews with those in charge of formulating those rules. Those involved in the formulation devised the rules taking into account such factors as the extent of facial damage incurred by women due to injury. It has not been clarified, however, whether or not women athletes who engage in competitions under these rules consider the rules specifically for women to be valid. In this study, the author clarifies the requirements for the validity of rules seen from the perspective of athletes through interviews with women athletes. Those who formulated the rules for women did so setting them at a relatively low level so that capabilities would not be impaired during the lifetime of the athletes, including after retirement, reflecting the approach of “eliminating risk.” Meanwhile, the athletes seek to expand their own capabilities from the approach of “overcoming risk” by enhancing physical abilities in their particular sport. In order to respect capabilities seen from the perspective of the athletes, there is a need to provide venues for competition that do not deprive them of opportunities for free choice. The author suggests the acceptance of the pound (punching to the head and face of grounded opponent) in the rules for women. Participation by women in mixed martial arts further refines the competition format as a sport and enables a reevaluation of the value of competing as a sport. It is thus necessary to give consideration to the capabilities of the athletes.

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