No holds barred

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The phrase no holds barred may refer to:

  • Types of fighting:
    • Forms of hand-to-hand combat where indeed no maneuvers are prohibited
    • Hybrid martial arts and other fighting styles which combine elements from several particular martial arts.
    • Mixed martial arts and other combat sports which use a wide variety of fighting techniques, even if certain dangerous or unsportsmanlike maneuvers (such as eye-gouging) are prohibited.
  • A metaphor for non-combat situations where normal rules of fair play or ethical behavior are disregarded
  • The 1989 film No Holds Barred.