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Top Ten Martial Arts in the World

Wrestling​
Wrestling​

A large portion of traditional martial arts can be categorized as folk wrestling (see the separate article), although in some cases a folk wrestling style and a modern combat sport may overlap or become indistinguishable from each other once the sport has been regulated.

Mixed Martial ​Arts​
Mixed Martial ​Arts​

Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices, which are practiced for a number of reasons: as self-defense, military and law enforcement applications, mental and spiritual development; as well as entertainment and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.

Muay Thai​
Muay Thai​

From Thailand comes Muay Thai, also known as The Art of Eight Limbs. Yes, eight. This form of fighting relies heavily on elbows and knees, which the Thai count as limbs. Hard, lightening fast knee strikes form the backbone of this deadly fighting style.

source: cbsnews.com
Taekwondo​
Taekwondo​

Taekwondo (/ˈtaɪˈkwɒnˈdoʊ/) is a Korean martial art with a heavy emphasis on kicks. Taekwondo was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by various Korean martial artists as a blend of the indigenous Korean fighting styles of taekkyeon, gwonbeop, and subak, with influence from foreign martial arts, such as karate and Chinese martial arts.

source: wta4u.com
Jujutsu​
Jujutsu​

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (/dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː/; Portuguese:,, ) (BJJ; Portuguese: jiu-jitsu brasileiro) is a martial art, combat sport system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting.

Brazilian jiu-​Jitsu​
Brazilian jiu-​Jitsu​

Tae kwon do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are widely practiced martial arts. Worldwide television viewers saw tae kwon do when it was fist demonstrated at the Summer Olympic Games in South Korea in 1988.

Jeet Kune Do​
Jeet Kune Do​

Unlike more traditional martial arts, Jeet Kune Do is not fixed or patterned, and is a philosophy with guiding thoughts. It was named for the Wing Chun concept of interception or attacking while one's opponent is about to attack. Jeet Kune Do practitioners believe in minimal movement with maximum effect.

Judo​
Judo​

Russian judo: This distinctive style of judo was influenced by the Russian martial art called Sambo. It is represented by well-known coaches such as Alexander Retuinskih and Igor Yakimov, and mixed martial arts fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko and Karo Parisyan.

Wing Chun​
Wing Chun​

About Wing Chun Kung Fu. WING CHUN (詠春) is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat. It is a relatively young martial art, with most historians agreeing that it developed in southern China approximately 300 years ago.

Chinese ​Martial Arts​
Chinese ​Martial Arts​

Chinese martial arts: Traditional Chinese: ... martial artists chose to escape from the PRC's rule and migrate to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other parts of the world.

Kalaripayattu​
Kalaripayattu​

The main distinction between the kalaripayattu ‘dojo’ and that of other martial arts, is what they refer to as the Puttara and the Guruttara. Kalaripayattu Puttara and Guruttara The Puttara is the most holy part of the kalari, as it represents a deity.

Krav Maga​
Krav Maga​

Krav Maga is a continuously evolving system (reflecting real-world experience) and so it is not clear cut to specify a universal curriculum, as may be the case for example within some eastern martial arts.

Japanese ​Martial Arts​
Japanese ​Martial Arts​

The world of fighting and self-defense owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Japanese martial arts styles of karate, judo, aikido, and more. The world of fighting and self-defense owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Japanese martial arts styles of karate, judo, aikido, and more.

source: thoughtco.com
Kyokushin​
Kyokushin​

Top 5 Deadliest Martial Arts in the World. 1) Kyokushin 2) Krav Maga 3) Sanshou 4) Jeet Kune Do 5) Shotokan Note: This top five list of martial arts are sele...

source: youtube.com
image: youtube.com
Wushu​
Wushu​

Wushu is a term that describes the Chinese martial arts, similar to kung fu. Learn about the history, competitions, and practitioners. Wushu is a term that describes the Chinese martial arts, similar to kung fu.

source: thoughtco.com
Ninjutsu​
Ninjutsu​

Their martial arts training are done with the ninpo (ninja art) mindset. Depending on the dojo, there may be a little ninjutsu (espionage techniques).Likewise, emphasis on physical conditioning differs among dojos. 2. Samurai and Ninja Regular Martial Arts. As mentioned, the martial arts of the ninja were very likely regular samurai martial arts.

Silat​
Silat​

Malaysia may not be the first place you think of when talking about martial arts, but their unique form of fighting - called Silat - is one of the deadliest in the world. Unlike some martial arts that stress spirituality or self-perfection, Silat is all about one thing: violence.

source: cbsnews.com
image: cbsnews.com
Shaolin Kung ​Fu​
Shaolin Kung ​Fu​

Shaolin Kungfu is the greatest martial art in the world because it has produced the largest number of generals and masters in history, has the most extensive techniques, skills and philosophy, enriches people's life and leads to spiritual fulfilment.

source: shaolin.org
Tai chi​
Tai chi​

M.M.A. Fighter’s Pummeling of Tai Chi Master ... Mixed martial arts fighters have for years held exhibition fights ... Tai chi, while a martial ...

source: nytimes.com
Shotokan​
Shotokan​

Shotokan Characteristics In a nutshell, Shotokan teaches practitioners self-defense through a series of kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). Shotokan is known as a hard martial arts style (rather than soft) because it emphasizes strikes, long stances and sparring techniques.

source: thoughtco.com
image: youtube.com
Arnis​
Arnis​

Silambam, a stick/staff-based ancient martial art of India influenced many martial arts in Asia like Silat. As such, Arnis may share ancestry with these systems – some Arnis moves are similar to the short stick (kali or kaji) and other weapon based fighting styles of Silambam.

Hapkido​
Hapkido​

Hapkido is the “anti-martial art”. It was designed as a way to defend against and overcome an attacker with skill in many forms of martial combat. With roots in Aiki-jujitsu, Hapkido adds striking and punching to joint-locks, throws, and grappling, making it one of the original mixed martial arts.

Systema​
Systema​

In the interest of your own well being, it would be wise to avoid fights with any skilled practitioners of these 25 most lethal martial arts ever created.

source: list25.com
Sambo​
Sambo​

Utilized and developed for the military, combat sambo resembles modern mixed martial arts, including extensive forms of striking and grappling. Combat sambo allows punches, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts and groin strikes. Competitors wear jackets as in sport sambo, but also hand protection and sometimes shin and head protection.

Capoeira​
Capoeira​

Nowadays, Capoeira is a well known and very popular martial art all over the world. It is often included in schools and universities programs. You will see it in It is often included in schools and universities programs.

Kenpō​
Kenpō​

Some Okinawan martial arts groups use the term kenpō as an alternate name for their karate systems or ... These arts have spread around the world through ...

image: youtube.com
Gōjū-ryū​
Gōjū-ryū​

The second year, 1998, is the year the semi-governmental Nippon Kobudo Kyokai (Japan Traditional Martial Arts Association), under the Cultural Ministry of Japan, recognized Gōjū-ryū Karate-do as an ancient form of traditional martial art and as a bujutsu.

image: smacgoju.com
Sanshou​
Sanshou​

Wushu Sanshou is a martial art which was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon the study and practices of traditional Kung fu and modern combat fighting techniques; it combines full-contact kickboxing, which includes close range and rapid successive punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps, kick catches, and in some competitions, even elbow and knee strikes.

Kendo​
Kendo​

The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) was established in 1952 and views Kendo as an educational sport and not a martial art. The International Kendo Federation (FIK) was established in 1970 and is the world governing body of Kendo and has many attached organisations.

Marine Corps ​Martial Arts Program​
Marine Corps ​Martial Arts Program​

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program ... "There are only two powers in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run, the sword is always defeated by the spirit."

source: marines.mil
image: flickr.com
Qigong​
Qigong​

Martial arts applications. The practice of qigong is an important component in both internal and external style Chinese martial arts. Focus on qi is considered to be a source of power as well as the foundation of the internal style of martial arts (Neijia).

image: wudang.com
Tang Soo Do​
Tang Soo Do​

Grandmaster Jae C. Shin is the founder of the World Tang Soo Do Association, and is one of the leading figures of martial arts in the world today. He was born in Korea in 1936, and began his long and distinguished career in martial arts at the age of twelve.

Muay Boran​
Muay Boran​

Muay Boran was originally a combat martial art, but came to be practiced as a sport as well. The latter practice included some rules, though relatively few in comparison to Muay Thai. Instead of padded gloves, they fought with their hands and wrists bound with hemp rope.

Shitō-ryū​
Shitō-ryū​

Currently, the Shitō-ryū International Karate-dō Kai (also known as Seito Shitō-ryū) lists Kenzō Mabuni as the second Sōke of Shitō-ryū, while the World Shitō-ryū Karate-dō Federation (also known as Shitō-kai Shitō-ryū) lists Kenei Mabuni.

Keysi Fighting ​Method​
Keysi Fighting ​Method​

Is the Keysi Fighting Method studied exclusively by any military unit in the world or is it mixed with other military martial arts such as Krav Maga, ...

Chun Kuk Do​
Chun Kuk Do​

Chun Kuk Do came into being in the same way that most new styles are birthed, from a desire to build a more complete Martial Arts system. Mr. Norris took his base in Tang Soo Do and added elements of several other styles, including Jujitsu.

Vale Tudo​
Vale Tudo​

Vale tudo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvali ˈtudu]; English: anything goes) is an unarmed, full-contact combat sport with relatively few rules. It became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. It uses techniques from many martial arts. Vale tudo is the precursor of mixed martial arts.

Fencing​
Fencing​

Basically meaning War Arts. Fencing was widely used in old world Europe and the early American colonies, and this we all know well enough from history. It was for a time the means of combat and thus falls into the catagory that Kendo and all other sword arts fall into.

Kajukenbo​
Kajukenbo​

Kajukenbo is a Mixed Martial Art created in 1947 by 5 different Martial Arts Instructors. The name originated from the influences of those instructors in the system:

image: yelp.com
Kenjutsu​
Kenjutsu​

Many martial artists who study Japanese martial arts know the principles of kenjutsu. For modern kenjutsu type training, most practice is done in suburi style with bokken. For modern kenjutsu type training, most practice is done in suburi style with bokken.

Stick-Fighting​
Stick-Fighting​

STICKFIGHTING WORLD is recruiting - apply here: ... Triadic Martial Arts ... Kali Training Stick (Red) $20.00. Details. SFW Logo Sticker.

Savate​
Savate​

Savate de Dėfense, Défense Savate or Savate de Rue ("street savate") is the name given to those methods of fighting excluded from savate competition. The International Savate Federation (FIS) is the official worldwide ruling body of savate.

Lethwei​
Lethwei​

Lethwei is considered to be one of the most aggressive and brutal martial arts in the world, because the fighters fight bareknuckle with only the use tape and gauze on their hands. The use of fists, elbows, knees, feet but more surprisingly, the head makes it a very unusual martial art.

image: onefc.com
Daitō-ryū Aiki-​jūJutsu​
Daitō-ryū Aiki-​jūJutsu​

Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (大東流合気柔術), originally called Daitō-ryū Jujutsu (大東流柔術, Daitō-ryū Jūjutsu), is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sōkaku.

image: flickr.com
Varma Kalai​
Varma Kalai​

Varma Kalai (meaning “the art of vital points”) is an ancient martial art which has its origins in Tamil Nadu, India. The art itself originally began as a healing art from Varma Cuttiram (the “Tamil science of medicine”), which later turned into a martial art, thus the name Varma Kalai.

source: mardb.com
Submission ​Wrestling​
Submission ​Wrestling​

Combat Submission Wrestling is a reformulated Shoot wrestling curriculum as taught by Erik Paulson, world light heavyweight champion of Shooto. The curriculum is a three dimensional martial artform involving striking, takedowns and submissions.

source: ramarts.com
LINE​
LINE​

Some martial arts are designed to hone the mind and body. Some are used as exercise or for spiritual harmony. And some are designed to kill. Take a tour of some of the deadliest martial arts ever invented. These styles turn the human body into a lethal weapon, showcasing the awesome power warriors can harness with their bare hands.

source: cbsnews.com

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