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Notable styles of martial arts
 Adithada, an ancient Tamil martial art which
is a form of kickboxing. Disciples of Adithada are trained in using
bare knuckles, feet, knees, elbows and forehead.
Advanced commando combat system, an Indian system of Military Close
Combat focussing on Close Quarters Battle techniques & tactics
for military.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art which is based on Jujutsu and Kenjutsu.
Amateur wrestling emphasizes throws and controlling opponent's movement,
both while standing up and on the ground, and positioning. Notable
styles are Greco-Roman wrestling and Freestyle wrestling.
American Kenpo is a martial art developed by Ed Parker from Chinese
and Japanese styles he studied in Hawaii.
Baguazhang is an internal Chinese martial art that trains in distinctive
circular footwork patterns and is also known for training with unusually
large weapons at advanced levels in some schools.
Bando is the official Burmese Fighting System that includes techniques
of throws, holds, locks, chokes, foot-sweeps, etc. Several Bando
sub-systems include Lethwei, Naban and Banshay which includes stick
fighting, sword fighting, knife fighting, spear fighting, etc.
Bartitsu is an eclectic self-defense system combining the basics
of Tenjin-Shinyo Ryu Jiujitsu, Shinden-Fudo Ryu Jiujitsu, early
Kodokan Judo, the Vigny system of stick fighting, classical boxing
and savate.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a much modified version of some original
Japanese jujutsu schools, based on and closely related to Judo but
with strict emphasis on ground fighting. Sometimes referred to as
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu after its founders.
Combat Martial Arts Any self-defense oriented fighting method, style
or system.
Capoeira is a survival-oriented dance-fight-game originally developed
in the 16th century by Angolan slaves in Brazil. It emphasizes kicks,
dodging, take downs, and mental training. This mental training can
include trickery, an awareness of the opponent, and understanding
of rhythm.
Catch wrestling forms the base of many modern martial arts including
shoot wrestling, shootfighting, shooto and Japanese professional
wrestling style of puroresu. This form of wrestling emphasizes ground
fighting, submissions, throws and fighting from multiple positions
based on Judo.
Chow Gar is a Close in fighting system from the Southern Shaolin,
and is a form of Southern Praying Mantis (martial art)
Eskrima, a Filipino Martial Art that focuses on blunt and bladed
weapons.
Fencing (the European Olympic style), exists now almost entirely
as a sport.
Hapkido is a Korean martial art with kicks, punches, joint manipulation,
locks, and throws that is said to have developed from Aikijutsu.
Many of its techniques, as well as the characters used to write
the style's name, are similar to those of Aikido.
Hung Gar is a southern Chinese style made famous by its usage by
many well known Hong Kong film actors and directors. It is a form
of Shaolin martial arts with strong stances and rooting in the ground.
Hwarangdo is a Korean martial art that was created in its modern
form by Dr. Joo Bang Lee and his brother, Joo Sang Lee. This martial
art teaches and encourages fighting and defense techniques, religious
training, intellectual enhancement, and artistic pursuits. It has
an extensive history, and a very involved technique structure.
Hybrid martial arts, systems which combine multiple arts: military
combatives, Advanced commando combat system, Jeet Kune Do, and Har-Ki
Martial Arts. See also: mixed martial arts.
Jeet Kune Do, meaning 'Way of the intercepting fist', was developed
by Bruce Lee, one of the most famous martial artists of the 20th
century. This is not actually a specific martial arts style, but
a collection of concepts from arts such as Wing Chun and other styles
that focuses on constant adaptation.
Judo means gentle way, ('Do' means 'Way of'), a practical martial
art and sport that consists of techniques from many jujutsu schools.
Striking (atemi-waza) and some dangerous throws are forbidden in
competitions, but are still present in training and sparring.
Jujutsu is a general Japanese term encompassing mostly unarmed martial
arts with strikes, throws, grappling and locks and those using small
weapons.
Kajukenbo a combination of Karate, Jujutsu, Kenpo, and Chinese Boxing
founded in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii by a group of instructors.
Kalari Payattu, a martial art from Kerala, South India. It combines
self defense, religion and elements of "martial dance",
and has a strong association with the Ayurveda healing system.
Kandoshin is a freestyle fighting arts system which unifies many
modern and ancient martial arts from four major continents, namely;
Africa, Asia, Europe and America.
Kapap is a modern martial art, derived from the distinctive fighting
style of the Israeli Haganah and the modern day IDF. The style is
purely focused on practical combat skills and eschews competitions
beyond occasional 'fight club' nights, wherein practitioners can
free-form spar with protective padding.
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Karate meaning 'Empty hand' (originally called
Te meaning 'Hand'), is perhaps the most popular martial art in Japan
and the West. It is Okinawan in origin and has several sub styles
including Ashihara karate, Kempo, Kyokushin, Shorin-ryu, Shotokai,
Shotokan and Wado Ryu. Depending on the style, a full range of combat
tactics may be taught. Techniques include: striking, blocking, kicking,
joint-locks, throws and submissions.
Kateda is a martial art which claims ancient Tibetan origins, but
may be a more recent variation of Indonesian Silat and/or several
Kuntao arts. It employs unarmed punches and kicks and has features
in common with Sindo, Yoga, Qigong and possibly Shaolin.
Kendo is the Japanese sport of sword fighting, using bamboo swords
(shinai) and protective armour made almost purely by bamboo and
heavy knit cotton.
Krav Maga is not a martial art, rather a self-defense (due to no
reliance on physical fitness), and military hand to hand combat
system developed in Israel. It came to prominence following its
adoption by various Israeli Security Forces; now more widely in
use including by the special forces of other countries.
Kuk Sool Won is a systematic study of a variety of traditional Korean
fighting systems. It is known for its wide variety of techniques
and weapons.
Kung Fu, or more precisely "wushu", refers to the many
diverse Chinese martial arts, some of which include: Shaolin, Shuai
Chiao, Wing Chun, Zui Quan, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Yiquan, Lau Gar,
Hung Gar and many more. The Chinese words kung fu can be used to
describe one's skill in any discipline, not just martial arts.
Kuttu Varisai (empty hand combat), an ancient martial art from Tamil
Nadu, South India. The fists, elbows, feet and knees are used, as
well as various animal forms, including tiger, elephant, snake,
eagle and monkey stances. Grappling, throws, hits and locks are
also used, as well as Luohan techniques, breathing exercises and
pressure point attacks.
Mixed martial arts or MMA, the combat sport which combines practical
aspects of many (or all) useful martial arts, including Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and wrestling, among others. The emphasis
is on actual combat and freestyle competition with few rules, as
opposed to theoretical philosophy. Well-known MMA organizations
include PRIDE and UFC. The term MMA may also refer to the fighting
style associated with MMA competition.
Muay Thai, a Thai martial art, a famous style of kickboxing.
Ninjutsu is a Japanese style said to have originally been practiced
by Ninja; this martial art combines traditional attacks with scout
style survival and elusive moves.
Nonviolent Self-Defense is similar to a soft martial art but with
no strikes. It is used primarily for physical crisis intervention
in mental health and law enforcement.
Pradal Serey is the Cambodian style of kickboxing.
Sambo is the wrestling form developed in Russia. Sambo is deeply
influenced by judo, catch wrestling, jacket wrestling, collar and
elbow wrestling etc. Sambo allows joint locks, though chokes are
not allowed in sport Sambo wrestling.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a Martial Art which combines the use of unarmed
fighting, various weapons and use of "Animal Forms", fighting
styles copied from animals in nature, such as tigers, snakes or
cranes.
Shorinji Kempo is a Japanese martial art emphasizing Buddhist principles
of self-reliance and the use of force only as a last resort. Students
learn both hard techniques (strikes, throws) and soft techniques
(joint locks, holds).
Silat is an art from the Malay World and has regional variations
in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, among others.
Sindo is a modern variation of Indonesian Silat, which combines
Western practical self defence with combat martial art, Silat and
internal martial arts.
Sipkwondo is a modern hybrid martial art based off Tae Kwon Do,
Kickboxing and Grappling.
Southern Praying Mantis (martial art) is related most closely to
fellow Hakka styles such as Dragon and more distantly to the Fujian
family of styles that includes Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors,
and Wing Chun. Southern Praying Mantis is a close range fighting
system that places much emphasis on short power techniques and has
aspects of both the soft and internal as well as the hard and external.
Systema is an art of Russian origin. This style employs no pre-defined
moves, kata, rankings, or sport application. Rather, Systema works
from the basis of breathing, relaxation, posture, and movement,
utilizing all aspects of human ability.
Tai Chi Chuan, the different styles of which are a Chinese martial
art practiced nowadays by many people for health maintenance.
Taekyon, a traditional Korean martial art, probably stemming from
Subak.
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial sport, with literal meaning
"the way of the hand and foot". Along with Judo, one of
only two Asian martial arts to make it into the Olympic Games.
Tang Soo Do (also "tangsudo", which means 'way of the
Chinese hand') is a traditional Korean martial art descended from
Karate, which remained outside the merging of Korean styles into
a national sport in 1961. Its most famous proponent is Chuck Norris.
Vajra Mukti (diamond fist), grappling style in North India.
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Varma Kalai (the art of vital points), an ancient
martial art from Tamil Nadu, South India. Though it emphasizes self
defence, it also emphasizes targeting various vital points throughout
the human body. It has a strong association with Varma Cuttiram
(the Tamil science of medicine).
Western martial arts (WMA) or "European martial arts"
consist mainly of fighting techniques developed in Europe. They
include everything from unarmed combat to grappling ("ringen")
to weapons practices with a great variety of weapons such as the
longsword, various types of staves and polearms, daggers, sword
and buckler, to more specialized weapons such as the rapier.
Wing Chun (Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun), a Chinese martial art known
for its no nonsense effectiveness made famous by its legendary student,
Bruce Lee.
Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch'üan), Form Intent Boxing, a Chinese
internal martial art famous for its fighting prowess.
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