How many martial arts

Savate is also known as French Kickboxing , and it emphasizes the use of punches and kicks. It began as a street-fighting technique emphasizing low kicks, which is why kicks are still highly used in Combat Savate. If you look only at modern-day MMA , it began in the 90s in America.

However, if you trace back the first Mixed Martial Arts match in history, they date back to Ancient Greece and their Olympics, where the only rules of the sport were no biting and no eye-gouging.

Pankration originates back to the first Olympics in Ancient Greece. Traditional wrestling dates back to Ancient Greece and the Olympics. The style that was used back then is called the Greco-Roman style, still used today.

Some depictions of wrestling are even older, dating back to French cave drawings , and then later Egypt, Babylon , etc. The striking focuses on boxing and using weapons, while grappling emphasizes wrestling and bone-breaking grips.

There are also pokes, bites, etc. Gatka is an old Indian martial art that is well-known for the prolific and extensive use of weapons. It can be sticks and canes , but the most common weapon is a sword. The Indian grappling martial art called Malla Yuddha focuses on combat wrestling.

It quickly spread across Southeast Asia. The style originates in northeastern India and includes non-armed and armed combat. The weapons include swords, spears, axes, shields , etc. Originating in India, Kalaripayattu combines elements of yoga and healing techniques with hand-to-hand and weapon combat. The ancient Indian martial art Niyuddha focuses mostly on striking, especially kicks. Grappling is used almost solely for throws, not ground combat. The Indian system Pehlwani focuses on finishing fights with grappling, using locks, pins, and submission holds.

Silambam is an Indian martial art that teaches how to use a staff for fighting. Pencak Silat has several forms, and the same name refers to different Indonesian Martial arts. The term Pencak Silat was coined to identify all Indonesian martial arts — over styles and systems. Although Silat is a martial arts style that originated in the southeastern Asian region Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia , etc.

Bataireacht is also known as Irish Stick Fighting , which is self-explanatory — practitioners use sticks in combat. Elite military units in Israel use the style.

The Israeli military teaches it. Sometimes, traditional Japanese weapons are used as well, as the art originates in Japan. As a sub-style of traditional Japanese jujitsu, Aikijujitsu can be described as a bit more aggressive form of Aikido that blends in with Jujitsu techniques. It includes a wider spectrum of striking techniques, ground game, and chokes.

While most martial arts emphasize hand-to-hand combat, Araki Ryu is a traditional Japanese martial art that emphasizes training with traditional Japanese weapons, such as a spear , a sword , a wooden staff , etc.

Many Japanese martial arts and styles stem from military use. Bajutsu is no different, utilizing traditional Japanese weapons and hand-to-hand combat, but usually while mounted on horseback. Traditional Japanese martial art focusing on the use of a weapon called Bo , or the long staff. Bujutsu is a Japanese martial art believed to be the art of the Samurai. It includes weapons training as well as hand-to-hand combat striking and grappling.

Byakuren Kaikan originates from Shorinji Kempo more on that below. It focuses on full contact sparring , where practitioners learn how to take hits and deliver them. This Japanese martial art is virtually a mixed martial arts technique, but while wearing a traditional gi.

Sparring is done in full contact with very specific protective equipment. This traditional technique emphasizes throws, joint locks, and strikes to vital areas , such as the throat, eyes, liver, groin, etc. Goju-Ryu is one of the major sub-styles of Karate ; it includes kata and bunkai, which is the practical application of the kata. A style that teaches the practitioner how to use the Hanbo , a short version of the long staff Bo.

A craft called Hojojutsu utilizes a rope to incapacitate and restraining the opponent without inflicting or taking damage. Iaido stems from Iaijutsu and is a martial art that focuses on the techniques to connect the drawing of your sword with an effective, quick attack. This Japanese craft is the combat version of Iaido , which focuses more on technique and kata. Isshin-Ryu evolved into one of the main Karate styles in the s , combining Goju-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu Karate elements, emphasizing striking and weapons.

Itto-Ryu is a major Japanese sword-fighting martial art with many sub-styles that influenced other popular martial arts, most notably Kendo. Like Bojutsu and Hanbojutsu , Jojutsu or Jodo emphasizes using a staff , only this one Jo is the shortest. Judo is an ancient Japanese martial art and an Olympic sport highlighting grappling, joint locks, and throws. Jujutsu Jujitsu , Jiu-Jitsu is one of the older Japanese grappling martial arts that include throws, holds, joint locks, etc.

BJJ has roots in this old Japanese art. This military martial art sub-style focuses on handling and utilizing the bayonet. Wooden rifles are used for practice, and the Japanese military still uses the style.

Juttejutsu is a martial art that requires the use of a weapon called Jutte. Still, the unified rules that made it an Olympic sport for the first time are simply known as Karate.

The martial art Keijojutsu is a style focusing on the use of batons police sticks. Kendo is an ancient military martial art in which the practitioners wear protective armor while learning sword fighting techniques.

Kenjutsu is a style that emphasizes prolific sword techniques. Kata and technique development are far more important than sparring. They all stem from the traditional Japanese Kickboxing , which allows only punches and kicks without elbows and knees. Kobudo is a collective term encapsulating techniques using weapons such as the Bo, Sai, Nunchaku , and Tonfa. Kyudo is a Japanese martial art that focuses on archery , similar to the Korean Gungsol. This is yet another form of archery martial art , but using the Yumi , a special Japanese bow.

It focuses on the traditional use of the bow in warfare instead of the sports side. This martial art is a specific system that emphasizes stealth movement, silent combat, agility, and quickness. The Japanese ninjas developed Ninjutsu. Nippon Kempo uses grappling as a center technique and utilizes punches, kicks, and joint locks.

This specific martial arts system formed by a famous samurai Myamoto Musashi focuses on using two smaller swords in combat.

This is a traditional Japanese martial art that teaches how to use Nunchaku in combat. This form of Karate was developed in the s in Japan by Yasuhiro Konishi. It uses Karate as a base and combines it with Jujutsu and Aikido. Shintaido combines Karate, Kenjutsu , and Bojutsu , as it often utilizes the Bo and Bokuto weapons in training. It highlights the spiritual and self-developing aspect of martial arts.

Shito-Ryu is yet another major sub-style school of Karate. It combines soft and hard styles, like circular movements and powerful striking. This highly popular Japanese combat sport is a hybrid between Muay Thai and submission grappling. For instance, soccer kicks are allowed. Shooto is similar to Shootfighting and MMA. Saturo Sayama developed this combat style in Japan. It has similar elements, and it combines self-defense skills with spirituality and personal growth.

This was one of the first Karate styles developed in Okinawa, Japan. It stems from Shaolin Kung Fu , implementing new techniques and refining the existing ones. One of the largest and most popular Karate sub-style, Shotokan , was developed in Okinawa , Japan, and used for military purposes.

It uses kata and various high-speed striking techniques but highlights spirituality, calmness, and meditation. Sojutsu is a Japanese martial art style that focuses on the use of a traditional spear for fighting. Spochan , or Sports Chanbara , is a combat sport that uses airsoft weapons to practice sword and stick fighting.

Sumo or Sumo Wrestling is a traditional Japanese martial art that includes entertainment and wrestling, intending to push the opponent out of the circle. Sumo wrestlers are highly respected in Japan. Taido is an attractive Japanese martial art style that combines classic Karate elements and strikes with body maneuvers, gymnastic moves , etc. Taiho Jutsu is a very old Japanese martial art designed to teach the feudal police how to fight and arrest armed criminals while using hand combat.

It highlights the use of the Japanese knife Tanto. Like many other weapon-based Japanese martial arts, Tessenjutsu specializes in the use of Tessen or war fans in combat. Another well-known Karate sub-style that came into existence in the s, Wado-Ryu , avoids hard contact while emphasizing evasion , body shifting , and control to avoid or minimize the incoming attacks completely. Yabusame is a very specific Japanese martial art that focuses on archery while riding horseback.

It requires a lot of skill and focus. This style combines numerous Japanese martial arts with boxing, including Aikido, Judo, Karate, and even Kobudo weapons training. The craft of Gongkwon Yusul was developed in Korea in The martial arts is a hybrid of Hapkido, Jujutsu, Judo , and Boxing.

Gungsol is a Korean martial art that incorporates close combat techniques and archery. This old martial art focuses on sword fighting and has some Kanjutsu elements as well. Han Mu Do is a more fluid version of Hapkido. Although weapons are used in training, the highlight of this style is the open hand concept.

Hapkido is an old Korean craft that emphasizes striking and joint locking while using circular and perpetual motion to control and defeat the opponent. Sometimes the training includes weapons. The art of Hwa Rang Do is similar to Taekwondo, but it utilizes more grappling and even weapons training. The Kuk Sool Won technique embraces all kinds of strikes, joint locks, and grappling, but what makes it special is the learning of healing techniques in training.

This martial art is very similar to the Japanese Kendo , utilizing a sword to complete the techniques. Sibpalki teaches close combat techniques.

It was mostly used in the s, but some schools in Korea still teach it today. Ssireum is a martial art that uses wrestling as the primary force. Taekkyeon is a kicking martial art that emphasizes low kicks, sweeps, and trips. Probably the most popular Korean martial art globally, Taekwondo focuses on fast, repetitive kicks to score points and win matches, but it also uses blocks, punches, etc. Chuck Norris studied it, refined the techniques, and developed the Chuck Norris System from it.

Yongmudo combines several traditional Korean martial arts elements, including Judo, Ssireum, and Taekwondo, to create a more well-rounded, effective combat system. Bokh is better known as Mongolian Wrestling. The traditional martial art called Mau Rakau was created by the native people of New Zealand , Maori.

Sambo is a martial art that spread across Europe fast, especially France, where it was further developed. Hapkido — Hapkido is a Korean martial arts style focused on punches, kicks, throws and joint locks. Hojojutsu — Hojojutsu is a Japanese martial arts that uses ropes to restrain or disable an opponent. Huyen Langlon — Huyen Langlon is a martial arts from northeastern India.

Hwa Rang Do — Hwa Rang Do is a Korean martial arts that includes sparring, self-defense, weapons training and grappling. Iaido — Iaido is a Japanese martial arts focused on the drawing of a sword bokken, iaito or shinken from its scabbard. This martial arts relies heavily on katas forms and does not utilize sparring. Iaijutsu — Iaijutsu is the combat version of Iaido. It was created to meet the needs of law enforcement officers.

Itto-Ryu — A Japanese martial arts focused on the sword. There are many sub-styles of Itto-Ryu and this martial arts had significant influence on the development of modern Kendo.

Jojutsu — Jojutsu or Jodo is a Japanese martial arts focused on the short staff Jo. Judo — Judo is a Japanese martial arts style focused on grappling, joint locks and throws.

Jujutsu — Jujutsu is a Japanese martial arts style focused on joint locks, holds and throws. It tries to redirect or manipulate the force of an attack in order to defeat the attacker. Jukendo — Jukendo is a Japanese martial arts focused on the bayonet.

Juttejutsu — Juttejutsu is a Japanese martial arts that focuses on the martial arts weapon known as the Jutte Jitte. Kajukenbo — This is an American martial arts style that combines techniques from many different martial arts such as Judo , Karate , Eskrima , etc.

It was designed to be effective in real world self-defense situations and street fights. Kalaripayattu — Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial arts style from India.

Keijojutsu — Keijojutsu is a Japanese martial arts focused on police stick fighting batons. Kendo — Kendo is a Japanese martial arts style focused on sword fighting i. Bokken and Katana. Kenjutsu — Kenjutsu is a Japanese martial arts style focused on sword techniques. In contrast to Kendo, Kenjutsu is less focused on sparring.

Kenpo or Kempo — Please visit the American Kenpo section. This system has been featured in movies such as the Batman series that starred Christian Bale. Kickboxing — Kickboxing is a martial arts style focused on powerful kicks and punches.

Kinomichi — Kinomichi is a martial arts style that originated in France and was developed by one of the students of the founder of Aikido. Kino Mutai — Kino Mutai Kina Mutai is a Philippines martial arts that uses unconventional tactics such as biting and eye-gouging. Kobudo — A Japanese Okinawan martial arts focused on weapons training. Weapons used include the bo staff , sai , tonfa and nunchaku.

Kokondo — Kokondo is a style that combines techniques from Karate and Jujutsu. Krabi-Krabong — Krabi-Krabong is a weapon-based martial arts from Thailand.

Kuk Sool Won — Kuk Sool Won is a Korean martial arts focused on strikes, kicks, grappling, joint locks, weapons training and healing techniques. Kumdo — Kumdo is a Korean sword-based martial arts which is similar to Kendo. Kuntao — Kuntao is a southeast Asian martial arts that utilizes hand strikes, kicking techniques, grappling and martial arts weapons i.

Kyudo — Kyudo is a Japanese martial arts style focused on archery. Kyujutsu Kyuk Too Ki — Korean kickboxing. Kyusho Jitsu — A martial arts focused on targeting pressure points. Laamb — Laamb is a Senegalese martial arts that combines wrestling and punches. Lathi Khela — Lathi Khela is a Bangladeshi stick-fighting martial arts. Lerdrit — Lerdrit is a military martial arts used by the Royal Thai Army. However, Lethwei has less restrictions as this martial arts allows techniques such as headbutts.

LimaLama — A martial arts from Samoa. Lua — Lua is a traditional Hawaiian martial arts that focuses on bone breaking, boxing, wrestling, weapons, etc. They are designed for real-life combat situations versus sport-based martial arts that ban certain techniques in order to avoid injuries. Mixed Martial Arts — Mixed Martial Arts utilizes techniques from a variety of different martial arts styles i. Monkey Kung Fu Hou Quan — Monkey Kung Fu is an unorthodox and acrobatic style used to disorient and attack opponents from unusual angles and positions.

Muay Boran — Muay Boran is a Thai martial arts. Modern Muay Thai evolved from this martial arts style. Muay Thai — Muay Thai is a martial arts style from Thailand. It is similar to kickboxing but also involves elbow and knee strikes. Naginatajutsu — Naginatajutsu is a Japanese martial arts style focused on the long pole weapon known as the Naginata. Nhat Nam — Nhat Nam is a Vietnamese martial arts.

Ninjutsu — Ninjutsu is a martial arts style developed from the techniques used by ninjas Japanese spies and assassins. There are five main areas or arts of training: blocking, fulcrum throw, non-fulcrum throw, escaping, and striking.

Karate : a martial art developed in Okinawa, Japan that stresses striking techniques, such as punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands karate chop. In comparison to tae kwon do, karate tends to focus more on hand strikes, whereas tae kwon do emphasizes kicking techniques. Krav Maga : a hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel that involves wrestling, grappling and striking techniques, mostly known for its extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks used to keep the practitioner safe and incapacitate the opponent by any means necessary.

Generally, there are no rules in krav maga, and it has no sporting federation. In addition, there is no official uniform, although some organizations recognize progress with rank badges, levels, and belts. Kung Fu Chinese martial arts : a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China.

There are common themes to the various styles which are usually classified by families, schools, or sects. Some styles include physical exercises that mimic animal movements, while others are inspired by Chinese philosophies, religions, and legends. Internal styles focus mainly on harnessing of qi, while external styles concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness. MMA Mixed Martial Arts : a full contact sport that allows a variety of fighting styles to be used including martial and non-martial arts techniques.