EVERY STYLE HAS A STORY

Aikido

 Japan

Aikidō is a modern Japanese martial art that developed around Morihei Ueshiba. Training includes body movement, throws, control techniques, and safe falling techniques. Schools differ in style, tra...

Han Mu Do

 South Korea

Han Mu Do, also written as Hanmudo, is a modern South Korean martial art developed by Dr. He-Young Kimm. The system combines unarmed techniques, weapons training, movement principles, and mental pr...

Hapkido

 South Korea

Hapkido is a modern Korean martial art influenced by aiki-jūjutsu, Korean kicking and striking arts, and judo. Depending on their lineage, schools combine joint locks, throws, kicks, strikes, break...

Hwarang-do

 South Korea

Hwa Rang Do is a modern Korean martial art developed in the 1960s by Joo Bang Lee and Joo Sang Lee. The curriculum may include unarmed techniques, weapons, meditation, character development, and mo...

Jeet Kune Do

 China

Jeet Kune Do is the martial philosophy and training approach that Bruce Lee developed in the 1960s. JKD emphasizes adaptability, directness, and efficiency, and depending on the lineage, combines e...

Jiu-Jitsu

 Japan

Jiu-Jitsu, also called Jujutsu, is a collective term for Japanese martial arts with various historical ryu. Modern forms may include throws, control, ground fighting, joint techniques, striking tec...

Judo

 Japan

Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport centered on technique, timing, and maximum efficiency. Discover the throws, ground techniques, training methods, and equipment of one of the world's...

K-1

 Japan

The world's biggest striking tournament. K-1 brought together the best kickboxers, Muay Thai fighters, and karate practitioners in the world and created the golden age of combat sports entertainment.

Karate

 Japan

Karate is a versatile martial art from Okinawa in which technique, timing, distance, character, and discipline come together. From kata and self-defense to controlled WKF kumite and full-contact Ky...

Kempo

 United States

Kempo or Kenpō is not a single uniform style, but a collective term for several martial arts with Japanese, Chinese, Okinawan, and sometimes Indonesian influences. Dutch schools include Shaolin Kem...

Kendo

 Japan

Kendo (剣道), “the way of the sword,” is a modern Japanese martial art and competitive discipline that originated from kenjutsu. Practitioners train with a shinai, protective bōgu, set kata, and a st...

Kobudo

 Japan

Kobudō is a collective term for traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts in which weapons, forms, and controlled application are central. This entry focuses on Okinawan Kobudō, with a clear d...

Kuk Sool Won

 South Korea

Kuk Sool Won is a Korean martial art that brings together unarmed techniques, throws, joint locks, kicking techniques, forms, weapons training, and breathing and meditation exercises in a single cu...

Kung Fu

 China

Kung Fu is the broad collective term for Chinese martial arts, from Wing Chun and Shaolin to Tai Chi, Hung Gar, and modern wushu. These traditions combine technique, training, philosophy, and cultu...

Ninjutsu

 Japan

Ninjutsu is the modern collective term for historical Japanese skills involving reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, disguise, survival, and unconventional martial arts. In contemporary dojos, s...

Nunchaku-do

 Japan

Nunchaku-do is the modern Dutch competitive sport centered around the nunchaku, featuring safe sports equipment, set kata, semi-contact kumite, and creative freestyle. The sport combines Okinawan K...

Pankration

Pankration was an ancient Greek unarmed combat sport combining boxing, wrestling, kicks, and grappling techniques. The discipline became part of the Olympic Games in 648 BC; modern Pankration varia...

Sanda

 China

Sanda, also known as Sanshou, is the modern Chinese full-contact combat sport within wushu. The sport combines boxing, kicks, clinching, takedowns, throws, and sweeps in a fast-paced competition fo...

Systema

 Russia

Systema is a Russian martial art and self-defense approach that works with breathing, relaxation, structure, and movement. There is no universal belt system, fixed kata, or general competition rule...

Taekkyon

 South Korea

Taekkyon, also spelled Taekkyeon or Taekgyeon, is a traditional Korean martial art and combat sport featuring rhythmic footwork, kicks, sweeps, off-balancing techniques, and throws. The sport was a...

Tai Chi

 China

Tai Chi, also called Taijiquan, is a Chinese martial art that is also practiced worldwide as a gentle form of exercise, meditation, and competitive sport. The five major family styles are Chen, Yan...

Tang Soo Do

 South Korea

Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art influenced by Okinawan karate, Chinese martial arts, and Korean movement culture. The style is known for high and jumping kicks, hyung, self-defense,...

Wing Chun

 China

Wing Chun (Cantonese) or Yong Chun (Mandarin) is a Southern Chinese martial art for close-range combat. Many schools emphasize the centerline, direct hand techniques, simultaneous attack and defens...

Wushu

 China

Wushu is the international name for Chinese martial arts and encompasses both traditional styles and a modern competitive sport. The two best-known competitive disciplines are taolu, forms performe...