Table of Contents
1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The Renzo Gracie Academy, founded by a member of the Gracie family, who are the most famous BJJ practitioner family in the world, define Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as:
…a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit.
Renzo Gracie Academy
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a modernised form of traditional Jiu-Jitsu, which is Japanese martial art. BJJ was brought into existence by the Gracie family. This new form of Jiu-Jitsu involves the use of chokes, holds and jostling for superior positioning in order to physically overcome opponents.
As it is generally easier to control opponents on the ground, than it is on the feet, this martial arts centres around taking opponents down and wrestling / grappling for the superior position. Through the use of BJJ techniques such as; Rear-Naked Chokes, Triangle Chokes, Armbars, Guillotines and more you can submit your opponent and render them harmless (or unconscious). No strikes are thrown in BJJ, making it a grappling martial art.
BJJ was popularised in martial arts thanks to its use in the UFC by Royce Gracie, in the early days of the UFC. Royce was successfully able to overcome much larger and physically stronger MMA fighters through his BJJ submissions.
Since then, a solid foundation in BJJ and its techniques has become vital for a successful MMA career.
Those interested in taking up BJJ classes may want to start by checking out the Gracie University, or by visiting a local gym who offer BJJ lessons.
2. Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a hybrid martial art. It compromises of fighting techniques taken from the individual martial art disciplines of Muay Thai, Boxing and Karate (amongst others). It is more of an umbrella term for a range of martial arts disciplines. However, it has been included on the list due to its popularity in the modern day.
It is a striking sport, which allows the use of punches and kicks. In some kickboxing competitions, the use of knees are legal. In more rare cases, elbows are also allowed. No ground game is incorporated into this sport, which means the fight takes place 100% standing up.
Elite kickboxing can be watched on Glory kickboxing, K-1 or One Championship
3. Karate
Karate is a Japanese striking martial art. It is a 4 contact combat style, as only hands and feet are allowed to be used to strike opponents.
“Kara” means “empty” and “te” means “hand” in Japanese. Together, “karate” means fighting hand to hand without weapons.
Karate is a fighting style which was popularly used in MMA by fighters such as Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson & Lyoto Machida
Elite Karate competition can be seen on Karate Combat or used by fighters in UFC.
4. Muay Thai
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. It is an ancient martial art that has developed over the centuries. It is a striking based martial art, that involves the full body.
Tiger Muay Thai, one of the most famous Muay Thai & MMA gyms in the world, defines Muay Thai as:
… a form of close-combat that utilizes the entire body as a weapon.
Tiger Muay Thai
“Muay” literally translates to “Boxing” in Thai, so Muay Thai means “Thai Boxing”. Fighters wear boxing gloves on their hands and wear Muay Thai specific shorts, which are typically very short shorts.
It is a striking sport that is sometimes called the “Art of 8 Limbs”, as it allows 8 points of contact from the body. It allows punches, kicks, elbows & knees. It also involves sweeps and minor grappling in the stand-up.
Elite Muay Thai competition can be viewed on One Championship.
5. Boxing
Boxing is arguably the most popular martial art in the world. It is a purely striking based martial art which makes sole use of hand strikes. Fighters will wear gloves ranging from 6-14 oz, along with other protective gear such as hand wraps & a cup protector.
Fights typically take place in a “ring”, and the fight is split into “rounds”. Each round usually lasts for 3 minutes. The amount of rounds differs depending on the fight organisation but usually they will either be 8 or 12 rounds.
In the modern era, fights will typically go on until an opponent is rendered unable to continue by knock-out or the fight will end once the totals rounds are used up. If the fight goes the distance, judges sitting ringside will decide the winner.
6. MMA
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is not an individual martial art, but a collection of martial arts techniques which are allowed to be used in an MMA fight. MMA fights involve the use of hands, feet, elbows & knees. Opponents are given the freedom to stand and box with their opponent, or they are allowed to take their opponent down using Judo or Wrestling moves. While on the ground, they may submit them using BJJ techniques or utilise ground and pound to disable their opponents with strikes.
MMA is likely the 2nd most popular combat sport in the world after Boxing. MMA fights are the closest thing you can find in the mainstream media to a legal “real” fight. One of the purposes of the sport is to find out which fighter, across all individual martial arts, is the greatest fighter on the planet. That is why the UFC, MMA’s biggest global promotion, stands for “Ultimate Fighting Championship” and it is why they have a long running TV show, which is called “The Ultimate Fighter”.
Not all strikes are allowed in The Unified Rules Of MMA. Certain strikes such as headbutts or groin shots are illegal in modern MMA.
7. Sambo
Sambo is a Russian martial art, one famously practiced by famous MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. It is a modern martial art (relative to most ancient martial art forms) as it began in the 1920s.
There are different types of Sambo, however, the modern sport version of Sambo is similar to Judo and wrestling. It focuses on throwing techniques, involves submissions like leg locks and there are very few restrictions when it comes to grabbing your opponent.
There is another form of Sambo, which is very similar to mixed martial arts, called “combat Sambo”. In this form of Sambo, you are allowed to use moves from “sport Sambo” while also being free to use strikes to disable your opponent. Knees, hands, feet & elbows are all legal in “combat Sambo”.
8. Judo
Judo was formed in Japan, back in the age of the Samurai. The modern development of this martial art does not involve strikes.
Judo is all about using balance and movement to overcome your opponent. In the martial art of Judo, fighters must wear a Judo uniform. Opponents then grip each other’s uniform as a way of throwing or controlling their opponent.
The objective of a Judo fight is to throw your opponent to the ground and “pin” them. It is also legal to use submissions on your opponent which restrict their airways or force them to tap with a joint lock.
9. Krav Maga
Krav Maga is a form of martial arts which was designed by the Israeli military. It derives its techniques from; Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, Karate & Judo. Krav Maga was invented so that the most efficient ways of ending a fight in other martial arts could be combined into one, new martial art.
Krav Maga strikes are supposed to end a fight as efficiently and aggressively as possible. The strikes target vulnerable areas of the body and it is known for being a martial arts discipline which has real world uses. Learning Krav Maga can help you to protect yourself better if you ever need to protect yourself in the real world against a mugging or any form of abuse.
10. Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean form of martial arts, which is purely striking based.
The “Tae” means to “attack with the foot”, while “kwon” means to “break with the fist” and “do” means “the way”
Practitioners of this martial art wear a uniform, called a Dobok. It mainly involves techniques which are focused on head-kicking and spinning kicks. In a lot of Taekwondo competitions, fighters can earn extra points by incorporating spinning or head kicking into their attacks.
Taekwondo emphasises speed and agility of attacks, making it an impressive sport to watch. Similar to other martial arts like Judo or BJJ, there is a graded belt system in place, which defines how advanced a practitioner is.
Other types of martial arts
On top of the above 10 most popular martial arts, there are a massive range of other martial arts, such as:
- Capoeira
- Kung Fu
- Aikido
- Senegalese Wrestling
- Vale Tudo
- Wing Chun
- Silat
