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  A kickboxing match

  
  Kickboxing (/ˈkɪkbɒksɪŋ/KIK-boks-ing) is a full-contact hybridmartial art andboxing type based onpunching andkicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in aboxing ring, normally withboxing gloves,mouth guards, shorts, and bare feet to favor the use ofkicks. Kickboxing is practiced forself-defense, generalfitness, or forcompetition. Some styles of kickboxing include:full contact karate,Muay Thai,Japanese kickboxing,Lethwei,Sanda, andSavate.
  
  Although since the dawn of humanity people have faced each other inhand-to-hand combat, the first documentation on the use of kicking and punching in sports combat is fromancient Greece andancient India. But nevertheless, the term kickboxing originated in Japan, in the 1960s, and developed in the late 1950s fromkarate mixed withboxing, having some influence, with competitions held since then. American kickboxing originated in the 1970s and was brought to prominence in September 1974, when the Professional Karate Association (PKA) held the first World Championships. Historically, kickboxing can be considered ahybrid martial art formed from the combination of elements of various traditional styles. This approach became increasingly popular since the 1970s, and since the 1990s, kickboxing has contributed to the emergence ofmixed martial arts via further hybridization withground fighting techniques fromBrazilian jiu-jitsu, andfolk wrestling. (Full article...)
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  Lethwei (Burmese:လက်ဝှေ့;IPA:[lɛʔ.ʍḛ]) orBurmese boxing is afull contact combat sport originating fromMyanmar and is regarded as one of the most brutal martial arts in the world. Lethwei fighters are allowed to use stand-up striking techniques such as kicks, knees, elbows and punches, and the use ofheadbutts is also permitted. Fighters compete bareknuckle, wrapping their hands with only tape and gauze. Disallowed in most combat sports, headbutts are important weapons in a Lethwei fighter's arsenal, giving Lethwei its name of the "Art of nine limbs". This, combined with its bareknuckle nature, gave Lethwei a reputation for being one of the bloodiest and most violent martial arts. Lethwei is the last remaining sport in the world that allows headbutts. Although popular throughout Myanmar, Lethwei has been primarily and historically associated with theKaren people of theKayin State; the vast majority of competitive Lethwei fighters are ethnolinguistically ofKaren descent. (Full article...)
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  Thetonfa (Okinawan:トンファーtonfā,Chinese:柺;pinyin:guǎi lit.old man's staff /"crutch", also spelled astongfa ortuifa, also known asT-baton) is a melee weapon with its origins inthe armed component ofOkinawan martial arts where it is known as thetunkua. It consists of a stick with a perpendicular handle attached a third of the way down the length of the stick, and is about 15–20 inches (380–510 mm) long. It was traditionally made fromred orwhite oak, and wielded in pairs. The tonfa is believed to have originated in either China,Okinawa orSoutheast Asia, where it is used in the respective fighting styles. (Full article...)
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  Luta Livre (Portuguese:[ˈlutɐˈlivɾi], lit.freestyle fighting orwrestling), known in Brazil asLuta Livre Brasileira (lit.Brazilian freestyle fighting) orLuta Livre Submission, and alsoBrazilian Submission Wrestling, is a Brazilianmartial arts andcombat sport created byEuclydes Hatem inRio de Janeiro. Primarily a mixture ofcatch wrestling andkosen judo, there is alsoground striking with the hands, feet, knees and elbows. Notable practitioners includeMarco Ruas,Ebenezer Fontes Braga,Johil de Oliveira,Alexandre Franca Nogueira,Renato Sobral,Gesias Cavalcante,Pedro Rizzo,Darren Till andJosé Aldo.
  
  There are two styles:esportiva ("sporting") andcombate ("ground strikes"); both styles areno-gi. Inesportiva competitions, grappling techniques are the only techniques allowed to subdue the opponent. Another style developed later is called "Luta Livre Vale Tudo", which is similar to the modern MMA style which allows both standing and ground strikes and submissions. Consequently, it is important to calmly strategize and execute moves with the aim to force the opponent to submit viaarmlock,leglock,choke ornecklock, or towin by points (i.e.takedowns, domination position). Punches, kicks and other "hard" techniques are not allowed as this is considered more a sport than actual combat.Combate, on the other hand, includes striking techniques on the ground; palm strikes and kicks are allowed, but the ground fight and submissions are still the largest elements. This is also the form used inMMA-style fights. (Full article...)
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  Savate (French pronunciation:[savat]), also known asFrench Boxing (French:Boxe Française) orFrench Foot Fighting, is a French hybridmartial art andfull-contactcombat sport that combines principles ofwestern boxing with a wide variety ofkicking techniques. Unlikekickboxing styles such asMuay Thai, which allowknee and/orshin strikes in competitive bouts, savate involves kicking exclusively with one's feet, but participants can nonetheless target any part of the body. The sport is also notable for requiringfootwear to be worn by the competitors, as would be expected from individuals fighting in the streets. A male practitioner of savate is called a "tireur" while a female one is a "tireuse".
  
  Savate de rue (lit. 'street savate'), the term used to differentiate the original martial art meant forself-defense from the subsequent combat sport, is an overarchinghand-to-hand combat discipline that incorporates knee and elbow strikes as well asjoint locks,sweeps,throws,headbutts andtakedowns, in addition to punches and kicks. (Full article...)
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  Final of the Challenge Réseau Ferré de France–Trophée Monal 2012, épée world cup tournament inParis

  
  Fencing is acombat sport that features sword fighting. It consists of three primary disciplines:foil,épée, andsabre (also spelledsaber), each with its own blade and set of rules. Most competitive fencers specialise in one of these disciplines. The modern sport gained prominence near the end of the 19th century, evolving from historical Europeanswordsmanship. TheItalian school altered thehistorical European martial art ofclassical fencing, and theFrench school later refined that system. Scoring points in a fencing competition is done by making contact with the opponent with one's sword.
  
  The 1904Olympic Games featured a fourth discipline of fencing known assinglestick, but it was dropped after that year and is not a part of modern fencing. Competitive fencing was one of the first sports to be featured in the Olympics and, along withathletics,cycling,swimming, andgymnastics, has been featured in every modern Olympics. (Full article...)
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  Togakure-ryū (戸隠流) is a historical tradition ofninjutsu known as the "School of the Hidden Door", allegedly founded during theOho period (1161–1162) byDaisuke Nishina (仁科大助) (a.k.a. DaisukeTogakure (戸隠大助)), who learned his original fighting techniques from aChinese monk named Kain Dōshi. However, the history and early lineage of Togakure-ryū may be impossible to verify due to the antiquity of the time period and its claimed historicity has been disputed by Watatani Kiyoshi, writer for theBugei Ryūha Daijiten. After Togakure, the title of Sōke (head of school) was recorded byToda Shinryuken Masamitsu to have been passed down through other practitioners that kept the style secret from the outside world.
  
  Toshitsugu Takamatsu is the recorded 33rdSōke of this school. According toBujinkan sources he became well known throughout China and Japan for his martial arts prowess and his knowledge from studyingninjutsu that he then imparted on various Chinese nobles. Takamatsu passed the title of Sōke toMasaaki Hatsumi, the recorded 34th Sōke; it was Hatsumi who largely brought the style to public attention, and subsequently resulted in wide-scale media and public attention given to ninja andninjutsu in the Western world. Hatsumi recently passed on the school to Takumi Tsutsui. (Full article...)
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  Shintō Musō-ryū, orShindō Musō-ryū (神道夢想流), most commonly known by its practice ofjōdō, is a traditional school (koryū) of theJapanese martial art ofjōjutsu, or the art of wielding the short staff (jō). The technical purpose of the art is to learn how to defeat a swordsman in combat using thejō, with an emphasis on proper combative distance, timing and concentration. The system includes teachings of other weapon systems which are contained in Shintō Musō-ryū as auxiliary arts (Fuzoku ryuha). The school is sometimes abbreviated as SMR.
  
  The art was founded by thesamuraiMusō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi (夢想 權之助 勝吉,fl. c.1605, dates of birth and death unknown) in the early Edo period (1603–1868) and, according to legend, first put to use in aduel withMiyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, 1584–1645). The original art created by Musō Gonnosuke has evolved and been added upon ever since its inception and up to modern times. The art was successfully brought outside of its original domain inFukuoka and outside Japan itself in the 19th and 20th century. The spreading of Shintō Musō-ryū beyond Japan was largely the effort ofTakaji Shimizu, (1896–1978), considered the 25th headmaster, who, unlike many other traditional martial arts teachers, wanted Jodo to be known and taught internationally. With the assistance of his own students and the cooperation of thekendō community, Shimizu spread Shintō Musō-ryū worldwide. (Full article...)
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  A fighter leans back to evade a round kick

  
  Muay Thai orMuaythai (Thai:มวยไทย,RTGS: muai thai,pronounced[mūajtʰāj]^ⓘ), sometimes referred to asThai boxing, theArt of Eight Limbs or theScience of Eight Limbs, is a Thaimartial art andfull-contactcombat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and variousclinching techniques. The name “Art of Eight Limbs” refers to the combined use offists,elbows,knees andshins. Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the late 20th to 21st century, whenWesternised practitioners from Thailand began competing inkickboxing and mixed-rules matches as well as matches under Muay Thai rules around the world. The professional league is governed by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT), sanctioned by theSports Authority of Thailand (SAT).
  
  Muay Thai is related to other martial art styles of theIndian cultural sphere such asMusti-yuddha,Muay Chaiya,Muay Boran,Muay Lao,Lethwei, Benjang and Tomoi. A practitioner of Muay Thai is known as aNak Muay. Western practitioners in Thailand are sometimes calledNak MuayFarang, meaning "foreign boxer". (Full article...)
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  Japanese martial arts refers to the variety ofmartial arts native to the country ofJapan. At least three Japanese terms (budō,bujutsu, andbugei) are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
  
  The usage of the termbudō (武道) to mean martial arts is a modern one: historically the term meant a way of life encompassing physical,spiritual andmoral dimensions with a focus onself-improvement,fulfillment orpersonal growth. The termsbujutsu (武術) andbugei (武芸) have different meanings frombudō, at least historically speaking.Bujutsu refers specifically to the practical application of martial tactics and techniques in actual combat.Bugei refers to the adaptation or refinement of those tactics and techniques to facilitate systematic instruction and dissemination within a formal learning environment. (Full article...)

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  Image 1GAMMA medallists on the podium at the 2023 African Games (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 2Fol. 4v of the I.33 (fromHistory of martial arts)
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  Image 3Bronze medal match at the2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (fromKarate)
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  Image 4Jigoro Kano andYamashita Yoshitsugu performingKoshiki-no-kata (fromJudo)
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  Image 5Eisho-ji temple, Tokyo (fromJudo)
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  Image 6Yuki Nakai fightsUFC 1 finalistGerard Gordeau atVale Tudo Japan 1995. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 7Juji gatame (十字固, cross lock)(armbar), akansetsu-waza (fromJudo)
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  Image 8Bōgutsuki, a form of full-contact karate fought witharmour, one of the competition formats for kumite (fromKarate)
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  Image 9Bruce Lee is known for practicing many martial arts styles, including Karate, having trained withChuck Norris for many years. (fromKarate)
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  Image 10Ancient Chinese weapons (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 11jūdō (柔道, "Judo"), written inkanji (fromJudo)
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  Image 12Kung fu in Iran (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 13A "soccer kick", movement where the fighter kicks the head of a downed opponent. While common invale tudo, early MMA and Japanese promotions, the soccer kick has been banned from theUnified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 14Gina Carano applying a ground-and-pound on her opponent (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 15The judogi is made from a heavy weave to withstand the stress of throwing and grappling. (fromJudo)
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  Image 16An octagon cage used by the UFC (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 17Karate training in front ofShuri Castle inNaha (1938) (fromKarate)
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  Image 18Two judoka wearing judogi (fromJudo)
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  Image 19All-Japan Judo Championships, 2007 men's final (fromJudo)
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  Image 20Two Brazilian fighters in aSanda/Sanshou match. Sanda is a modernized form of Kung Fu and one of the two disciplines ofSport Wushu (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 21Japanese judokaTakamasa Anai Vs French judokaThierry Fabre during the2010 World Judo Championships held in Tokyo (fromJudo)
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  Image 22Olympic Judo pictogram (fromJudo)
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  Image 23Groundfighting in MMA. Differently from othergrappling-based martial arts, you are allowed to strike your opponent when fighting on the ground. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 24Megumi Fujii (left) facingCody Welchlin (right) (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 25TheYang style oftai chi being practiced onthe Bund inShanghai (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 26Masahiko Kimura vs. Hélio Gracie, a 1951 bout between Japanesejudo fighterMasahiko Kimura andBrazilian jiu jitsu founderHélio Gracie in Brazil, was an early high-profile mixed martial arts bout. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 27Karatekas wearing different colored belts (fromKarate)
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  Image 28Bruce Lee popularized the concept of mixed martial arts via hishybrid philosophy ofJeet Kune Do during the late 1960s to early 1970s. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 29MMA fighter attempts aTriangle-Armbar submission on his opponent. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 30Chōki Motobu in Naihanchi-dachi, one of the basic karate stances (fromKarate)
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  Image 31Mural at Shaolin temple from 1830's depicting forearm strikes and reverse kicks (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 32Harai goshi (払腰, sweeping hip), akoshi-waza (fromJudo)
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  Image 33Karatekas at adojo with different colored belts (fromKarate)
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  Image 34Karate movements inLappeenranta (fromKarate)
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  Image 35UFC 74;Clay Guida vs.Marcus Aurelio (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 36King Shō Shin (fromKarate)
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  Image 37Martial arts fan (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 38International judo camp inArtjärvi,Orimattila,Finland (fromJudo)
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  Image 39A ring used byPRIDE (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 40Depiction of fighting monks demonstrating their skills to visiting dignitaries (early 19th-century mural in theShaolin Monastery). (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 41Karate inNaha before the war; (before 1946) (fromKarate)
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  Image 42Fighter performs atakedown on his opponent. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 43Judo (1935) (fromJudo)
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  Image 44The Pancrastinae: a statue portraying thepancratium, an event which took place in the RomanColosseum. Even as late as theEarly Middle Ages, statues were put up in Rome and other cities to honor remarkable pankratiasts. This statue, now part of theUffizi collection, is a Roman copy of a lost Greek original, circa 3rd century BC. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 45Two children training injudo techniques (fromJudo)
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  Image 46AChinese martial artist preparing to throw his opponent during alei tai contest inancient China (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 47A ring-side doctor attends to a fighter following a loss. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 48Ancient Greek pankratiasts fighting. This drawing is an early 20th century copy of a scene from aPanathenaic amphora. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 49Modern forms are used in the sport ofwushu, as seen in this staff routine (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 50Yoshihiko Yoshimatsu attempting to throwToshiro Daigo with anuchi mata in the final of the 1951All-Japan Judo Championships (fromJudo)
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  Image 51Kung fu sword (fromChinese martial arts)
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  Image 52Jigoro Kano, founder of judo (fromJudo)
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  Image 53Gichin Funakoshi (fromKarate)
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  Image 54Masters of karate in Tokyo (c. 1930s), from left to right,Kanken Toyama,Hironori Otsuka, Takeshi Shimoda,Gichin Funakoshi,Chōki Motobu,Kenwa Mabuni, Genwa Nakasone, andShinken Taira (fromKarate)
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  Image 55Pankratiast in fighting stance, Ancient Greek red-figure amphora, 440 BC. (fromHistory of martial arts)
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  Image 56MMA gloves. They are fingerless gloves which allow both striking and grappling to occur. (fromMixed martial arts)
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  Image 57Throw during competition, leads to an ippon (fromJudo)

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