Senegalese wrestling is a type of folk wrestling traditional to Senegal and parts of The Gambia, and is part of a larger West African form of traditional wrestling (fr. Lutte Traditionnelle). The Senegalese form traditionally allows blows with the hands (frappe), the only of the West African traditions to do so. As a larger... more »
Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sokaku. Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū and sumo) and referred to the style he taught as “Daitō-ryū” (literally, “Great Eastern School”). Although the school’s traditions... more »
American Kenpo or Kenpo Karate is a system of martial arts created by Ed Parker, characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent. It is largely marketed as a self-defense system, and is derived from traditional Japanese martial art and other martial arts such as Southern Chinese... more »
Baguazhang is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or nèijiā gong). Bāguà zhǎng literally means “eight trigram palm,” referring to the trigrams of the Yijing (I Ching), one of the canons of... more »
Baji chuan (eight extremes fist/boxing) is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan. Its full name is kai men baji quan, which means “open-gate eight-extremities... more »
Beach Wrestling has been codified by FILA during the Athens Congress in 2004 in order to bring together all the different traditional wrestling styles practiced on sand and to make them more popular worldwide. Beach Wrestling is practised in swimming suit within a sand circle of 6m and consists of very simple rules. A... more »
Bojutsu, translated from Japanese as “staff technique”, is the martial art of using a staff weapon called bō which simply means “staff”. Staffs are perhaps one of the earliest weapons used by humankind. They have been in use for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. Some techniques involve slashing, swinging, and stabbing with the... more »
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century. It is known by quick and complex moves, using mainly power kicks and quick leg sweeps, with some... more »
Cha chuan is a Chinese martial art that features graceful movements and some acrobatic aerial maneuvers. Cha chuan also includes a large range of weapons. Cha chuan falls under the classification Chángquán (literally “long fist”), a general term for external Northern Chinese martial arts, which are known for their extended, long movements. Cha chuan... more »
Changquan (Long Fist) refers to a family of external (as opposed to internal) martial arts (kung fu) styles from northern China. The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system. In some Long Fist styles the motto is that... more »
The Chen family-style is the oldest and parent form of the five traditional family styles. Chen style is characterized by Silk reeling, alternating fast/slow motion and bursts of power. Contemporary tai chi chuan is typically practised for a number of widely varying reasons: health, external/internal martial art skills, aesthetics, meditation or as an athletic/competition... more »
Choy Li Fut is a combination of many styles of Chinese Kung Fu and includes the five animals – Tiger, Dragon, Crane, Leopard, Snake. This style was created by Chan Heung in 1836. He learned martial arts from his uncle, a famous Shaolin Boxer. Chan Heung named his amalgation of Kung-Fu styles after his two... more »
Chuojiao (poking foot) is a Chinese martial art that comprises many jumps, kicks, and fast fist sequences. The fist and feet work in unison and strike continuously forward, like “falling meteorites”, never giving the opponent a moment to recover. The qing gong portion of this style’s training involves a practitioner jumping against a wall... more »
Combat Sambo is a form of fighting derived from Russian Sambo. Utilized and developed for the military, Combat Sambo resembles modern mixed martial arts, including extensive forms of striking and grappling where (unlike Sport Sambo) choking and bent joint locks are legal. Competitors wear jackets as in sport sambo, but also hand protection and... more »
Cornish wrestling is a form of wrestling which has been established in Cornwall (southwest Britain) for several centuries. The referee is known as a ‘stickler’, and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a ‘pedant’ originates from this usage. It is colloquially known as “wrasslin” in the Cornish dialect. The... more »
Daido Juku is the organization for the martial art Kudo, founded in 1981 by Takashi Azuma. Azuma, originally a Kyokushin karate 1977 full contact karate champion, resigned from the Kyokushin organization to form Daido Juku in Sendai city, located in northern Honshū, Japan. Daido Juku literally translated means “School of the Great Way”. It... more »
Danzan Ryu Jujitsu (Cedar Mountain System) was founded by Henry Seishiro Okazaki in the 1920’s in the Hawaiian Islands, and is one of the most comprehensive and most widely taught styles of Jujitsu in the United States. It includes not only all the pertinent elements of an effective self-defense system, but also a complete... more »