The concept known as Dim Mak, literally “press artery” (Kyusho in Japanese Martial Arts) traces its history to Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture. Tales of its use are often found in the Wuxia genre of Chinese martial arts fiction. Dim mak is depicted as a secret body of knowledge with techniques that attack pressure points and... more »
Ditangquan, (ground tumbling boxing) is a category of martial art that originated in the Shandong Province of China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The major characteristic of ditangquan is the ability to perform tumbles, falls, turns, somersaults and aerial acrobatics using those techniques for both offense and defense. Since the time of its origin,... more »
Eskrima, Arnis and Kali refer to a class of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, blades and improvised weapons. Although training starts with weapons, empty hand techniques, trapping and limb destruction are core parts of these arts as the weapon is considered merely an extension of the body. Eskrima and Arnis... more »
Fanziquan (Rotating fist) is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes offense and defense with the hands. Its movements have been described as: Two fists are fast like the falling rain drops, and fast like a snapping whip. Fānziquán routines are usually quite short and very fast. It is a source of many other modern... more »
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history. American high school and college wrestling is conducted... more »
Fusen Ryu is possibly one of the youngest jujutsu school. Fusen Ryu jujutsu style goes back only to the end of Edo Period (Bakumatsu). The art is well known for it’s practicality and influence on modern day ground work and submission. Though a Koryu, Randori is still a common practice today. In 1900, Kodokan... more »
Gatka is a weapon-based performance art created by the Sikhs of the Punjab during the British Empire. It gained popularity when the British Empire banned the practise of Shastar Vidiya, which was punishable by death. The Punjabi word gatka refers to the wooden stick used in sparring matches. The term might have originated as... more »
Glíma is the Icelandic national style of amateur folk wrestling. There are four points that differentiate it from other forms of wrestling: The opponents must always stand erect. The opponents step clockwise around each other (looks similar to a waltz). This is to create opportunities for offence and defence, and to prevent a stalemate. It is not permitted to... more »
Goju Ryu (Japanese for “hard-soft style”) is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi (Chinese: wu bei ji), used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries. Go which means... more »
Gongkwon Yusul is a modern Korean martial art system founded by Kang Jun in 1996.Its main influences include the martial arts of Hapkido, Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, Judo and Kyuk Too Ki (Korean style ThaiBoxing/Shootboxing). Gongkwon Yusul is a system which emphasises the application of striking, locking, and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations, rather... more »
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century. It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger... more »
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can be terminated early by a... more »
Hakkō-ryū Jujutsu is a school or ‘style’ of jujutsu related to Daito-ryu founded in 1941 by Okuyama Ryuho (1901–1987) a student of Sokaku Takeda and a practitioner of shiatsu. Many techniques of this school are very similar to those of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. The school is now headed by his son who took the... more »
Hapkido (“the way of harmony”) is a dynamic and eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. There is also the use of traditional weapons, including a sword, rope, nunchaku, cane, short stick, and... more »
Hontai Yōshin-ryū is a traditional (koryū) school of Japanese martial arts founded c.1660, by Takagi Shigetoshi. Some sources give Takagi’s middle name as Setsuemon, while others give it as Oriemon. This school was active during the Edo period, especially dominant in the Himeji-han and Ako-han. The present headmaster (sōke) is Inoue Kyoichi Munenori who... more »
Houquan (monkey fist), is a Chinese martial art which utilizes ape or monkey-like movements as part of its technique. Traditional houquan as taught in Mainland China includes running on all fours (i.e. the hands and feet), various difficult acrobatic movements such as flipping sideways in the air, front flips, back flips, back handsprings, hand... more »
Huaquan (Hua Fist/Boxing) is a style of Kung Fu which is believed to have originated in Jining in Shandong Province. It is said that during the Kaiyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty there existed a Mount Hua knight named Cai Mao, who was famous for his prowess in combat and swordplay. Apparently Cai Mao... more »