Judo (meaning “gentle way”) is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Kano Jigoro at Kōdōkan (place for expounding the way). Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one’s opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one’s... more »
Koryu Uchinadi is a synthesis and contemporary reinterpretation of those classical fighting arts handed down from later part of Okinawas old Ryukyu Kingdom. Restored, revived and systemized by Patrick McCarthy, Hanshi 9th Dan, the legacy of Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu can be traced back to China’s Qing Period (1644–1911) Fujian Chinese-based quanfa (kenpo) practices haphazardly... more »
Kosen judo is the name given to the style of Judo practiced at kosen schools in Japan at the turn of the 20th century. Their training is best known for the extra focus given ground grappling techniques, referred to as newaza Japanese martial arts. The rules of a Kosen Judo match were the same... more »
Krabi krabong is a weapon-based martial art from Thailand. It is closely related to other Southeast Asian fighting styles such as Fil-Indon-Malay silat, Burmese banshay and the armed component of Cambodian bokator. The royal bodyguard corps of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) are said to be highly trained experts of krabi krabong. The system’s... more »
Krav Maga (lit. “contact combat”) is an eclectic hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel that involves striking techniques, wrestling and grappling, mostly known for its extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks, and is taught to regular and special forces in Israel. It was derived from street-fighting skills developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, who made use of... more »
Kumdo, or Korean Kendo, is a unique Korean sword martial art developed from the ancient elite warrior class who dedicated their lives to the study of martial arts and the protection of their country. Kumdo means “The way of the sword” and its ancient form originated in Korea and Japan nearly two thousand years... more »
Kyokushin kaikan Karate-do is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, Masutatsu Oyama who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for “the society of the ultimate truth”. Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style... more »
Kyudo, which literally means “The Way of the Bow”, is considered by many to be the purest of all the martial ways. In the past, the Japanese bow was used for hunting, war, court ceremonies, games, and contests of skill. The original word for Japanese archery was kyujutsu (bow technique) which encompassed the skills and... more »
Kyuk Too Ki is a combat style martial art. It is korean fighting system that includes punching, kicking, locking, throwing, and choking. True Korean kickboxing isn’t simply just light contact continuous kickboxing or point sparring. There are some classes around which call themselves ‘Korean Kickboxing’ but are actually just teaching modified Taekwondo-Do. We teach... more »
Kyuki-Do is a Korean martial art that primarily incorporates elements of Taekwondo, Hapkido and Judo. Kyuki-Do was introduced to the United States in 1967 by Grand Master Ok Hyung Kim, the founder of the art. Grand Master Kim went on to found the American Kyuki-Do Federation (Kyuki-Do’s sanctioning body) in 1979. Kyuki-Do is designed... more »
Labokatao, or less formally, Bokador is a Cambodian martial art that includes close hand-to-hand combat, ground techniques and weapons. Possibly the oldest existing fighting system in Cambodia, oral tradition indicates that bokator or an early form thereof was the close quarter combat system used by the armies of Angkor 1000 years ago. The term bokator... more »
Lethwei is an unarmed Burmese martial art. It is similar to related styles of Indochinese kickboxing, namely Muay Thai from Thailand, pradal serey from Cambodia, Muay Lao from Laos and tomoi from Malaysia. Lethwei was based on a combination of boxing arts from India and China, known respectively as musti-yuddha and shoupo. Matches were... more »
Luta Livre esportiva was created in the mid-20th century in Rio de Janeiro by Euclydes “Tatu” Hatem who fought and defeated George Gracie in the 40s. The system focused on Ground fighting and submissions due to their importance in Vale tudo matches. In the 1970’s Luta Livre was strongly influenced by father and son duo... more »
Mongolian wrestling, known as Bökh (Mongolian: бөх “strength, solidarity, durability”) or Khapsagay, is the folk wrestling style of Mongolia. Wrestling is the most important of the Mongolian culture’s historic “Three Manly Skills”, that also include horsemanship and archery. Genghis Khan considered wrestling to be an important way to keep his army in good physical... more »
Muay Boran (“ancient boxing”) is an umbrella term for the unarmed martial arts of Thailand prior to the introduction of modern equipment and rules in the 1930s. It is thus the direct ancestor of modern Muay Thai. The word muay which means “boxing” comes from the Sanskrit term mavya, while boran or boraan means... more »
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese styles, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and Muay Lao from Laos. Descended from muay boran, Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport. The word muay derives... more »
Naginatajutsu is the Japanese art of wielding the naginata, a weapon resembling the medieval European glaive or guisarme. Most naginata practice today is in a modernized form (gendai budō) called the “way of naginata” (naginata-dō) or “new naginata” (atarashii naginata), in which competitions are also held. However, many koryu maintain naginatajutsu in their curriculum.... more »