Historically, martial arts have been practiced by virtually every culture in the world. Some cultures have developed specific styles of martial arts, while others have developed a variety of styles, each of which is different from the other.
Judo, one of the oldest martial arts, was developed in Japan by Kano Jigoro in 1882. The goal of judo is to subdue or immobilize an opponent with a grappling maneuver.
Other unarmed combat forms include Jujutsu and Taekwondo. These styles were developed in Japan and Asia. The East Asian martial arts are influenced by Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and the spiritual development of the mind.
Karate, another Japanese martial art, was developed by Gichin Funakoshi, who wrote twenty precepts, stating the goal of karate is to perfect one’s self.
Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a mix of different martial arts. MMA is a sport that is popular in the United States. It features grappling, striking, and full-contact fighting.
The first UFC fight was held in 1993. The sport of MMA has grown in popularity over the years. Two of the largest promotions are UFC and Bellator.
Other forms of martial arts include Kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai. These martial arts use fists, elbows, and knees to attack.
Some schools are now teaching traditional fighting techniques. These techniques have been used for centuries, and many of them are still being practiced today.
In Europe, fighting methods developed from earlier traditional fighting systems. Many of these systems are now being used in modern military training.