The martial arts are a fighting system and any form of fighting with an already set way of practice is considered to be a martial art. Many schools teach a different style of combat but all of them share the core concept which is self-defence. People chose to practice martial arts for various reasons such as discipline, meditation, sport, fighting or simply as a way of self-expression.

Most of the martial arts we know today originated in Asia. However, as the art form spread, new styles started originating across the whole world, some more popular than the others. When choosing the right martial art, you should focus on what they have to offer and what do you want from a martial art, whether it’s to get fit, learn balance, self-defence or simply gain confidence.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo originated in Korea during the 1940s and 1950s. It emphasizes fast kicking techniques like head-height kicks or jumping and spinning kicks. The key characteristics of taekwondo are the speed and the agility. The origin of taekwondo underwent analysis by Chol Hong Hi which is known as Chol’s Theory of Power. The key components included in the theory are breath control, speed, reaction force, equilibrium, concentration and mass.

Karate

Developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom which was later annexed by Japan, karate can be practised in several different ways, as a self-defence, a combat sport, or as an art. It is a striking art involving punching, kicking, elbow strikes or knee strikes. It also teaches open-hand techniques. Karate used to practice throws or joint locks, restraints and vital-point strikes which can all be found in some of the modern styles today. Karate training is divided into three parts. Kihon which is the basics, kata which is the forms, and kumite which is sparring.

Krav Maga

Meaning of Krav Maga literally means contact-combat. It was developed as a military self-defense system for the Israeli Defense Forces. It consists of a combination of techniques such as wrestling, aikido, judo, karate and boxing as well. It also implements realistic fight training. As is the case with most martial arts, Krav Maga also encourages the students to avoid physical confrontation. However, if that proves impossible, it teaches to finish the fight as aggressively and quickly as possible. Krava Maga reflects real-world experiences and as such it is constantly evolving.

The best martial artists are some of the toughest fighters to ever compete. These guys come from all around the world, so whether you are a fan of traditional fighting styles that originated in Asia or some more rough combat like MMA, it is hard to dispute that all of these men mentioned below are highly skilled in their respective disciplines.

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is one of the greatest martial artists that have ever lived and is considered among many as one of the most influential martial arts movie actors of all time. This legendary fighter combined the cardiovascular capacity of a supreme athlete with a muscular body of a weightlifter. He was a real cultural icon, who has helped change the way Asians were portrayed in American movies.  His strokes were fast but hard, he punched efficient but lethal. He was trained in wing chun, Wu-style Tai chi ch’uan, a mixture of dancing and boxing. Many all-time great fighters have credited Bruce Lee for his popularization of martial arts as UFC President Dana White said that he was “the father of mixed martial arts”.

Chuck Norris

Carlos Ray Norris, part-Cherokee, part-Irish, is a movie, and a cultural icon, one of the best martial artists that have ever appeared on TV screens. Norris has earned a black belt in three disciplines, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and judo. He also had an outstanding karate career from 1964 to 1974 as he won at least 30 tournaments during that timespan. He was encouraged by Steve McQueen to come into the film industry, where he gained immense popularity, especially for fighting Bruce Lee on screen.

Jet Li

Jet Li is an acrobatic master and a former champion of wushu. After showing his incredible talent in the Chinese market, he went to Hollywood where he became a martial arts movie superstar. His kickboxing-influenced style was about power, speed, and mind-control. Even though he stated that he considers himself as a “decent” martial arts, he was asked by President Nixon himself to be his personal bodyguard.

Yip Man

Yip man was Chinese grandmaster and teacher of Wing Chun and a Wushu expert. He had several famous students like Grandmaster William Cheung and Bruce Lee, who have popularized martial arts all over the world. Donnie Yen portrayed him in the film “Ip Man”.

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal is one of the most controversial figures in the world of movies and martial arts. Even though many people find his skill in martial arts a bit suspicious, he is undoubtedly an aikido champion, who also owns belts in karate, judo, and kendo. His defensive skills are surprisingly remarkable as he throws high kicks and joint locks.