STRIKING · JAPAN
Karate origins.
From Okinawan Te through Chinese-influenced regional schools to the modern styles taught worldwide.
- Okinawan TeIndigenous Ryukyu hand-fighting
- Chinese Quanfa influenceFujian trade contact, 14th to 19th century
- Shuri-te / Naha-te / Tomari-teRegional Okinawan schools, 19th c.
- KarateName adopted in mainland Japan, 1920s
- ShotokanGichin Funakoshi
- Goju-RyuChojun Miyagi
- Shito-RyuKenwa Mabuni
- Wado-RyuHironori Otsuka
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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GRAPPLING · BRAZIL
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu origins.
From Japanese Jujutsu through Kodokan Judo and the Gracie family's adaptation in Brazil.
- Japanese JujutsuSamurai-era grappling schools (koryu)
- Kodokan JudoJigoro Kano synthesizes jujutsu styles, 1882
- Mitsuyo MaedaJudo emissary, taught in Brazil from 1914
- Carlos & Helio GracieGracie Jiu-Jitsu, adapted for smaller frames
- Brazilian Jiu-JitsuGround control, guard, submissions
- Sport BJJ (gi)IBJJF ruleset
- No-gi submission grapplingADCC-style competition
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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THROWING · JAPAN
Judo origins.
From scattered koryu jujutsu schools to Jigoro Kano's unified system, extending onward into BJJ and Sambo.
- Koryu Jujutsu schoolsTenjin Shin'yo-ryu, Kito-ryu and others
- Kodokan JudoJigoro Kano, founded 1882
- Olympic JudoOlympic sport since 1964
- Brazilian Jiu-JitsuVia Mitsuyo Maeda, early 20th c.
- SamboInfluenced Soviet grappling development
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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TRADITIONAL · MALAY ARCHIPELAGO
Silat origins.
A family of regional traditions across the Malay Archipelago, later codified for teaching and sport.
- Indigenous Malay Archipelago fighting artsOrigins debated; oral traditions predate written record
- Regional lineagesDiverged across the archipelago over centuries
- Silat MelayuMalay Peninsula
- Pencak SilatIndonesian regional styles
- Silat Cimande / HarimauWest Sumatra, West Java traditions
- Modern codificationRegional styles standardized for teaching & sport
- PERSILAT federation stylesInternational sport Silat
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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TRADITIONAL · CHINA
Kung Fu origins.
An umbrella spanning Shaolin, Wudang and regional Northern/Southern traditions.
- Ancient Chinese combat traditionsRegional folk and military practices
- Shaolin traditionAssociated with Shaolin Monastery training
- Northern stylesLonger stances, kicking emphasis
- Changquan / Northern Shaolin
- Southern stylesCompact stances, hand-technique emphasis
- Wing Chun, Hung Ga, Choy Li Fut
- Wudang / internal traditionAssociated with Taoist internal practice
- Tai Chi, Xingyi, BaguaInternal martial arts
- Kung FuUmbrella term used from the 20th century onward
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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STRIKING · THAILAND
Muay Thai origins.
From battlefield Muay Boran to regional ring styles to the codified modern sport.
- Muay BoranOld-style Southeast Asian battlefield striking
- Regional formsDiverged by region under regional courts
- Muay Chaiya, Muay Korat, Muay Thasao, Muay LopburiNamed after their home regions
- Codified ring sportRules, weight classes and stadiums formalized, early 20th c.
- Modern Muay ThaiLumpinee & Rajadamnern stadium eras
- International kickboxing hybridsAdapted rulesets outside Thailand
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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STRIKING · KOREA
Taekwondo origins.
From Korean tradition and Karate-trained founders to the unified Kwan system and its two federations.
- Korean traditions + Japanese Karate influenceTaekkyeon and other native arts; many founders trained in Karate under Japanese occupation
- The KwansNine founding schools, Korea, 1940s-50s
- Unified as TaekwondoName adopted 1955, General Choi Hong Hi
- ITF lineageInternational Taekwon-Do Federation
- WT / Kukkiwon lineageWorld Taekwondo, Olympic sport
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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MIXED · MODERN COMBAT SPORT
MMA origins.
A convergence of striking and grappling arts, tested and popularized through open competition.
- Convergent base artsBoxing, Wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, Judo, Karate, Sambo
- Early full-contact testsBrazilian Vale Tudo; Japanese shoot-wrestling
- UFC 11993, popularized cross-style competition
- Modern MMAIntegrated striking, wrestling and submission grappling
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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GRAPPLING · JAPAN
Jujutsu origins.
A family of samurai-era grappling schools that gave rise to Judo, Aikido, Hapkido and BJJ.
- Samurai battlefield grapplingMultiple independent koryu schools
- Named koryu lineagesTakenouchi-ryu, Sekiguchi-ryu, Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu, Kito-ryu, Daito-ryu
- Kodokan JudoJigoro Kano, 1882
- AikidoVia Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, Morihei Ueshiba
- Brazilian Jiu-JitsuVia Judo and Mitsuyo Maeda
- HapkidoKorea, via Daito-ryu lineage
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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STRIKING · JAPAN
Aikido origins.
From Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu to Morihei Ueshiba's synthesis of technique and philosophy.
- Daito-ryu AikijujutsuTakeda Sokaku, late 19th c. koryu revival
- Morihei UeshibaSynthesized technique with personal philosophy
- AikidoName established c. 1942
- AikikaiMainline post-war organization
- YoshinkanGozo Shioda, harder training method
- Ki-Aikido / Iwama-ryuAlternate emphases within the art
Editorial note: martial arts lineages are oral-history-heavy and often disputed between schools. This is a simplified overview for orientation, not a definitive genealogy; see the linked encyclopedia entry for sourcing context.
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