There are hundreds of martial arts practiced around the world, but almost every style fits into one of four families: striking, grappling, weapons-based, and hybrid. Once you know the family, choosing a specific style is mostly about goals, body type, and the schools available near you.
This guide covers the most widely practiced fighting styles, what makes each distinct, and who each one fits best — whether you're enrolling a child, starting as an adult, or comparing options for a new dojo.
The four families of martial arts
- Striking — punches, kicks, knees, elbows. Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing.
- Grappling — throws, takedowns, pins, and submissions. Judo, BJJ, Wrestling, Sambo.
- Weapons-based — Kendo, Iaido, Eskrima, HEMA, and the weapons curriculum inside Kung Fu and traditional Karate.
- Hybrid — combines two or more families. MMA, Krav Maga, and most modern self-defense systems.
Many traditional arts (Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo) include forms and weapons too — the classification reflects the primary training focus.
The most widely practiced styles
1. Karate
StrikingOrigin: Okinawa, Japan
A striking art built around punches, kicks, knee, and elbow strikes, plus open-hand techniques and stances. Schools usually train kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).
Best for: Kids and adults looking for structured progression through a belt system, plus discipline and confidence.
Karate school software2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
GrapplingOrigin: Brazil (derived from Judo)
A grappling art focused on ground fighting, positional control, joint locks, and chokes. Encapsulated by the phrase "a smaller person can defeat a larger person with technique."
Best for: Adults who want practical self-defense and a deeply technical, problem-solving style.
BJJ gym software3. Taekwondo
StrikingOrigin: Korea
Famous for fast, high, and spinning kicks. Olympic-style Taekwondo emphasizes sport sparring with electronic scoring; traditional schools also train forms (poomsae) and self-defense.
Best for: Athletic kids and adults who enjoy explosive kicking, sport competition, and Olympic-style training.
Taekwondo school software4. Muay Thai
StrikingOrigin: Thailand
Known as "the art of eight limbs" — punches, elbows, knees, kicks, plus the clinch. One of the most effective stand-up striking styles in combat sports.
Best for: Adults focused on fitness, sparring, and stand-up self-defense.
Muay Thai gym software5. Judo
GrapplingOrigin: Japan
A grappling art centered on throws, takedowns, pins, and submissions. Olympic sport with a strong educational tradition.
Best for: Anyone (kids included) who wants to learn throws, falling safely, and a structured Olympic discipline.
Judo school software6. Kung Fu
Striking + FormsOrigin: China
An umbrella term for many Chinese martial arts (Wing Chun, Shaolin, Wushu, Tai Chi, etc.). Styles vary from fast hand-trapping to acrobatic forms and weapons.
Best for: Students drawn to traditional culture, forms, weapons training, and a wide stylistic range.
Kung Fu school software7. Kickboxing
StrikingOrigin: Hybrid (Japan, US, Europe)
Punches and kicks in a boxing-style ring. Great cardio, accessible for beginners, and a strong competitive scene at amateur and pro levels.
Best for: Adults who want a fitness-forward striking workout with optional sparring and competition.
Kickboxing gym software8. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Hybrid (striking + grappling)Origin: Modern hybrid
Combines striking (boxing, Muay Thai, Karate) with grappling (BJJ, wrestling, Judo). Made famous by the UFC. Most MMA athletes cross-train across multiple disciplines.
Best for: Adults committed to a full combat-sport path — high intensity, multiple ranges, real competition.
MMA gym software9. Tai Chi
Internal / HealthOrigin: China
A slow, flowing internal art with both health and martial applications. Studied worldwide for balance, mobility, and stress reduction.
Best for: Adults and seniors prioritizing mobility, balance, and a calmer training environment.
Tai Chi school software10. Krav Maga
Self-defenseOrigin: Israel
A modern self-defense system that borrows from boxing, wrestling, Judo, and Karate. Built for fast, practical responses to real-world threats.
Best for: Adults whose primary goal is street self-defense rather than sport competition.
11. Aikido
Grappling / InternalOrigin: Japan
A grappling art that redirects an attacker's energy into throws and joint locks. Less sport-oriented; emphasizes harmony and control.
Best for: Students drawn to traditional Japanese arts and a non-competitive training environment.
12. Wrestling
GrapplingOrigin: Worldwide (ancient)
Takedowns, control, and pins. Folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman are the most common formats. The base of nearly every elite MMA fighter.
Best for: Athletic kids and adults who want a foundation in takedowns and physical conditioning.
How to choose your first martial art
Most people pick the wrong way: they sign up for the closest school. Better questions to ask first:
- What's the goal? Fitness, self-defense, sport competition, discipline for kids, mental focus, cultural depth.
- Striking or grappling? Striking arts feel athletic and explosive. Grappling feels like physical chess.
- Sport or self-defense? Sport arts (Taekwondo, Judo, BJJ, MMA) have clear competitions. Self-defense systems (Krav Maga) prioritize real-world threats.
- Try before you commit. Most schools offer a free trial class. Visit two or three before signing a contract.
Best martial arts for kids vs. adults
For kids, the structured belt progression of Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo builds discipline, focus, and confidence — and the sport side keeps it fun. BJJ kids' programs are also excellent and growing fast.
For adults, Muay Thai and BJJ tend to top beginner recommendations: both are practical, have busy beginner classes, and offer either fitness or competition depending on how deep you want to go. Krav Maga is the top pick when self-defense is the only goal.