1) Karate is the Most Popular Martial Art in the World
Karate is one of the striking martial arts that heavily emphasizes self-defense and counter-striking your opponent. Kicks, punches and a wide, strong stance are staples of karate, along with a deep spiritual practice.
In the 19th century, the Father of Modern Karate, Gichin Funakoshi, explained that the main purpose of karate is to perfect the self. In fact, in one of his 20 precepts, he states, “spiritual development is paramount; technical skills are merely a means to an end.” From this, it’s clear that karate should be interpreted as a spiritual practice first and a physical practice second.
Ten years later, in 1955, Trias wrote the rules for karate competition and conducted the first karate tournament.
By the 1980s the popularity of karate reached fever-pitch with the release of The Karate Kid in 1984. Following its success, kids flocked to dojos across the United States hoping to learn the storied martial art.
In the above graph, the blue spike around June 2010 can be attributed to the release of the contemporary remake of The Karate Kid, starring Jaden Smith. From this, it’s clear to see that Hollywood has a major impact on the most popular martial arts.
2) Mixed Martial Arts: the Most Popular Martial Art of the Future?
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a practice of hybrid martial arts which blends all forms of combat. There are plenty of theories about who founded mixed martial arts. But there is no doubt that its sudden increase in popularity comes from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
As an organization, the UFC runs a reality television show and several pay-per-view championship fights throughout the year.
The ancient art of Greek Olympic hand-to-hand combat, known as pankration, allowed all forms of fighting except eye gouging and biting. For this reason, some point to the practice of pankration as the real inspiration for mixed martial arts.
Regardless of it’s origins, viewer interest has been captured by mixed martial arts events across the globe.
Could mixed martial arts be the most popular martial art in the future? If it continues to be the most televised combat event in the world, we wouldn’t bet against it.
3) Kung Fu
Kung Fu or Wushu are terms often used to refer to Chinese martial arts. This form of martial arts encompasses hundreds of different types of martial arts that have developed over numerous centuries.
To the untrained eye, Kung Fu and Karate practices seem to involve the same kicks and strikes. Both martial arts also emphasize physical and spiritual development in tandem.
Clearly, Hollywood has kept Kung Fu in the popular vernacular. Like the Karate Kid before it, the Kung Fu Panda series gives a generation of kids an exciting martial arts practice to seek out.
4) Judo is the First Olympic Martial Art
Judo is a Japanese martial art whose roots come from Jiu jitsu. Founded by Kanō Jigorō in 1882, Judo is one of the takedown martial arts that includes joint-lock maneuvers and limited striking.
5) Taekwondo: A New Olympic Martial Art
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that draws upon several different martial arts including karate, Chinese martial arts and Taekkyeon.
The practice is defined as a stand-up or striking martial art that includes some joint-lock maneuvers. Much like karate, Taekwondo emphasizes spiritual development, pushing students to strive for harmony and unity between their mind and body.
Probably boxing, karate and taekwondo.
But India, specifically south India has an indigenous martial art called Kalaripayattu which is one of the oldest martial arts in the world and is considered as the origin of most modern Asian martial arts.
I train Taekwondo and Judo, I voted C. But I like the other martial arts too, especially Kung Fu, Kickboxing and Aikido.
Among the choices above, I believe boxing & wrestling are the most popular combat sports in the USA, where I live.
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Wrestling is the most popular in the USA, but the most skillful is Isshinryu Karate or Dux Ryu Ninjitsu.
The Navy Seals consult with Frank Dux and the Isshinryu Grand Master Shimabuku when they want to train the SEALS for special ops.
The idiots who still think Frank Dux is a fraud are just making personal attacks against him and are just ignorant. I saw the video and know he was trained by someone related to the Shimabuku family anyway, because he has the "Perfect Punch" and can punch through bullet proof glass. That's proof that he was trained by a real Ninjitsu Grand Master, which was somehow related to one of Tatsuo Shimabuku's trainers, but I don't know the connection, but I know they have the same "perfect Punch" training..
One time, Frank Dux broke the bullet proof glass with a vertical fist punch, and one time he broke it with a Palm Heel, and put his whole arm clean through the glass. It takes about a 1200 pound punch to do that, and there's no faking it.
Anyway, "MMA" is the most popular real fighting circuit in the USA, but the best Martial Arts styles almost never compete in Sport fighting, they only do private seminars with the Police and MIlitary.
There was a paper Ninjitsu black belt in the UFC one time, but he got beaten, because he wasn't a real ninjitsu black belt, and I knew he wasn't a real black belt as soon as I saw him fight. Someone gave him a black belt way too easily.
If one of Frank Dux of Grand Master Shimabuku's students joined the UFC, they'd easily win the entire thing, but again, they never fight in sports fighting, they do seminars for the NAVY SEALS and Police..
Karate but style I practice is Shokotan is rare to find them but is out there. The most popular in my country is taekwondo, karate, Kung Fu, and boxing.
Example of Shokotan an artist that practices it Michael Jai White.
I have no idea which is more popular. There is however an old Viking martial sport called Glima, which is practiced by professionals all around Scandinavia at festivals and medieval reenactment weeks.
Just like in most of the world, wrestling, boxing and karate are the most popular in my country.
I practice Taekwondo and Judo.
I also like Kung Fu.
My country invented Nuke-Fu. "No can defend."
Karate and taekwondo are the most popular in Chile.
In my country we all like watching Kung Fu movies, but I don't practice it.
Probably boxing. Does Kabaddi count? 😂
I’d say Jiu Jitsu and Boxing.
Windmill armed mass pub brawl.
Boxing. I didn't see it in the first image.
In the USA its Brazilian jujitsu and karate
I think its Taekwondo.
The art of fighting with hockey sticks.
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