Although martial arts has always been a popular sport but recently with the rise of the UFC the MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world.  Mostly developed as a self-defense tool encompassing mental strength, martial arts are practiced by millions of people throughout the world. And although most originated in Asia, they’re hugely popular in North America. That said, here are our top 10 martial arts, judged by the level of esteem attached to each by active martial artists.

Judo was founded by

Japanese educator Kano Jigoro, who was bullied during his childhood in the 1860s and 1870s. Taking basic skills from other martial arts of the day, he added his own throws to create modern-day judo. The word’s prefix “ju” means “soft method,” which, loosely translated, means using the opponent’s strength against him. Due to this method of self-defense, judo practitioners need not have overpowering strength themselves. Judo’s primary focus is on throws and work on the ground, rather than striking. Submission-style attacks such as chokes and locks are also prevalent in this martial art, which is valuable for defending one’s self.

Famous followers: James Cagney, Peter Sellers, Guy Richie, Theodore Roosevelt

Created in Japan in the early 1900s, aikido’s followers learn how to use an assailant’s strength and energy against them. Students are taught to care for the well being of their potential attacker and are trained to disarm, but not seriously wound them. Weapons training is common in aikido, and followers are taught to defend themselves against staffs, swords and knives. Its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, said that in order to be successful followers of aikido must be, “willing to receive 99% of an opponent’s attack and stare death in the face.”

Famous followers: Steven Seagal, Morihei Ueshiba, Minoru Mochizuki

Used by Israeli security forces, including the special police, this martial art is a rule-less, violent skill. Not practiced for sport, it emphasizes devastating attacks to the opponent’s vital areas, such as the groin and eyes, and encourages headbutts and the use of any available objects as weapons. This martial art features a three-step approach: Deal with the immediate threat, prevent the attacker from mounting a second offensive and then neutralize him.

Famous followers: Kobi Lichtenstein, Darren Levine

When Japanese samurai found themselves disarmed, they turned to jujutsu, the “art of softness.” Like many of its country’s counterparts, jujutsu focuses on grappling, throws, rolls, and locks. Unlike some other martial arts, however, jujutsu is somewhat of an “anything-goes” sport. Students have traditionally been taught tactics such as gouging, biting and poking, which, if used in addition to the more standard practices, can be deadly. This martial art is popular today in North America, and valuable because it’s so effective in close-quarter combat.

Famous followers: Ice-T, Edward William Barton-Wright

Brought to the North American mainstream by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the historic followers of this mysterious Japanese martial art were guerrilla warriors and assassins. Likely considered criminals today, these ninjas used the art of stealth to surprise and defeat their opponents. Born in Japan’s feudal age, ninjutsu was developed to kill. Hands and feet are used in this martial art, but followers also take weapons training, using devices such as throwing stars, staffs, spears, swords, and explosives. More valuable during its heyday, ninjutsu is not specifically taught today, yet many martial arts use some of its elements.

Famous followers: Ashida Kim, Frank Dux

Translated as “the way of the fist and foot,” taekwondo flourished after World War II, when Japan ended its occupation of Korea. Known for its kicks, this martial art combines physical skills with mental strength, often shown when the follower breaks boards with a foot or hand. An Olympic event, taekwondo is considered the world’s most popular martial art: It’s practiced in more than 100 countries and has 30 million followers — three million with black belts. Taekwondo practitioners are skilled in strength, stamina, speed, balance, and flexibility.

Famous followers: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Criss Angel, Willie Nelson

Kung fu, a Chinese martial art that literally means an accomplishment gained through hard, long work, is one of the oldest martial arts in the world. Chinese Yellow Emperor Huangdi, who took the throne in 2,698 BC, is said to have introduced martial arts to the country during his reign; tens of thousands of forms of kung fu have existed since then. Traditionally taught by Shaolin monks, philosophy and morality are important to the practitioners of this martial art, with virtues such as humility, respect, trust, and patience being emphasized. As is the case with most martial arts, kung fu’s worth lies in its health benefits and self-defense knowledge.

Famous followers: Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan

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Derived from a Japanese word meaning “empty hand,” karate is just that — a martial art in which no weapons are used. Karate’s early styles are believed to have originated as early as the 1300s, but the father of modern karate, Anko Itosu, wrote the “10 Precepts of Karate” in 1908, giving birth to the martial art’s code. Karate consists of weapon-less striking in which the legs and hands become spears, claimed Itosu. The martial art is supremely valuable because of not only its health benefits, but also its role as a self-defense tool. According to the precepts, it can also be used, “… as a way of avoiding a fight should one be confronted by a villain or ruffian.”

Famous followers: Bruce Lee, Dolph Lundgren, Sean Connery, Jean-Claude Van Damme

Despite its country of origin, the founding father of Brazilian jiu-jitsu was Japanese. Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese fighter, winner of more than 2,000 bouts and considered the toughest man to have ever lived, arrived in Brazil in 1914, with the aim of spreading martial arts. There, he met the Gracie family, which is today regarded as the first family of the sport, with its descendants being popular in the UFC and its schools across the world. Like traditional jujutsu and judo, the Brazilian form emphasizes throws and groundwork, making it a popular tool for today’s mixed martial artists.

Famous followers: Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, B.J. Penn, Wanderlei Silva

The national sport of Thailand is similar to kickboxing, but unlike its close relative, blows below the belt, elbows and knees are all legal. Like many martial arts, it’s unclear exactly when Muay Thai was born, mainly because many of its elements are common in both Japanese and Indian counterparts. It gained huge popularity in Thailand in the late 1800s, but has seen a significant surge in popularity across the world in the last decade. The sport traditionally was very structured, with fighters performing strict, choreographed displays of respect before each bout. More recently, it has become focused on the body’s many weapons, including fists, feet, shins, knees, and more, to defeat an opponent. Muay Thai is valuable because it teaches its followers that almost every body part can be a weapon.

Famous followers: Ramon Dekkers, Adam Chen