| Karate is perhaps the main form of combat that | | | | stylistic methods of execution. Although not |
| comes to mind when people think of martial arts. | | | | commonly known, Judo is in fact a direct form of |
| It's primarily a striking art, featuring punching, | | | | Jujutsu, which became a separate identity over |
| kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed | | | | time. |
| techniques. Karate is one of the most commonly | | | | Judo, as just mentioned, is a direct form of |
| practiced self defense tactics in the world, and | | | | Jujutsu. The object is to either throw one's |
| compromises of three main components, which | | | | opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise |
| are: kihon, kata, and kumite. From a small group | | | | subdue one's opponent with grappling moves. The |
| of fighters hundreds of years ago in the Ryukyu | | | | techniques and practices of Judo can be divided in |
| Islands, karate is now the most widely practiced | | | | 2 groups: Kata, whereby pre-arranged patterns of |
| form of combat in the world. | | | | attack and defence are used to subdue the |
| For those striving to learn martial arts through | | | | opponent, and Randori, which is based on |
| movies and the media, Kung Fu is what your | | | | free-style sparring. Practitioners of Judo are called |
| looking for. Jackie Chan continues to apply Kung | | | | Judoka. |
| Fu techniques while working on screen. This form | | | | Lesser known forms of combat which are still in |
| of combat is critical in understanding the history of | | | | practice today include: |
| martial arts. The various different movements | | | | Wushu: Jet Li practiced this form of combat, and |
| that are employed in this martial arts form are | | | | it is now gaining momentum. National Chinese |
| based on imitations of the fighting styles of | | | | competitions are held every year. |
| animals, and have such names as dragon, horse | | | | Kenjutsu: A Japanese martial art specializing in the |
| riding, frog and snake. | | | | use of the Japanese sword, mainly the bokken |
| Jujutsu, (also known as JuJitsu) is a Japanese | | | | (wooden sword). |
| martial art consisting primarily of grappling | | | | Kyudo: This is the Japanese art of archery. It is |
| techniques. Although not practiced as widely as | | | | estimated that there are approximately half a |
| karate, this form of combat is recognised for its | | | | million practitioners Kyudo today. |