Striking
Punching, kicking, elbows, knees — striking arts compared.
7 articles
Myanmar (historically: Burma) ·Pyu Empire (2nd century BCE–11th century CE); modern form from 1950s
Lethwei — Burmese Boxing with Nine Weapons
Lethwei is Myanmar's ancient combat art — bareknuckle, with headbutt as the ninth weapon, no points scoring, and victories only by KO or submission.
Thailand (historically: Siam) ·Sukhothai period (13th–15th century) and earlier; modernized 1930s under King Rama VII
Muay Boran — The Ancient Thai Combat System
Muay Boran is the ancient Thai combat system predating modern Muay Thai — with headbutts, hemp rope bandages and lethal techniques now forbidden in sport.
Thailand ·13th–16th century (origins); early 20th century (modern rules)
Muay Thai — The Art of Eight Limbs
Muay Thai is Thailand's national martial art — the art of eight limbs deploys fists, feet, elbows and knees as weapons, battle-tested across centuries of warfare and ritual combat.
China ·1950s (PLA experiments); 1979 first official competitions; 2000s renamed to Sanda
Sanda — China's Modern Full-Contact Combat System
Sanda is China's official full-contact combat sport — developed from traditional Kung Fu and modern combat sport methodology by the People's Liberation Army, now an Olympic candidate.
France ·18th century (Marseille); formalized 1825; synthesis 1838
Savate — French Boxing with the Feet
Savate is Europe's only indigenous martial art using kicks as a primary tool — born in the harbors of Marseille, refined into an elegant dueling system with colored glove grades.
Philippines (Baras, Rizal Province) ·Pre-colonial; formalized 1958 (World Sikaran Brotherhood)
Sikaran — Philippine Foot Fighting from Baras
Sikaran is the Philippine art of foot fighting — practiced for centuries in the community of Baras, Rizal, with 90% leg techniques and the legendary Biakid kick as its signature.
Philippines ·1972 (public introduction)
Yaw-Yan — The Filipino Dance of Death
Yaw-Yan is the Filipino 'Dance of Death' — developed in 1972 by Napoleon Fernandez, with 40 fundamental kicks and bolo knife-like arm techniques, it dominated the Philippine kickboxing scene.