5. Jiu-Jitsu

Country Of Origin:

Basic Principle(s):

Country Of Origin: Japan

Basic Principle(s): Jiu-Jitsu, or Jiujitsu translates as the “art of softness”, or “way of yielding”. So does that mean this martial arts is soft? Not a mother effin’ chance.

Jujutsu evolved among the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent without weapons (just getting the word samurai in that sentence already tells you this is hardcore stuff). The art teaches that striking against an armored opponent is ineffective. You should learn different form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker’s energy against him, rather than directly opposing it. Hmmm, sounding a bit like Aikido.

This is the most universal style on this list. It is a true hybrid, incorporating elements of grappling, hard striking, eye gouging, choke holds, biting, joint locks, as well as the awareness of the defender’s center of gravity versus the attacker’s center of gravity.

You throw your attacker by lowering your center of gravity under his, and jerking him over you, or around you. If he attacks with a weapon, you trap this arm, then deliver a knife-hand strike to his collarbone, while shoving him backward and down, locking the weapon wrist and breaking it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s that simple. Go try it.

4. Wing Chun

Country Of Origin: China

Basic Principle(s): The Chinese is everywhere, even in deadly martial arts.

Specializing in close combat, Wing Chun practitioners are taught to be efficient, practical and quick on their feet. Believing the use of the least amount of force is the best way in battle, Wing Chun practitioners seek out the quickest way to take down an opponent through unique striking abilities, aiming blows at the throat, shin and sweeping opponents off the ground quickly with kicks. Wing Chun practitioners also have the ability to chain attacks, making their attacks deadly if not blocked and stopped prematurely.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is the art that Yip Man taught to Bruce Lee, and which Lee rebelled against as too slow and formal for self-defense. That’s quite misleading. He meant that it was insufficient for him when fighting against professional martial art experts, like Wong Jack Man, with whom he fought a famous duel.

Lee invented his own version of Wing Chun because of the inadequacies he noticed in Wing Chun. With this method, he defeated Wong in 3 minutes, when almost any other fighter in the world would have needed a lot more time, and would have suffered much more injury.

He won by delivering Wing Chun’s signature punches: they do not use the hips, but are instead, very fast, rapid-fire left, right punches to the attacker’s chest, not the belly, not the throat, but the sternum or solar plexus.

You block the opponent’s attack with one hand and respond with the other fist straight into his chest, following with the other fist, again and again, walking into the attacker as you punch. The forward motion of your whole body adds power, which, coupled with the arm strength of the average 100 pound woman, results in about 300 pounds of force rammed repeatedly into the attacker’s chest. The only thing left is to practice your speed in doing this. 15 punches before the attacker can react are not unheard of. These punches also have the advantage of keeping the elbows close to the sides, preventing the attacker from grabbing the punching arm.

Then there’s the centerline defense versus looping attacks, like a haymaker or roundhouse kick. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so instead of picking up extra power by swinging around and twisting the hips, you block the attacker’s strike and simultaneously throw a front kick straight forward into his belly. This will take almost anyone off his feet the first time, if you kick as hard as possible.

The closer range of this method favors a shorter person, like a woman defending herself against a would-be rapist, etc. The closer the two people are, the easier it is for the shorter person to invade the reach of the larger person, effectively penetrating his defense.

They had me at Bruce Lee.

3. Ninjutsu

Country Of Origin: Japan

Basic Principle(s): Sometimes used interchangeably with the term ninpō (忍法?) is the martial art, strategy, and tactics of unconventional warfare and guerrilla warfare as well as the art of espionage purportedly practiced by the shinobi (commonly known outside of Japan as ninja). When you say Ninjas are using this martial arts, you don’t get any cooler than that.

The way of the ninja. Practiced by shinobis in ancient Japan, Ninjitsu is considered one of the most unconventional martial arts techniques around the world today. Ninjitsu practitioners in ancient Japan were assassins and spies; hence their methods were based on stealth and taking out an opponent when he does not see it coming. Ninjitsu practitioners are taught various skills and weaponry and are considered guerilla masters of the samurai sword.

Altogether now, awesooooooooome.

2. Arnis/Escrima/Kali

Country Of Origin: Philippines

Basic Principle(s): Master of Arnis use bamboo sticks to kill opponents like it’s the fuckin’ light saber of Obe Wan Kenobi.

They also teach hand to hand combat and when they do, you’d wish they just continue using the sticks. It’s less humiliating for you that way. Freakin’ hardcore arnis master!

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