# Non-Asian matrial arts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246 "2005-01-17T21:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/1 "2005-01-17T21:44:11Z")
Looking through the local alternative freesheet, there are ads for many martial arts studios. They all seem to specialize in one or more Asian martial arts - _judo_, _karate_, _kung fu_, _ju jistsu_, _tae kwon do_, _hapkido_, _kenpo_, and a bunch of others. This got me wondering … are there any forms of martial arts that are native to countries outside of Eastern Asia? I know there’s _krav maga_, which is supposed to be some badass martial art invented by the Israelis, but is there something else? ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/2 "2005-01-17T21:48:18Z")
Fencing? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/3 "2005-01-17T21:50:30Z")
Boxing. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/4 "2005-01-17T21:52:05Z")
How about capoeira? I’ve seen it demonstrated. It seems a lot like dance. Here is a definition: A style of martial arts developed by Brazilian slaves in the 1700s. Capoeira was developed surreptiously, with practitioners pretending that they were taking parts in dances, when in fact they were practicing their kicks and blows. Thus, there is also a whole style of capoeira music which goes along with the martial arts culture. Google it, there are lots of websites dedicated to the culture. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/5 "2005-01-17T21:52:11Z")
Depends how you define your terms. Are you limiting “martial arts” to weaponless combat? If so, you can include the french _savate_ (i.e. kickboxing) in there. Styles with weapons are numerous, including as mentioned, fencing. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/6 "2005-01-17T21:53:59Z")
_La Savate_, invented by the French; _Capoeira_, invented in Brazil; I think other forms of unarmed combat (which appears to be what you’re really asking about) are derived from, modeled on, or copies of Asian forms, but I’m no expert. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/7 "2005-01-17T21:56:20Z")
In terms of European martial arts, other than boxing and wrestling, there was a Greek martial art called pankraton, which is sort of experience a rennaisance today. There’s a French form of kickboxing called La Savate. There are also a number of European fencing styles. including some now extinct, plus jousting and the use of other weapons. There are probably a bunch of other extinct European martial arts I can’t think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/8 "2005-01-17T21:58:42Z")
Krav Maga is an Israeli art. I’m not sure about it’s historical roots, but it’s certainly a tried and tested martial art. Sambo is a Russian wrestling style. There are several Indian styles including Kalarippayat and some weapons systems similar to Silat. ---
**Author:** ![Try\_As\_I\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Try\_As\_I\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try_As_I_Might)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/9 "2005-01-17T22:01:03Z")
This might help. [www.completemartialarts.com](http://www.completemartialarts.com) includes these: American: American Kenpo Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Shootfighting Brazilian: Capoeira, Brazilian Ju Jitsu French: Savate Indian: Kalaripayit, Silambam Israeli: Krav Maga Russian: Sambo, Agni Kempo I would Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling and I believe there are African martial arts out there as well ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/10 "2005-01-17T22:10:25Z")
[Wikipedia is your friend.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_martial_arts) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/11 "2005-01-17T22:27:35Z")
Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/12 "2005-01-18T00:09:04Z")
Interestingly, American Heritage Dictionary (via [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)) defines “martial art” as: > [@](#): > > Any of several **Asian** arts of combat or self-defense, such as aikido, karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as sport. (emphasis mine) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/13 "2005-01-18T00:18:55Z")
Jeet Kune Do was developed in California. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/14 "2005-01-18T00:55:20Z")
Of course, there’s the ancient Lancastrian martial art of [ecky-thump](http://www.streetsonline.co.uk/common/product.jhtml?pid=30014062). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/15 "2005-01-18T01:06:00Z")
Escrima is Filipino stick fighting method. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/16 "2005-01-18T03:01:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Interestingly, American Heritage Dictionary (via [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)) defines “martial art” as: > > > [@](#): > > > > Any of several Asian arts of combat or self-defense, such as aikido, karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as sport. Then the dictionary is wrong – somebody should probably email them and let them know. I wonder what they would call arts like sambo or krav maga, if not martial arts. Hmmm… now that I think about it, Russia and Israel _are_ in Asia. But France, England, and Brazil definitely aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/17 "2005-01-18T03:09:27Z")
More to the point, even the SCA swordfighting training, if somewhat more decorative than practical nowadays, is a martial art. ---
**Author:** ![lektrikpuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/47e85d/32.png) [@lektrikpuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lektrikpuke)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/18 "2005-01-18T06:45:27Z")
My martial arts teacher (of years gone by) made me learn stuff like this (I guess he wanted me to know there was more out there than traditional Japanese martial arts). Any who, I don’t remember the names any more, but one of the arts that was not of oriental extraction (to the best of my recollection) that I most enjoyed learning about was a Hawaiin art (yes, in the Pacific Ocean, but not oriental) whereby the practitioners would lull their victims in to calm/trusting/relaxed states by dancing (can you say hula?) and reasonable applications of alchohol, and then disjoint them from fingertip to toetip, making sure to hit every joint in between. Should the lucky participant/victim survive, they would continue by trying to put them back together again. Something about not landing on my island and taking my woman kind of thing. Go figure. :eek: Any way, there are many, many of them. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/19 "2005-01-18T07:35:18Z")
Fencing (esgrima in Spanish… wonder whether escrima comes from esgrima or the other way 'round) includes many different styles. For example, Venetian Style is when you use a rapier and a dagger, or a stick and the dagger that acted as its pommel (not the sword that acted as its pommel). The “long” weapon acts as defense, the dagger is the one that you bite with. Completely different from using a broadsword or two scimitars. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246/20 "2005-01-18T12:20:25Z")
FEAR NO MAN! LLAP-GOCH–the Secret Welsh ART of SELF DEFENSE that requires NO INTELLIGENCE, STRENGTH or PHYSICAL courage. WHAT is LLAP-GOCH? It is an ANCIENT Welsh ART based on a BRILLIANTLY simple IDEA, which is a SECRET. The best form of DEFENSE is ATTACK (Clausewitz) and the most VlTAL element of ATTACK is SURPRISE (Oscar HAMMERstein). Therefore . . . the BEST way to protect yourself AGAINST any ASSAILANT is to ATTACK him before he attacks YOU . . . Or BETTER… BEFORE the THOUGHT of doing so has EVEN OCCURRED TO HIM!!! SO YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RENDER YOUR ASSAILANT UNCONSCIOUS BEFORE he is EVEN aware of your very existence! -gwen dibley [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-asian-matrial-arts/285246.md?page=2)