Martial Arts by Country 2025

Martial arts is one of the oldest practices recorded in the pages of human history. While different martial arts started because of different reasons, today the popularity and revenue from martial arts are centered around competition. Even in the world of movies, entertainment, and video games, martial arts has made waves.

The sensation of martial arts is hardly a new thing too. In the US, martial arts stars like Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris were filling seats as their movies were selling out theaters in the Seventies. In the Eighties, martial arts become something of a phenomenon in games like Mortal Kombat (which also later found the big screen).

No, martial arts isn’t a new thing, but it is a continually growing art form that covers many styles and practices. That also involves more than a few countries that lay claim to many of these martial arts styles. While some countries like Brazil and Japan are almost synonymous with martial arts, other countries such as the Netherlands (home of kickboxing) are less tightly tied to the martial arts world.

Martial arts by country of origin are listed below, but all types of martial arts are used and practiced around the globe today. From forums such as the UFC and other mixed martial arts competition platforms, martial arts has been showcased to the world. And the world responded with applause and a thirst for more.

While some of these art forms cross over and may even share some rights of origin, these are the traditionally recognized countries of origin for each style and form of martial arts. In one case, Brazilian Jujitsu, the style was even embedded into the name of the practice.

Although it is interesting to see martial arts by country of origin, it is, and has always been, the style and form of martial arts that captivates and compels us to join, support, or watch - regardless of where you live.