This list includes 6 Martial arts that start with I, ranging from “Iaido” to “Iwama-ryu”. These styles are mostly traditional, often Japanese in origin, and used for self-defense, cultural practice, and sport.
Martial arts that start with I are a subset of traditional and modern systems beginning with the letter I. Many originate in Japan, with Iaido as a notable sword-centered example and Iwama-ryu linked to Aikido history.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Focus, Founding period and Notes.
Name: The common style name, so you can identify and search for the art quickly.
Origin: Shows the country or region where the style developed, helping you understand cultural context.
Focus: Describes primary emphasis—striking, grappling, weapons or hybrid—so you know practical training priorities.
Founding period: Gives an approximate year, decade, or century to place the art in historical perspective.
Notes: Short remarks on variants, notable practitioners, or disputed details that help you interpret the entry.
Martial arts that start with I
| Name | Origin (country) | Primary focus | Founding period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iaido | Japan | Weapons | Early 20th century | Modern Japanese sword art emphasizing smooth drawing, cutting and re-sheathing; evolved from battlefield iaijutsu and codified as solo and paired practice. |
| Iaijutsu | Japan | Weapons | 16th century | Traditional samurai sword combatives focusing on rapid draw-and-strike techniques used on the battlefield; practical, combat-oriented predecessor to modern iaido. |
| Itto-ryu | Japan | Weapons | 16th century | Classical kenjutsu school founded by Itō Ittōsai, highly influential in samurai sword pedagogy and the basis for many later Japanese sword systems. |
| Iga-ryu | Japan | Hybrid | 15th–16th century | Ninja tradition from Iga Province combining espionage, unarmed combat and weapons training; a key historical source for ninjutsu practices and lore. |
| Isshin-ryu | Japan | Striking | 1956 | Okinawan karate style founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku blending Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu elements, known for vertical fist strikes and practical self-defense techniques. |
| Iwama-ryu | Japan | Grappling | 1950s | Aikido lineage associated with Morihiro Saito, emphasizing fundamental ukemi, joint controls, throws and integrated weapons practice. |