This list includes 13 Martial arts that start with P, from “Northern Praying Mantis” to “Southern Praying Mantis”. Many entries are regional Chinese styles and hybrid systems used for self-defense and sport.

Martial arts that start with P are a varied group of striking, grappling and hybrid traditions originating worldwide. For example, Praying Mantis kung fu influenced many northern Chinese systems and became famous for its quick trapping techniques.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Focus, Founding period, and Notes.

Name: Shows the commonly used style name so you can identify and search for the art quickly.

Origin: Lists the country or region where the style developed, helping you understand cultural and geographic context.

Focus: Describes whether the art emphasizes striking, grappling, weapons, or a hybrid approach for practical comparison.

Founding period: Gives the approximate year, decade, or century when the style emerged, so you see historical placement.

Notes: Offers brief context, alternative names, or disputed details that help you evaluate each entry at a glance.

Martial arts that start with P

NameCountryTechnical focusFounding period
PankrationGreeceHybrid7th c. BCE
Pencak SilatIndonesiaHybrid19th c.
PanantukanPhilippinesStriking20th c.
Pekiti-Tirsia KaliPhilippinesWeapons/Hybrid20th c.
PiguaquanChinaStriking17th c.
Pak MeiChinaStriking17th c.
Northern Praying MantisChinaStriking17th c.
Southern Praying MantisChinaStriking19th c.
Pradal SereyCambodiaStrikingAncient
PehlwaniIndia/PakistanGrappling16th c.
PahlevaniIranGrappling/HybridAncient
Pa Kua ChangChinaStriking19th c.
Philippine Martial ArtsPhilippinesWeapons/Hybridpre-19th c.

Descriptions

Pankration
Ancient Greek combat sport combining punches, kicks and throws; an Olympic event noted for minimal rules and fierce effectiveness, often cited as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts.
Pencak Silat
Umbrella term for Indonesian martial arts with flowing strikes, joint locks, weapons and cultural performance; deeply regional, practiced widely across Southeast Asia and in international silat communities.
Panantukan
Filipino empty-hand boxing adapted from stick-fighting arts; focuses on close-range punches, elbows and dirty-boxing counters, often taught alongside Eskrima/Kali systems.
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali
A well-documented Filipino blade and edged-weapon system emphasizing close-quarter tactics, footwork and pressure-testing; popular in military and civilian combatives worldwide.
Piguaquan
Northern Chinese boxing style known for explosive, whipping arm techniques and wide, swinging strikes; paired with other internal arts and practiced in traditional kung fu schools.
Pak Mei
Also called White Eyebrow, a Southern Chinese kung fu known for compact power, short-range strikes and strong stances; blends soft and hard methods in close combat.
Northern Praying Mantis
A vigorous Northern Chinese style inspired by insect movements, featuring rapid hand techniques, trapping and sticky-hand concepts; influential in many kung fu lineages.
Southern Praying Mantis
A compact Hakka/Fujian fighting art emphasizing close-range strikes, strong forearm techniques and practical power, distinct from the Northern variant.
Pradal Serey
Cambodian traditional kickboxing focusing on kicks, punches, elbows and clinch work; an ancient combat sport that remains central to Khmer culture and modern competition.
Pehlwani
Indian wrestling style developed under Mughal influence, combining native malla-yuddha and Persian techniques; practiced in akharas with long-standing cultural rituals and popularity across South Asia.
Pahlevani
Also Varzesh-e Pahlavani, a traditional Iranian system mixing wrestling, calisthenics and ritual music; historically a palace art emphasizing strength, grappling and moral virtues.
Pa Kua Chang
Also written Pa Kua or Pakua, the English form of Baguazhang; an internal art centered on circular footwork, evasive movement and powerful palm strikes, valued for mobility and defense.
Philippine Martial Arts
Umbrella term for Filipino systems (Kali/Arnis/Eskrima) known for stick and knife fighting, weapon-based footwork and seamless weapon-to-empty-hand transitions, globally influential in combatives.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.