This list includes 6 Martial arts that start with V, from “Vajra Mushti” to “Vovinam”. They range from ancient regional systems to modern national schools. You will find examples used for self‑defense, sport competition, and cultural performance.

Martial arts that start with V are named combat systems from different cultures that combine technique, training, and tradition. For example, Vovinam emerged in 1938 as a modern Vietnamese system, while Vajra Mushti links to older Indian fighting traditions.

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

Style: The martial art’s common name as used in literature and practice, so you can recognize each entry quickly.

Origin: Country or region where the art developed, helping you place it culturally, geographically, and historically.

Focus: Main technical orientation—Striking, Grappling, or Hybrid—so you can judge its practical emphasis at a glance.

Founding period: Year, decade, or century when the art began, giving you a historical anchor for development and spread.

Notes: Short clarifications, alternate names, or disputed origins to help you interpret each listing correctly and briefly.

Martial arts that start with V

NameCountry of originFocusFounding period
VovinamVietnamHybrid1938
Ving TsunChinaStriking18th century
Vale TudoBrazilHybrid1920s
Varzesh-e PahlavaniIranGrappling1st millennium CE
Vajra MushtiIndiaGrappling1st millennium CE
Varma KalaiIndiaHybrid1st millennium CE

Descriptions

Vovinam
Modern Vietnamese system of strikes, throws, weapons and acrobatics founded by Nguyễn Lộc; widely practiced in Vietnam and internationally as a national style.
Ving Tsun
Cantonese Wing Chun lineage emphasizing close-range striking, centerline theory and economy of motion, popularized globally through Ip Man lineages.
Vale Tudo
Early Brazilian full-contact contests mixing striking and grappling with few rules; an important precursor to modern mixed martial arts and early MMA events.
Varzesh-e Pahlavani
Traditional Iranian strength and wrestling system practiced in zoorkhaneh halls, combining grappling, conditioning, ritual music and cultural traditions.
Vajra Mushti
Ancient Indian combat-wrestling tradition using grappling and a knuckleduster-like weapon, historically tied to warrior sects and ritual combat.
Varma Kalai
Tamil art of vital points blending strikes, joint manipulation and therapeutic knowledge, historically used for both combat and traditional healing.
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