Here you’ll find 12 Martial arts that start with G that begin with G, organized from “Gatka” to “Gyokko-ryu”. They include striking, grappling, and weapons traditions used for self-defense, sport, and cultural practice.

Martial arts that start with G are diverse systems ranging from regional folk fighting to formal classical schools. For example, Gatka preserves Sikh battlefield techniques while Gyokko-ryu represents a preserved Japanese jujutsu lineage.

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

Style: The name of the martial art so you can quickly identify each entry and search for more details.

Origin: The country or region where the style developed, helping you place it in cultural and historical context.

Focus: The primary emphasis (Striking, Grappling, Hybrid, Weapons) so you know the style’s practical uses today.

Founding period: An approximate year, decade, or century that indicates when the style originated or was formalized.

Notes: Short clarifications on lineage, notable practitioners, or disputed details that affect how you interpret the entry.

Martial arts that start with G

NameCountry/Region of OriginPrimary FocusFounding Period
Goju-ryuJapanStriking1930s
GenseiryuJapanStriking1950s
Gracie Jiu-JitsuBrazilGrappling1920s
Greco-Roman wrestlingFranceGrappling19th century
GatkaIndiaWeapons-focused17th century
GlimaIcelandGrapplingViking Age (9th–11th century)
GukgungKoreaWeapons-focusedThree Kingdoms period
GumdoSouth KoreaWeapons-focused20th century (modern form)
Gyokko-ryuJapanHybrid12th century
Gongkwon YusulSouth KoreaHybrid1990s
German Ju-JutsuGermanyHybrid1960s
GuoshuChinaHybrid1928

Descriptions

Goju-ryu
An Okinawan karate style formalized by Chojun Miyagi emphasizing close-range striking, breathing methods, kata and soft-hard (goju) principles.
Genseiryu
A postwar karate style founded by Seiken Shukumine focusing on dynamic footwork, circular attacks and body shifting, later informing Taido.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu variant developed by the Gracie family, emphasizing ground fighting, submissions and leverage to allow smaller fighters to control larger opponents.
Greco-Roman wrestling
Olympic-style wrestling forbidding holds below the waist, focusing on throws and upper-body technique; modern rules were codified in 19th-century Europe.
Gatka
A Sikh martial tradition centered on sword and stick fighting, performed both as battlefield technique and ceremonial martial art.
Glima
Nordic wrestling tradition noted in the sagas, emphasizing upright grips, throws and balance training as both sport and combat skill.
Gukgung
Korean traditional archery with military roots; practiced historically for warfare and hunting and revived as a modern cultural sport.
Gumdo
Korean sword art derived from Japanese kendo and native sword traditions, practiced as a disciplined, forms-based method of swordsmanship.
Gyokko-ryu
Classical Japanese ryu focusing on kosshijutsu (muscle and nerve strikes) and joint manipulation; taught within several modern martial lineages.
Gongkwon Yusul
Modern South Korean system combining striking, grappling and weapons influences to create a practical self-defense curriculum for civilians and law enforcement.
German Ju-Jutsu
A practical combatives system developed for German police and sport use, blending jujutsu, judo and striking into a modern self-defense syllabus.
Guoshu
Term for the modern Chinese martial arts movement institutionalized in the 1920s, covering diverse striking, grappling and weapons traditions under a national curriculum.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.