Here you’ll find 22 Martial arts that start with K, organized from “KAPAP” to “Kyudo”. They include modern combat systems and classical arts from several regions.
Martial arts that start with K are styles whose English names begin with the letter K. They range from ancient weapon arts like “Kyudo” to modern systems such as “KAPAP”.
Below you’ll find the table with Style, Origin, Focus, Founding period, and Notes.
Style: Shows the common name of the martial art so you can recognize or search for it quickly.
Origin: Lists the country or region where the art developed, helping you place its cultural and historical background.
Focus: Indicates whether the art emphasizes striking, grappling, weapons, or a hybrid approach, so you know its primary techniques.
Founding period: Gives an approximate year, decade, or century of origin to show historical context and relative age.
Notes: Contains brief clarifications about alternate names, regional variants, or contested origins useful for quick reference.
Martial arts that start with K
| Name | Origin country | Primary focus | Founding period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karate | Japan | Striking | Early 20th century | Okinawan-Japanese striking art known for kata, kihon and kumite; modernized in Japan and globally popular through sport and self-defense. |
| Kendo | Japan | Striking | Late 19th century | Modern Japanese sword sport derived from samurai kenjutsu, uses shinai and protective bogu; competitive and steeped in etiquette. |
| Kenjutsu | Japan | Striking | Feudal Japan (12th–19th centuries) | Classical samurai swordsmanship schools teaching battlefield techniques; historical basis for modern kendo and many classical lineages. |
| Kyudo | Japan | Striking | 16th century | Japanese traditional archery emphasizing form, meditation and ritual; practiced as sport and spiritual discipline. |
| Kyokushin | Japan | Striking | 1964 | Full-contact karate founded by Masutatsu Oyama, noted for hard conditioning, knockdown rules and international knockdown tournaments. |
| Kickboxing | Japan | Striking | 1960s | Stand-up striking sport combining karate, boxing and Muay Thai influences; developed as a competitive full-contact discipline. |
| Kalaripayattu | India | Hybrid (weapons & strikes) | Ancient (early centuries BCE) | One of the oldest Indian martial arts from Kerala, combining strikes, locks, weapons and healing traditions with long historical roots. |
| Kali | Philippines | Hybrid (weapons emphasis) | Pre-colonial (codified 20th century) | Umbrella name for Filipino stick, blade and empty‑hand arts (also called Arnis/Eskrima); focused on weapons training and fluid transitions to empty hands. |
| Krav Maga | Israel | Hybrid (self-defense emphasis) | 1930s | Practical Israeli close-combat system emphasizing instinctive responses, neutralization and real-world self-defense; widely used by military and civilians. |
| KAPAP | Israel | Hybrid (close-quarters emphasis) | 1930s | Early Israeli combatives system developed for pre-state defense groups, focused on practical close-quarters tactics and weapon defense. |
| Kajukenbo | United States | Hybrid (striking & locks) | 1947 | Hawaiian hybrid art blending Karate, Judo, Kenpo and Boxing; pragmatic street-oriented system created by a Hawaiian martial arts collective. |
| Kenpo | United States | Hybrid (striking emphasis) | 1940s | American Kenpo (Ed Parker) emphasizes rapid striking sequences, self-defense principles and progressive curriculum popular in the West. |
| Kuk Sool Won | South Korea | Hybrid (comprehensive) | 1961 | Modern Korean martial art compiling traditional techniques — striking, joint locks, weapons and conditioning — founded to preserve Korean methods. |
| Kurash | Uzbekistan | Grappling | Ancient (codified 20th century) | Central Asian folk wrestling with upright throws and grips; long traditional history and modern competitive rules from Uzbekistan. |
| Kushti | India | Grappling | Mughal era (16th–19th centuries) | Traditional Indian wrestling (pehlwani/kushti) practiced in akharas with oil and clay pits; rich cultural rituals and classical training methods. |
| Krabi-Krabong | Thailand | Hybrid (weapons emphasis) | Ayutthaya era (14th–18th century) | Traditional Thai weapons system paired with unarmed techniques; historically used by Siamese armies and retains ceremonial practice. |
| Kobudo | Japan | Striking | Ryukyu Kingdom era (17th–19th century) | Okinawan classical weapons art (bo, sai, nunchaku etc.); complements karate and preserves traditional weapons forms and kata. |
| Kung Fu | China | Hybrid (varied) | Ancient (several centuries BCE) | Broad umbrella for Chinese martial arts across many styles; range from hard striking to soft internal systems and extensive cultural history. |
| Kuntao | Indonesia | Hybrid (striking & weapons) | 18th–19th centuries | Chinese-influenced Southeast Asian fighting arts practiced in Indonesia and the Philippines, blending Chinese striking with local adaptations. |
| Kombatan | Philippines | Hybrid (weapons emphasis) | 1970s | Modern Filipino stick-and-blade system popularized by Ernesto Presas; focuses on weapon flow, empty-hand applications and practical drills. |
| Kumdo | South Korea | Striking | 20th century | Korean sword discipline derived from kendo traditions; competitive and cultural practice using shinai and protective gear. |
| Kinomichi | France | Hybrid (aiki emphasis) | 1979 | Aiki-derived system created by Masamichi Noro in France, blending aikido principles with partner sensitivity and flowing movement. |
Descriptions
Karate
Kendo
Kenjutsu
Kyudo
Kyokushin
Kickboxing
Kalaripayattu
Kali
Krav Maga
KAPAP
Kajukenbo
Kenpo
Kuk Sool Won
Kurash
Kushti
Krabi-Krabong
Kobudo
Kung Fu
Kuntao
Kombatan
Kumdo
Kinomichi