This list includes 14 Martial arts that start with L, from “La Canne” to “Luta Livre”. They range from European cane-fighting to Brazilian grappling and modern hybrid systems used for sport and self-defense.

Martial arts that start with L are named systems of combat and movement beginning with the letter L. They reflect broad cultural roots, from European traditions to Latin American and Asian innovations.

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

Name: The commonly used name of the style, so you can quickly identify and search for it further.

Origin: The country or region where the art arose, helping you place its cultural and historical context.

Focus: A simple label—Striking, Grappling, or Hybrid—that shows what skills and techniques the art primarily emphasizes.

Founding period: An approximate year, decade, or century that indicates when the style emerged or became distinctive.

Notes: Concise comments on distinctive features, common rules, or naming disputes that may affect your research.

Martial arts that start with L

NameOrigin countryPrimary focusFounding period
LethweiMyanmarStrikingTraditional; codified 19th c.
Luta LivreBrazilGrappling1920s
Long FistChinaStriking19th c.
LiuhebafaChinaInternal19th c.
Lama PaiChinaStriking19th c.
Lohan QuanChinaStriking17th–19th c.
Liechtenauer traditionGermanyWeapons14th c.
La CanneFranceWeapons19th c.
Lucha LibreMexicoGrappling1930s
Lucha CanariaSpainGrapplingTraditional; codified 19th c.
LuaUnited StatesHybridTraditional; pre-contact
LimalamaSamoaHybrid1950s
LerdritThailandStrikingTraditional; codified 20th c.
Lau GarChinaStriking19th c.

Descriptions

Lethwei
Burmese bare-knuckle boxing known for headbutts and minimal rules; a brutal, traditional striking art with deep cultural roots and modern sport adaptations.
Luta Livre
Brazilian no-gi submission wrestling emphasizing leg locks and submissions; developed parallel to Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a practical, catch-style grappling system.
Long Fist
A broad family of Northern Chinese striking styles emphasizing extended, athletic techniques, long-range kicks, and flowing forms; influential in modern wushu.
Liuhebafa
Internal Chinese system often called “Six Harmonies Eight Methods,” blending soft internal principles with spiral movements for health and subtle combat applications.
Lama Pai
Southern Chinese/Tibetan-influenced striking art known for powerful hand techniques, short bridging, and animal-inspired methods with a distinctive rhythm and stepping.
Lohan Quan
Arhat Fist from Shaolin traditions, a hard style focused on conditioned power, rooted stances, and sequences inspired by Buddhist arhats.
Liechtenauer tradition
Medieval German longsword and battlefield combat system based on Johannes Liechtenauer’s teachings, foundational to historical European martial arts study.
La Canne
French civilian cane-fighting art developed as fashionable self-defense; elegant footwork and striking techniques that later influenced baton arts and stage fencing.
Lucha Libre
Colorful Mexican professional wrestling combining athletic grappling, acrobatics, and theatricality; deeply embedded in popular culture and lucha training traditions.
Lucha Canaria
Traditional wrestling from the Canary Islands with unique rules and throws, practiced as a regional sport and cultural heritage.
Lua
Hawaiian combat art focused on bone-breaking, joint control, striking and weapons for warriors; historically a practical battlefield system, now revived by practitioners.
Limalama
Polynesian-derived system created mid-20th century combining strikes, throws, joint locks and cultural movement patterns, taught as a comprehensive self-defense art.
Lerdrit
Traditional Thai battlefield methods emphasizing close-quarters strikes, elbow and knee techniques, and aggressive finishing tactics adapted for modern training.
Lau Gar
A southern Chinese family style named for the Lau lineage, featuring close-range striking, rapid hand techniques and practical self-defense applications.
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