This list includes 11 Martial arts that start with Y, from “Yabusame” to “Yuejiaquan”. Most entries are traditional East Asian systems or regional practices, serving self-defense, competition, cultural performance, and historical study.

Martial arts that start with Y are martial systems whose common English names begin with the letter Y. Many have deep cultural roots; Yabusame preserves mounted archery from feudal Japan.

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

Name: The commonly used English name of the art, so you can identify and search quickly.

Country: The nation where the style originated or developed, giving you cultural and geographic context for study.

Focus: Indicates whether the art emphasizes Striking, Grappling, Weapons, or Hybrid, helping you choose by interest.

Founding period: Gives the established year, decade, or century, so you can judge the art’s historical depth and continuity.

Notes: Short clarifications about aliases, disputed origins, or notable characteristics that help you interpret entries quickly.

Martial arts that start with Y

NameCountryFocusFounding period
Yang-style tai chiChinaHybrid1830s
YiquanChinaHybrid1920s
Yaw-YanPhilippinesStriking1970s
Yoseikan BudoJapanHybrid1930s
Yoshinkan AikidoJapanHybrid1955
YabusameJapanWeapons12th century
Yagyu Shinkage-ryuJapanWeapons16th century
Yagyu Shingan-ryuJapanGrappling17th century
Yau Kung-munChinaStriking19th century
YuejiaquanChinaHybrid12th century
YongmudoSouth KoreaHybrid1990s

Descriptions

Yang-style tai chi
Popular tai chi style founded by Yang Luchan in the 19th century. Emphasizes slow forms standing practice and internal power. Applied in pushing hands weapons work and close range joint control.
Yiquan
Internal art by Wang Xiangzhai focused on intent driven power and sensitivity. Training uses standing meditation simple striking and partner drills to develop whole body expression rather than fixed forms.
Yaw-Yan
Filipino striking art created by Napoleon Fernandez. Known for whipping low kicks hip rotation and boxing influenced hand strikes. Blends indigenous methods with modern sport fighting for practical application.
Yoseikan Budo
Comprehensive modern budo teaching judo karate aikido and weapons. Founded by Minoru Mochizuki it covers throws locks strikes and traditional weapons with emphasis on adaptability and cross training.
Yoshinkan Aikido
Aikido style founded by Gozo Shioda with a structured training method. Emphasizes strong basic movements partner drills and practical self defense including throws pins and joint locks.
Yabusame
Traditional Japanese mounted archery practiced by samurai for ceremony and training. Focuses on shooting targets while riding at speed and preserves historical horse archery technique.
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
Classical samurai sword school known for tactical swordsmanship and timing. Emphasizes distancing strategy and kata based blade work developed by the Yagyu family.
Yagyu Shingan-ryu
Koryu school focused on jujutsu and close range combat. Teaches strikes throws joint locks and battlefield survival techniques passed down in samurai lineages.
Yau Kung-mun
Southern Chinese kung fu from Guangdong known for low stances powerful hand techniques and practical self defense. Uses traditional forms and close range striking drills.
Yuejiaquan
Legendary martial tradition attributed to General Yue Fei. Blends spear and unarmed methods with emphasis on rhythm power and battlefield practicality and influenced later northern styles.
Yongmudo
Modern Korean hybrid sport merging taekwondo hapkido judo and wrestling techniques. Designed for mixed training competition and self defense with striking throwing and submission elements.
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