Akshay Kumar in Kuk Sool Won

KUK SOOL WON Kuk Sool Won is a Korean martial arts meaning "National Martial Art Association". A system founded by Grandmaster Suh In Hyuk in 1958, it is currently taught worldwide. Founded as a martial arts system and not merely a martial arts style, Kuk Sool is not limited to any single discipline. It attempts to be a comprehensive study of all Korean martial arts. Suh In Hyuk's philosophy regarding the Kuk Sool Won system is to "Integrate and explore the entire spectrum of established Asian martial arts, body conditioning techniques, mental development, and weapons training." A 17th generation martial artist, Suh In Hyuk was handpicked by his gradfather to continue on the tradition of the Suh Family martial way. Through drive and dedication, Suh In Hyuk researched the old text of Korean martial arts and also traveled all through Asia to gain understanding and information of various martial art systems and techniques. In the late 1950's Suh In Hyuk began to organize and structure the many Koreran techniques into one system that he called "Kuk Sool Won". Kuk Sool Won encompasses the core essence of the three major branches of traditional Korean martial arts: Sado Mu Sool (Family/Tribal Martial Way), Bulkyo Mu Sool (Buddhist Martial Way), Koong Joong Mu Sool (Royal Palace Martial Way). Consisting of approximately 270 categories, Kuk Sool Won contains over 3,600 internal and external techniques. These techniques include striking, kicking, joint locks, and weapons emphasizing speed and fluidity. The study of also includes many modern day techniques such as gun defense and weapon improvisation. Kuk Sool is performed for self-defense, healing, conditioning, competition, fun and aesthetic purposes. It also teaches meditation, breathing, acupressure, and acupuncture to improve overall health, develop inner energy (ki) and to slow the aging process. It stresses humility, discipline, control, loyalty, and respect.

Akshay Kumar in Krav Maga

KRAV MAGA

Krav Maga, Hebrew for "hand-to-hand combat", is an eclectic martial arts system developed in Israel by Imi Lichtenfeld.

Trained as a boxer and wrestler, Lichtenfeld developed a street fighting means of defending the Jewish quarter during a period of anti-Semitic activity in Bratislava in the mid- to late 1930's. Following his immigration to Israel in the 1940's, he began to provide hand-to-hand combat training to what was to become the Israeli Defense Forces and developed the techniques that became known as Krav Maga.

Krav Maga is still used by the Israel Defense Forces and several closely related variations have been developed and adopted by law enforcement, Mossad, Shin Bet, FBI, and United States special operations forces.

Krav Maga is a modern system, based on scientific principles, logic, and practical techniques based upon the simple movements of the body. The system's goal is to teach student's combat efficiency in a relatively short period of time.

To make the learning process a little more effective, the instructor's have broken down Krav Maga instruction into two parts, self defense and hand-to-hand combat. With the Self Defense methods, students are taught to defend against a hostile action, covering almost ever conceivable angle of attack, as well as defending against multiple assailants and armed opponents. With hand-to-hand Combat. The instructors extend training to tactics, psychological dimensions of combat, and the advantageous use of terrain.

There are no rules for Krav Maga fighting, and no built-in distinctions in training between men and women. It has no sporting federation and there are no official uniforms or attire. However, some organizations do recognize progress through training with rank badges, different levels, and belts.

Krav Maga has since been refined for both civilian and military applications. Unlike most martial arts, it is essentially a tactical defense skill. Its philosophy emphasizes threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggressive endurance in a 'him-or-me' context.

Preparation training is heavily emphasized as student are often placed in vulnerable positions and then expected to use the applications to neutralize the threat. Multiple assailants, armed assailants, and ambushes are all included in the training.

Through the new advent of reality based training", Krav Maga has proven itself as an effective, combat systems for the general public.

Akshay Kumar in Kick-Boxing

KICKBOXING

Kickboxing refers to the sport of combining the grace and style of both boxing with kicking. Kickboxing is not inherently a martial art, although a great majority of kickboxers originate from a martial arts background. It is a standing sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once a combatant has reached the ground.

There are many arts labeled kickboxing including Japanese kickboxing, American kickboxing, Indian boxing, Burmese boxing, as well as French boxing. However, the term has become more commonly associated with the Japanese and American variants. Furthermore, unlike Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing, kickboxing does not allow kicks below the belt and also does not allow strikes with knees and elbows.

The term kickboxing was created by a Japanese boxing promoter who created a promotion for the sport as a variant of Muay Thai and Karate that he created in the 1950s. The term was later used by the American variant. When used by the practitioners of those two styles, it usually has referred to those styles specifically.

Kickboxing is often practiced for self-defense, physical fitness, and/or as a full-contact sport. In the full-contact sport the male boxers are bare-chested wearing boxing gloves, shorts, and protective gear. Female boxers typically wear a tank top and chest protection in addition to other protective gear.

Rules vary but generally points are scored by kicking certain parts of the body. A certain number of kicks must be thrown per round or the fighter will have points deducted.

Over the sporting years, many boxers have made the transition to kickboxing by training in the martial arts and learning how to kick.

The sport has grown with popular stars including Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Chuck Norris, and Joe Lewis. It has also remained extremely popular and has grown extensively in Europe, especially in Holland.

Akshay Kumar in Kenpo

KENPO Kenpō is the name of several martial arts but is widely recognized as a martial art with roots in Hawaii. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo." As a result, the generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions. In Japanese martial arts, kenpō is used to designate Chinese martial arts, much as the way kung fu is used in English-speaking countries. Kenpō has also been appropriated as a modern term: a name for multiple martial arts that developed in Hawaii due to cross-cultural exchange between practitioners of Ryukyuan martial arts, Chinese martial arts, Japanese martial arts, and multiple additional influences. Dr. James Mitose, a Japanese-American, was largely responsible for spreading Kenpo throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Born in Hawaii, he was sent to Japan where he learned at a very young age his ancestral art of self-defense called “kosho-ryu,” said to be based directly on Shao-lin kung-fu. Mitose returned to Hawaii in 1936 and five years later he organized the Official Self-Defense Club in Honolulu. Mitose emphasized the attacking of vital areas by punching, striking, chopping, thrusting, and poking. Similar to Japanese styles that also utilized throws, locks, and takedowns, it differed technically and philosophically. Mitose' style employed linear and circular movements, using intermittent power. In the United States, kenpo is often referred to as Kenpo Karate. The most widespread styles have their origin in the teachings of James Mitose and his student William Kwai Sun Chow. Chow later instructed Ed Parker who became a leader and was dubbed the “Father of Kenpo Karate” in America. Their lineage also includes Kajukenbo, an art that does not use the kenpō name itself, but which possesses recognized offshoots that do. These arts have spread around the world through multiple lineages, not all of which agree on a common historical narrative. Notable systems such as Kajukenbo employed harder direct movements and Kenpo Karate (developed by Ed Parker), employ more of the Chinese circular movements with a signature "rapid fire" combination of blows to vital areas of the body.

Akshay Kumar in Kendo

KENDO

Kendo, "Way of the Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship.

Kendo developed from the fighting art of Kenjutsu, which dates back to the 11th century and was the most important martial art of the samurai. Kenjutsu was practiced by many famous swordsmen, such as Miyamoto Musashi, author of The Book of Five Rings. Furthermore, military clans of the earliest samurai governments in Japan utilized sword fencing, together with horse riding and archery, as a main martial arts pursuit.

Practitioners of kendo are called kendōka. They use shinai, bamboo swords, along with protective armor are used for training instead of the traditional razor-sharp metal swords that Japanese martial utilized.

Extremely popular in Japan, there are estimates that about six million people worldwide practice Kendo.

In modern kendo competitions, competitors wear special protective gear and strike at each others head, chest, or hand with a bamboo sword. In competition, points are awarded when an attack is made to a target area. For an attack to be successful, the sword must strike the specified target soundly, the contact by the shinai must happen simultaneously with the attacker's front foot connecting with floor, and the kendoka must execute a spirited and convincing yell in co-ordination with the strike. For a strike to be deemed sound, the point of contact must fall within the top third of the sword, and the direction of movement must be technically correct. Finally, the continuation of awareness, must be present and shown throughout the execution of the strike. The competitor must also be ready to attack again.

Additionally, there are 10 Nihon Kendo Kata, which are often performed with the wooden swords or even occasionally, the real swords typically used for display. The kata include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking. They have useful practical application in general kendo.

Kendo retains an extremely traditional image, especially due to the traditional-looking protective armor, face mask, and the typical Kendo-swords.

Akshay Kumar in Karate

KARATE Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa. Meaning empty hand, karate is both a martial art and a sport that has grown in great numbers worldwide. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as the knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. Though unlike other martial arts such as judo, Aikido, or jujitsu, karate is not a grappling art. The root of karate was a product of fighting arts traced to Okinawa, China, and India. As travelers roamed between China, India and Okinawa, so did the art. Weaponless combat had already existed on Okinawa. With the ban against carrying arms issued by the Japanese occupation in 1470, these empty-hand techniques later thrived. Karate developed in Okinawa in the 19th century and was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans. In 1922, Gichin Funakoshi introduced the art with a karate demonstration. By 1932, all Japanese universities had a dojo. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from "Chinese hand" to "empty hand" – both of which are pronounced karate – to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After the World War II, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there. The martial arts movies of the 1960s and 1970s served to greatly increase its popularity and the word karate began to be used in a generic way to refer to all striking-based Oriental martial arts. "The Karate Kid" further accelerated its presence within western cultures. Karate schools have since begun appearing across the world. For many practitioners, karate is a deeply philosophical practice. Karate-do teaches ethical principles and can have spiritual significance to its adherents. Gichin Funakoshi ("Father of Modern Karate") titled his autobiography Karate-Do: My Way of Life, in recognition of the transforming nature of karate study. Basically divided into Okinawan or Japanese styles, the most widely practiced Japanese styles include Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Chito-ryu, Koei-kan, Renbukan, Sankukai, Shudokan, Shukokai, Goju-ryu, Koykushinkai, and Shito-ryu.

Akshay Kumar in Kalarippayattu

KALARIPPAYATTU Kalarippayattu is a Dravidian martial art with origins in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is possibly one of the oldest fighting systems in existence and is considered as a forerunner of karate and kung fu. It is practiced primarily in southern India as well as in Sri Lanka and Malayasia. The origins of the art have dated back to 4th century A. D. when legend claims that the art began with the sage Parasurama who possessed mystical powers. He built temples and also introduced martial arts, which have influenced and shaped many other arts. Furthermore, it developed during an extended period of warfare between the Cheras and the Cholas in the 11th century when only a few were given the right and duty to learn martial arts. The art reached its height in the 16th century, in the days of Thacholi Othenan, a celebrated chieftain of northern Malabar. Later, under British rule, kalarippayattu was banned in 1804 in response to a series of revolts. The coordination of body and mind is given maximum importance in kalarippayattu. Indian martial arts focus on the Indian tradition of fight and self-defense and as a superior art form. Kalari, the word for a special kind of gymnasium where the martial art is practiced. The Kalari is treated as the temple of learning. As a martial art, Kalarippayattu incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, forms, weaponry techniques, and healing methods. Variants of practice are classified according to geographical location and the three main styles are differentiated by their attacking and defensive patterns. A Kalaripayattu demonstration includes physical exercises and mock duels with armed and unarmed combat. Weapons used in kalarippayattu are the sword, dagger, shield, short sticks, spears, etc. The resurgence of public interest in kalarippayattu began in the 1920s as part of a wave of rediscovery of the traditional arts throughout south India. As martial arts grew in interest worldwide throughout the 1970s, so did the interest in kalarippayattu. In recent years, efforts have been made to further popularize the art, with it featuring in international and Indian films such as Indian (1996), Asoka (2001), The Myth (2005), and The Last Legion (2007). Today, Kalarippayattu is a modern method of physical fitness and an empty-handed means of self defense with a traditional tie to ceremonies and rituals.