A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the opponent (knockout, KO), or attacking the opponent in a specific or designated technique. Combat sports share a long history with the martial arts.
Combat sports and their national origin include (but are not limited to) boxing (Greek-British), Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Japanese-Brazilian), catch wrestling (British-American), jujutsu (Japanese), judo (Japanese), freestyle wrestling (British-American), Greco-Roman wrestling (French), karate (Chinese-Okinawan-Japanese), kickboxing (numerous origins, mainly Southeast Asian), Lethwei (Burmese), mixed martial arts (numerous origins), Muay Thai (Thai), sambo (Soviet/Russian), sanda (Chinese), savate (French), taekwondo (Korean), Vale Tudo (Brazilian), pankration (Ancient Greek), luta livre (Brazilian), and folk wrestling (various).
History
Wrestling exists in most cultures, for it is the oldest existing sport that can be considered a cultural universal. While its foundational origins lie in global prehistory, various styles emerged independently throughout the world at various times in human history. Boxing contests date back to ancient Sumer in the 3rd millennium BCE and ancient Egypt circa 1350 BCE. The ancient Olympic Games included several combat-related sports: armored foot races, boxing, wrestling, and pankration, which was introduced in the Olympic Games of 648 BCE.
In ancient China, combat sport appeared in the form of lei tai. It was a no-holds barred combat sport that combined boxing and wrestling. There is evidence of similar combat sports in ancient Egypt, India and Japan.
Through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the tournament was popular. Tournaments were competitions that featured several mock combat events, with jousting as a main event. While the tournament was popular among aristocrats, combat sports were practiced by all levels of society. The German school of late medieval martial arts distinguished sportive combat (schimpf) from serious combat (ernst). In the German Renaissance, sportive combat competitions were known as Fechtschulen, corresponding to the Prize Playing in Tudor England. Out of these Prize Playing events developed the English boxing (or prizefighting) of the 18th century, which evolved into modern boxing with the introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry rules in 1867.
Amateur boxing has been part of the modern Olympic Games since their introduction in 1904. Professional boxing became popular in the United States in the 1920s and experienced a "golden age" after World War II. Professional wrestling was once competitive catch wrestling, a legitimate combat sport in the late 19th and early 20th century, however it has since evolved into athletic theater.
The creation of Brazilian jiu-jitsu is attributed to the Gracie family of Brazil in 1925 after Asian martial arts were introduced to Brazil. Vale-tudo, wrestling, Muay Thai kickboxing and luta livre gained popularity. Modern Muay Thai was developed in the 1920s to 1930s. Sambo was introduced in the Soviet Union. Modern Taekwondo also emerged after the Japanese occupation of Korea and became an Olympic sport in 2000. Sanshou as part of modern wushu was developed in the People's Republic of China in the 1950s. Kickboxing and full contact karate were developed in the 1960s and became popular in Japan and the West during the 1980s and 1990s. Modern MMA developed out of the interconnected subcultures of Vale Tudo and shoot wrestling. It was introduced in Japan in the form of Shooto in 1985, and in the United States as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were introduced in 2000, and the sport experienced peak popularity in the 2000s. During this period, multiple brands and promotions were established. The most well-known promotion for MMA is UFC.
Popularity by gender
Combat sports are generally more popular among men as athletes and spectators. For many years, participation in combat sports was practically exclusive to men; USA Boxing had a ban on women's boxing until 1993. A study conducted by Greenwell, Hancock, Simmons, and Thorn in 2015 revealed that combat sports had a largely male audience.
List Unarmed Striking
Boxing and Kickboxing Adimurai Kickboxing American Boxing American Kickboxing Amateur Boxing Armenian Boxing Australian Boxing Bare-knuckle Boxing Bando Kickboxing Chivarreto Boxing Cuban Boxing Dambe Boxing Dutch Kickboxing Enfusion Kickboxing English Boxing European Kickboxing Filipino Boxing Freestyle Kickboxing Full Contact Kickboxing Glory Kickboxing Greek Boxing Irish Boxing Japanese Boxing Japanese Kickboxing K-1 Kickboxing Kick Light Kickboxing Kunguk-Do Kyeok Too Ki Light Contact Kickboxing Mexican Boxing Musangwe Boxing New Zealand Kickboxing Puerto Rican Boxing Roman Boxing Russian Boxing Savate Kickboxing Semi Contact Kickboxing Unified Rules Kickboxing Karate Shorin-ryu Goju-ryu Shotokan Wadō-ryū Kyokushin Yoshukai Bōgutsuki Shito-ryu Chito-ryu Isshin-ryū Uechi-ryu Ryūei-ryū Shōrei-ryū Shohei-ryu Tōon-ryū Kenyu-ryu Tokitsu-Ryu Kuma-ryu Washin-ryu Shōrinji-ryū Yoseikan-ryu Shidōkan-ryu Matsubayashi Seidokaikan Shōrinkan Kyudōkan Genseiryu Shukokai Shudokan Bōgutsuki Fudokan Budokan Seido Juku Sankukai Meibukan Gohakukai Koei Kan Wushu Lung Ying Hóu Quán Zhōujiāquán Bàoquán Shéquán Zuiquan Bajiquan Zi Ran Men Bak Mei Emeiquan Mizongyi Mian Quan Ditangquan Chuōjiǎo Heihuquan Changquan Nanquan Yiquan Hung Fut Duan Quan Choy Gar Li Gar Mok Gar Fut Gar Chow Gar Hung Ga Taekwondo Traditional Taekwondo World Taekwondo ITF taekwondo STF Taekwondo ATA Taekwondo Rhee Taekwondo Kukkiwon Taekwondo Extreme Taekwondo Kong Soo Do Chung Do Kwan Chang Moo Kwan Jidokwan Tang Soo Do Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Suntukan Sikaran Capoeira Engolo Taido Kyeok Sul
Grappling
Folk wrestling Alysh Backhold wrestling Barróg Bokh Buriad bokh Bukh noololdoon Bultong Buno Canarian wrestling Calegon Calegon wrestling Chidaoba Coreeda Collar-and-elbow wrestling Cornish wrestling Cumberland Wrestling Devon wrestling Dumog Epoo Korio Fagatua Galhofa Gatta Gusthi Glima Gorës Gouren Gushtingiri Hokoko Huka-huka Iranian wrestling Jobbarer Boli Khela Karakucak Kene Khuresh Khmer traditional wrestling Khridoli Kazakh wrestling Kragkast Kene Kragkast Kurash Lutte Traditionnelle Lancashire wrestling Leonese wrestling Malakhra Mariwariwosu Moana wrestling Mukna Naban Narodno rvanje Norfolk wrestling Pehlwani Popoko Ristynės Ringen Rongomamau Sa Strumpa Schwingen Southern Mongolian wrestling Ssireum Sumo Tegumi Tigel Trântă Taupiga Vajra-mushti Veibo Vật cổ truyền Westmorland wrestling Modern wrestling Amateur wrestling Catch wrestling Collegiate wrestling Combat wrestling Freestyle Wrestling Greco-Roman wrestling Greek wrestling Hayastan wrestling Scholastic wrestling Jujutsu and Judo Japanese jiu-jitsu Sport jujutsu International jiu-jitsu Gracie ju-jitsu Machado ju-jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu 10th Planet jiu-jitsu Guerrilla jiu-jitsu American Jiu-Jitsu Hakko-ryu jiu-jitsu Gyokushin-ryū Jujutsu Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu Kodokan Judo Kosen Judo IJF Judo Olympic Judo Freestyle Judo Azerbaijani Judo Israeli Judo Mongolian Judo French Judo Georgian Judo Russian Judo Korean Judo Brazilian Judo Kung Fu Chin Na Shuai Jiao Die Jiao Gi Ge Qielixi Ndrual Dluad Beiga Sambo Sport Sambo Freestyle Sambo Submission wrestling Luta Livre Esportiva Aikido
Hybrid
Mixed martial arts Karate Kenko Kempo Karate Kūdō Shidokan Karate Tenshinkan Karate Tsuroka Karate Ashihara kaikan Enshin kaikan Byakuren Kaikan Kendokai Kendokan Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Okinawa Seidokan Shindo Jinen-ryu Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryū Wado-ryu Shuri-ryu Gosoku-ryu Sankukai Sanshinkai Zendokai Nanbudo Kokondo Kansuiryu Seigokan Boxing and Kickboxing Ancient Bare-Knuckle Boxing Yaw-Yan Kickboxing Shoot Boxing Pradal Serey Kickboxing Lethwei Boxing Musti-yuddha Kickboxing Moraingy Boxing Draka Kickboxing Xtreme Gladiator Muay Thai Muay Lao Muay Boran Muay Korat Muay Lopburi Muay Thasao Muay Chaiya Jujutsu and Judo Japanese jujutsu Combat jiu-jitsu German Ju-Jitsu Atemi Ju-Jitsu Danzan-ryu Ju-Jitsu Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu Small Circle JuJitsu Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Dait%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB Aiki-j%C5%ABjutsu Kyushin-ryū Ju-Jitsu Kito-ryu Ju-Jitsu Fudo-ryu Ju-Jitsu Kick Jiu Jitsu Taijutsu Atemi Judo Aikido Real Aikido Shodokan Aikido Yoshinkan Renshinkai Aikikai Ki Aikido Hapkido Combat Hapkido Sin Moo Hapkido Hankido Kuk Sool Won Hapki yusul Modern Wrestling Combat Submission Wrestling Shoot Wrestling Shooto Shootfighting Submission Arts Wrestling Wushu Sanda Sanshou Nan Pai Tanglang Tánglángquán Pe̍h-ho̍h-kûn Huaquan Yuejiaquan Wing Chun Fu Jow Pai Choy Li Fut Eagle Claw Taekkyon Sport Taekkyon Yetbeop Taekkyon Kempo Kosho Shorei-Ryū Kenpo Nippon Kempo American Kenpo Shorinji Kempo Okinawan Kempo Kara-Ho Kempo Shaolin Kempo Ryūkyū Kempo Ryū-te Folk wrestling Pi'i tauva Inbuan Malla-yuddha Senegalese wrestling Sambo Combat sambo Full Contact Fighting Sambo ARB Pankration Modern Pankration Ancient Pankration Gaidojutsu GongKwon Yusul Kyukgido Kajukenbo Vale tudo Luta Livre Combat Hopak Angampora American Tang Soo Do Choi Kwang Do Hup Kwon Do Han Moo Do Han Mu Do Subak Teuk Gong Moo Sool Yongmudo
Armed
Bladed weapons Academic fencing Fechtschule Fencing Historical European martial arts Armored combat (sport) Kendo Kumdo Stick-fighting Bâton français Quarterstaff Singlestick Hastilude Arnis Competitive jousting Shooting sports Airsoft Paintball
Techniques The techniques used can be categorized into three domains: striking, grappling, and weapon usage, with some hybrid rule-sets combining striking and grappling. In combat sports the use of these various techniques are highly regulated to minimize permanent or severe physical damage to each participant though means of organized officiating by a single or multiple referees that can distribute penalties or interrupt the actions of the competitors during the competition. In weapon based sports, the weapons used are made to be non-lethal by means of modifying the striking portions of the weapon and requiring participants to wear protective clothing/armor.
Olympics Amateur boxing (1904–1908, 1916-2024): Boxing has been staged at every summer Olympic games since 1904 except Stockholm in 1912 due to Swedish law. Judo (1964, 1972–2024): Judo was not included in the 1968 Mexico City summer Olympics. Women's judo was added to the Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona. Taekwondo (1988 Seoul Games as demonstration sport, 2000–2024): Became an official medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Wrestling Greco-Roman (1908–2024): The first form of wrestling to be held at the Olympic Games. At the Olympics, this is a men-only event. Wrestling Freestyle (1920–2024): Was modified at the 2000 Sydney Games and reduced the amount of weight categories provided. Freestyle wrestling has separate woman and men events. Pankration and singlestick are two other forms of combat sports that have been included in the Olympics. These combat sports were introduced to the Olympic Games in the early 1900s however singlestick was only represented at the 1904 Olympic games and pankration whilst lasting four centuries in Ancient Greek Olympia's, was not included at all after 1900. Fencing (1896–2024): Competitive fencing is one of the five activities which have been featured in every modern Olympic Games, the other four being athletics, cycling, swimming, and gymnastics. Olympic dueling (1906–1908): Demonstration sport at the 1906 Olympics and 1908 Olympics. Karate (2020): Karate made its Olympic debut for Tokyo 2020 under new IOC rules.
Protective gear and clothing