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Dumog (Philippines)

Dumog is a Philippine wrestling style that uses grappling techniques to throw an opponent. The opponent's back must land squarely on the ground for the throw to count.

Fencing (Europe)

• Foil: Thin round blade. Thrust at opponent. Only the torso is a legal target.

• Epee: Tin triangular blade. Thrust at opponent. Any part of the body is a legal target.

• Saber: Flat blade. Thrust or slash opponent. Anything above the knees is legal target.

Gatka (India)

Gatka is one of the most esoteric martial arts. It is a battle-tested, ancient martial art that survives today as part of the Sikh culture. Sikhism was founded in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak, who started the religion as an alternative to the dominant Hindu and Muslim faiths. Devout Sikhs follow several tenets of the religion, the most visible is the turban worn by Sikh men and women. Gatka specializes in sword "shaster" and shield fighting, but includes other weapons, including the staff "lathi," the quoit "chakram," and the exotic "chakar," which looks like a wagon wheel with weights at the end of each spoke. The chakram and chakar are weapons unique to Gatka. The chakar is wielded by grasping the center, the hub of the "wagon wheel," and spinning it around, striking opponents with the weights. The chakram is basically a flat steel hoop with the outside edge honed to a sharp edge. The chakram is spun around the index finger and let fly to at the target. The chakram is the favorite weapon of television's Xena: Warrior Princess. Gatka has been used effectively for centuries. Besides the numerous conflicts and wars in Punjab or the famous Sikh regiments of World War II, Sikhs armed with lathi were used as riot police in the rough-and-tumble street of 1930's Shanghai. Although training in Gatka may be hard to find for non-Sikhs, the art is exciting to watch in cultural demonstrations.

Glima (Iceland)

Glima is the national sport of Iceland, similar to wrestling. It is illegal to kick or strike. Each participant wears three leather belts: one around each thigh and one around the waist, each thigh belt is fastened by a strap to the waist belt. These straps are used for gripping the opponent. In a match the two wrestlers constantly walk around each other and try to bring down the opponent using eight basic techniques. The match ends when one of the wrestlers falls down.

Hisardut (Israel)

A very hard core defense oriented system. that does not teach forms.

Jeet-kune-do (United States)

 A non-classical form of Chinese kung-fu that was founded by Bruce Lee in the 1960's. It is a fluid art that, at times, resembles many other martial arts, since it absorbs what is useful from other arts and rejects that which is useless. "Jeet" means to stop, "kune" means fist, and "do" means way, thus it is "the way of the intercepting fist." Jeet-kune-do is formless and constantly changing. Its main tenet is "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own." Since Lee's death in 1973, the art has evolved into two variations: original Jeet-kune-do, which is promoted as the art Lee practiced until his death; and Jeet-kune-do concepts, which applies Lee's strategies and philosophies to martial arts techniques drawn from various Indonesian, Philippine, and Thai styles. Jeet-kune-do is renowned for its Sreet effectiveness and is almost never used in competition. Training includes instruction in kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling. Jeet-kune-do emphasizes simplicity. There are no set techniques, it emphasizes improvised problem solving. Sparring emphasizes blocking and attacking at the same time along a centerline.

Kalari-payattu (India)

Kalari-payattu "the art of wielding weapons in the arena" is an ancient form of combat from southern India. According to its tradition, this martial art was founded by the Sage Parasurama around the 4th century A.D. It was promoted heavily by the warrior Chieftain Thacholi Othenan of North Malabar, reaching its peak of popularity in the 16th Century. This art was historically practiced by both men and women. One of the most famous practitioners of this art was the legendary heroine Unniyarcha who won many battles through her great skill. Kalari-payattu includes both armed and unarmed techniques "verumkai" in which punches, kicks, and strikes are directed toward 108 marman, or vital points. Movements are further taught to be in coordination with breathing (pranayama). Body exercises known as "maipayattu" include body twisting and turning combined with leaps and jumps.

The Kalaripayat student learns the efficient use of such weapons as the "modi" (a double gazelle horned dagger), and the "otta" (an "s" shaped stick made from a type of hardwood from the tamarind tree) that is approximately two feet in length and usually has a knobbed end for use in digging into various nerve centers. Metal weapons called "anga thari" are also used in training. In combat these weapons consist of swords, sword and shield combinations, knives, daggers, spear, and the "urumi" a type of very flexible double edged sword.

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