List of martial arts weapons

Last updated November 17, 2025

Weapons used in the world's martial arts can be classified either by type of weapon or by the martial arts school using them.

Contents

By weapon type
Handheld weapons
Projectile weapons
Defensive weapons
By martial arts tradition
See also

By weapon type

Handheld weapons

Projectile weapons

Defensive weapons

List of defensive weapons
- Pepper spray
- Armours
  - Shields

By martial arts tradition

See also

Premodern	African Artillery Chinese Early thermal weapons Japanese Medieval
Modern	Early modern Napoleonic American Indian Wars War of the Pacific Crimean War American Civil War War of the Triple Alliance Spanish–American War Mexican Revolution Antique Pre-20th century firearms
World War I	Chemical Infantry Australia Austria-Hungary Belgium Bulgaria Canada France Germany Greece India Italy Japan Montenegro New Zealand Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Turkey United Kingdom United States
Interwar period	Chaco War Spanish Civil War (Nationalist/Republican) Second Sino-Japanese War (Japanese/National Revolutionary Army)
World War II	Infantry Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada China Croatia Czechoslovakia Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Italy Japan Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Romania Soviet Union Thailand United Kingdom United States Yugoslavia
Cold War	Greek Civil War Malayan Emergency First Indochina War Korean War Vietnam War Algerian War Six-Day War Portuguese Colonial War Rhodesian Bush War South African Border War Cambodian Civil War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Iran–Iraq War Laotian Civil War Lebanese Civil War Dominican Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution Salvadoran Civil War Soviet–Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War
Post-Cold War	Yugoslav Wars Afghanistan War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War

Types

Other

Category

Classification

Regional origin	China Europe India Indonesia Italian Ireland Japan Okinawa Korea Mainland Southeast Asia Philippines Russia Vietnam
Unarmed techniques	Arm strikes Chokehold Punch Elbow strike Clinch Ground Headbutt Leg strikes Footwork Kick Flying Knee strike Stomp Grappling Hold Joint lock Sweep Takedown Throw Stand-up
Weapons	Duel Melee weapons Knife fighting Stick-fighting Swordsmanship Archery Shooting
Training	Kata Boxing glove Practice weapon Punching bag Pushing hands Randori Sparring
Grappling	Barróg Brazilian jiu-jitsu Judo (Para judo) Jujutsu Luta Livre esportiva Malla-yuddha Pehlwani Sambo Shuai jiao Sumo Wrestling catch Cornish folk freestyle Greco-Roman Mongolian oil shoot
Striking	Bando Boxing Capoeira Chess boxing Choi Kwang Do Dambe Karate Kickboxing Kun Khmer Lethwei Muay Thai Northern Praying Mantis Russian boxing Sanda Shaolin kung fu Shoot boxing Savate Taekwondo Tang Soo Do Tien Shan Pai Vovinam Wudangquan Yoshukai Karate
Internal	Aikido Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Baguazhang Tai chi Xingyiquan
Full contact / combat sports	Professional boxing Kickboxing Full contact karate Mixed martial arts Pankration Shootfighting Submission wrestling Vale Tudo
Self-defense / combatives	Arnis Bartitsu Hapkido Kajukenbo Jieitaikakutōjutsu Krav Maga MCMAP Pencak silat Pencak Silat Harimau Suffrajitsu Systema Street fighting Taekkyon To-Shin Do Wing Chun Silat Melayu
Eclectic / hybrids	American Kenpo Angampora Chun Kuk Do Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu Jeet Kune Do Shooto Shorinji Kempo Unifight Qwan Ki Do
Battlefield	Banshay Bokator Historical European martial arts Huiyen Lallong Jujutsu Kalaripayattu Krabi–krabong Krav Maga Mardani khel Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Pencak Silat Harimau
Entertainment	Fighting game Martial arts film (Chanbara) Professional wrestling Stage combat Tricking Wuxia

International games

Martial arts at the Summer Olympics	Boxing Fencing Judo Karate Taekwondo Wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman) Demonstration sports Budō Pistol dueling Glima Savate
Martial arts at the World Games	Ju-jitsu Karate Kickboxing Muay Thai Sumo Former official sports Sambo Taekwondo Invitational sports Aikido Wushu
Martial arts at the Pan American Games	Boxing Fencing Judo Karate Taekwondo Wrestling
Martial arts at the Asian Games	Boxing Fencing Judo Ju-jitsu Karate Kurash Taekwondo Wrestling Wushu 2018 Only Pencak silat Sambo
Martial arts at the African Games	Boxing Fencing Judo Karate Taekwondo Wrestling
Martial arts at the European Games	Boxing Fencing Judo Karate Muaythai Sambo Taekwondo Wrestling

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