We’ve all seen the Hollywood “wire-fu” and the Chuck Norris white-boy
karate. Everybody knows about the Segal arm snap and the Van Damme
ballerina kick. Even the popular modern mixed martial arts combat sports
are dominated by a fairly rigid set of styles that often result in
grueling grappling matches, methodically paced Brazilian jiujitsu, and
run-of-the-mill hybrid kickboxing.
But there are many other fighting styles. What about the moves too
brutal for the ring and too ugly for the screen? What about the age-old
deadly arts that have stood the test of time without being bastardized,
glamorized, and regurgitated by seekers of profit and fame? Here are
several examples of hardcore martial arts that you won’t see taught in
strip malls to anyone who has a few extra bucks a month.
10. Bokator
Bokator is a Cambodian martial art that dates back to the armies of
Angkor, who dominated the battlefields of Indochina over 1700 years ago.
“Bokator” translates as “pounding a lion”, referring to an ancient
legend telling of a Bokator practitioner who found himself toe-to-toe
with a man-eating lion. As the story goes, the warrior killed the
bloodthirsty beast with a single, perfectly placed knee strike.
Like many other Asian martial art styles, Bokator is based on the
movements and mannerisms of various animals, such as eagles, cranes,
horses, snakes, and, of course, lions. What sets it apart from the
others is its brutality and battlefield practicality. Boasting a
catalogue of over 10,000 techniques such as elbow and knee strikes,
joint locks, throws, and submissions, Bokator is a deep and very complex
art form, giving fighters endless options for engagement.
9. Rough and Tumble
This one is a lot more intense than it sounds. In fact, they should
have called it “maim and kill”, since that was the main goal in mind
when this system of fighting was developed during the 18th and 19th
centuries in the southern United States. The term “gouging” was also
used to describe this fighting style due to the fact that one of its
most prolific techniques was eye gouging, and not the classic Three
Stooges finger poke either.
Rough and Tumble fighters emphasized maximum disfigurement and a
no-holds-barred ferocity that can be challenged by very few others. Some
were even said to have filed their teeth into razor-sharp weapons,
which they would then use to bite off the ears, noses, lips, and fingers
of their opponents. And since the genitals were fair game, many
fighters literally lost their manhood in these cold-blooded
confrontations. This heartless brutality is the main reason why Rough
and Tumble isn’t often talked about or practiced in these “civilized”
modern times.
And since most of the techniques were never officially codified and
cannot even be practiced without the extreme danger of life-altering
injury, they have been largely ignored by the majority of the modern
martial arts community. It seems nowadays that most people, even those
who love to fight, are just not quite hardcore enough for the
eye-gouging, neck-biting, genital-ripping fun that is Rough and Tumble.
8. Bakom
A product of the poverty-stricken shantytowns of Lima, Peru, Bakom is
a dangerously ruthless martial art that teaches not only to quickly
disable and/or kill your opponent, but also to use deception and other
so-called “less than honorable” tactics, such as the use of hidden
weapons.
Founded in the 1980s by a former Marine and ex-convict, Roberto Puch
Bezada, Bakom is officially classified as a modern hybrid martial art,
incorporating various elements of jujutsu with Vale Tudo-style street
fighting. Common techniques include bone-snapping arm locks, merciless
chokeholds, and precision strikes at the vital organs, all at a
breakneck pace designed to overwhelm opponents before they have time to
realize how much trouble they’re in. The result is a blitzkrieg of
beat-down that nobody wants to see heading their way.
7. Lerdrit
Lerdrit is a modern derivation of the traditional Thai fighting
techniques currently practiced by the elite commandos of the Thai Royal
Army. The basic principles of Lerdrit are similar to those of its
predecessors (Muay Thai, Muay Boran). However, there are a few key
differences that kick it up by a whole new factor of awesomeness.
Fighters are taught to attack without warning, immediately take their
opponents to the ground, and finish the fight quickly with one of the
many devastating kill strikes, such as a boot to the throat or elbows to
the temple, all while minimizing risk of injury by using the “hard”
parts of the body, such as knees, palms, shins, and (the aforementioned
classic) the elbow. As with all military fighting systems, Lerdrit’s
goal is radical and specifically designed for life or death situations.
It’s not just about kicking ass; it’s about taking lives.
6. Dambe
Based on the ancient boxing traditions of Egypt, Dambe is a deadly
striking art developed by the Hausa people of West Africa, many of whom
traveled the land as butchers, moving from village to village performing
combat ceremonies and taking on any challengers.
The primary weapon in Dambe is the strong-side fist, also known as
the spear, which is wrapped in a piece of cloth covered by tightly
knotted cord, while the fighter’s favored leg is wrapped in a thick
chain. It’s as if kicking people in the face just wasn’t quite hardcore
enough for the butchers of West Africa. They had to start wrapping their
legs in jagged metal to really get their blood going.
Interesting side-note: Many of the modern-day Dambe fighting
companies who travel the land performing for villages engage in the
ritualistic smoking of marijuana before bouts.
5. Systema
Let’s face it—just to survive in Russia, one must be at least a
little bit crazy. It’s no surprise, then, that Systema (the official
martial art of the infamous Russian Spetsnaz) is such a cold and
efficient way of opening a proverbial can on any capitalist pigs that
refuse to get with the program.
Systema focuses on controlling the important parts of the body—the
elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders, through pressure
points and critical hits. The root philosophies of the system are based
on the laws of biomechanics and anatomy, with much of the training
focusing on studying the natural weaknesses of the human form so that
one may manipulate them at will.
Another unique characteristic of Systema is that it doesn’t just
focus on unarmed, one-on-one combat, as do many other martial arts.
Instead, it teaches the practitioner how to deal with multiple opponents
coming from all angles with a variety of weapons. Because hey, what’s
more badass than knocking out an overly muscled thug? Well, knocking out
five or six overly muscled thugs.
4. Jailhouse Rock
Jailhouse Rock (JHR) is one of only two martial arts that are
indigenous to the United States. Created within the cutthroat world of
(you guessed it) America’s prison system, JHR is a prime example of
no-frills brawling developed by men who literally have nothing better to
do than work out and fight.
JHR’s is notable for its brutal training methods, one of which is
known as 52 pick-up. A deck of cards are scattered about the floor and
trainees are made to pick them all up in order while being beaten
mercilessly by three or more others.
3. Kalari Payat
Indigenous to the southern Indian state of Kerala, Kalari Payat is
commonly recognized as the oldest fighting system in existence and
predecessor to some of the most popular martial arts in the world. Oral
tradition claims that it was created by an incarnation of the Hindu god
Vishnu, who is also described as the “Preserver of The Universe” and who
was said to have a “universal form that was beyond the ordinary limits
of human perception”.
Kalari Payat has many variations and sub-types, each specializing in
different facets of both armed and unarmed combat. One of the most
notable is Marma Arti (hitting the vital spots), which, in the hands of a
master, can instantly paralyze or kill with a single, well-placed
strike to any one of the 108 nerve points that are considered to be
lethally vulnerable. And, as if they’re so deadly that it makes them
feel guilty, the masters of this powerful art also study the Siddha
medical system, which stems from the same ancient teachings.
2. Silat
Developed by the ruthless headhunting tribes of Malaysia, Singapore,
and the Philippines, Silat is a collective word for hundreds of
different styles of combat, including grappling, striking, joint
manipulation, throws, and the use of bladed weaponry.
The earliest evidence of Silat being taught in its present form is
found in Sumatra. There, according to legend, a woman created the combat
system based on observing wild animals, much like many other Asian
martial arts. Today, Silat is employed by several military groups
throughout the Malay Archipelago and surrounding lands, and by the
notorious pirate clans of the South China Sea.
1. Okichitaw
One of the few remaining examples of Native American martial arts,
Okichitaw is based on the fighting techniques of the Plains Cree First
Nations. Founded by George J. Lepine, a student of judo, tae kwan do,
and hapkido who also mastered the gunstock war club and
tomahawk-throwing techniques, Okichitaw is a hybrid art that combines
the ravenous fury of the Native American fighting spirit with the
tried-and-true methods of popular Asian styles.
The techniques taught in Okichitaw often assume the possession of a
weapon. Much like aikido, even if the practitioner is empty-handed,
his/her strikes are performed as if a weapon is being used. For
instance, the hands are used like tomahawks, while kicks jab at a
distance like spears. Knife techniques are also very prevalent within
the codified systems of Okichitaw. After all, what’s the use of learning
a badass Native American combat art if it doesn’t teach you how best to
scalp a white man?
source : http://listverse.com/2013/07/02/10-badass-martial-arts-youve-never-heard-of/
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