The 13 Deadliest Martial Arts In The World

Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. They are practiced for various reasons, such as self-defense, physical fitness, mental and spiritual development, entertainment, and cultural preservation. Some martial arts are also considered sports and provide competition options at various levels.

But not all martial arts are created equal. Some are more lethal than others, and some are designed to kill. These are the world’s deadliest martial arts, the ones that can cause the most damage and destruction in the shortest amount of time.

What Martial Art Is The Deadliest?

What makes martial arts deadly? There is no definitive answer to this question, as different martial arts have different strengths and weaknesses, and different situations may require different approaches.

However, some possible criteria for ranking the world’s deadliest martial arts are:

• The effectiveness of the techniques and tactics used
• The amount of force and power generated
• The speed and accuracy of the execution
• The versatility and adaptability of the style
• The availability and usage of weapons
• The training and conditioning of the practitioner

Based on these criteria, we came up with the deadliest martial arts list in the world, with 13 representatives organized in no particular order:

Krav Maga

Krav Maga is a self-defense system that was developed for the Israeli Defense force, to train their soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. It is a highly respected deadly fighting style and is still used today for its military forces, police, and special forces.

Needless to say, its military origin and use easily rank it among the top of the deadliest martial arts in the world.

Key Features

Some of the features of Krav Maga are:

• It combines striking, grappling, and weapons disarmament techniques.
• It is designed to neutralize threats quickly and effectively in any situation.
• It does not follow any rules or conventions, and it uses any means necessary to survive.
• It teaches situational awareness, threat assessment, and aggression management.

Deadly potential of Krav Maga

Krav Maga does not fit the mold of sports or traditional martial arts. It is a practical and realistic fighting style that can be learned by anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. It can be deadly if used against an armed or unarmed opponent, especially if the opponent is larger or stronger.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is a Thai martial art that uses punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and clinches to inflict damage on the opponent. It is known as “the art of eight limbs” and is widely used in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.

Key Features

Some of the most characteristic features of Muay Thai are:

• It is a striking skill that requires strength, endurance, agility, and coordination.
• It also involves mental toughness and discipline.
• Muay Thai fighters train rigorously to condition their bodies and minds for combat.
• They also learn how to use various parts of their body as weapons, such as their shins, forearms, elbows, and knees

Deadly potential of Muay Thai

Muay Thai can be deadly if used with full force and intent to harm. This martial art can cause serious injuries such as fractures, concussions, cuts, bruises, internal bleeding, and even death, earning a rightful spot among the world’s deadliest martial arts.

Muay Thai fighters are famous for their resilience and toughness, as they can endure and inflict a lot of pain.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art that focuses on ground fighting and submission holds. It is based on the principle that a smaller and weaker person can defeat a larger and stronger one by using leverage and technique. It is also widely used in mixed martial arts competitions and is one of the most lethal martial arts in existence.

Key Features

Some of the most recognizable aspects of BJJ are:

• It is a skill that requires intelligence, strategy, patience, and creativity.
• It also involves physical fitness and flexibility.
• BJJ practitioners train to improve their skills in various positions and scenarios on the ground.
• They also learn how to apply pressure, control, and choke or joint lock their opponents until they tap out or pass out.

Deadly potential of Brazilian Jiu-JItsu

BJJ can be a deadly martial art if used to slam or choke an opponent to unconsciousness or death. It can also cause permanent damage to the joints or spine leaving people paralyzed.

BJJ practitioners are usually calm and confident, as they can handle any situation on the ground with ease and elegance.

Judo

Judo is a Japanese martial art that focuses on throwing, pinning, choking, and joint-locking techniques. It is derived from jujutsu and was developed as a sport and a means of physical education.

Judo can be a deadly martial art if used to slam or choke an opponent to unconsciousness or death.

Key Features

Some of the most distinctive features of Judo are:

• It is a skill that requires balance, leverage, technique, and timing.
• It also involves physical fitness and flexibility.
• Judo practitioners train to improve their skills in various throws and holds.
• They also learn how to use their opponent’s weight and momentum against them.

Deadly potential of judo

Judo can be deadly if used to slam or choke an opponent to unconsciousness or death. It can also cause permanent damage to the neck or spine through a variety of different techniques. Judo practitioners (Judokas) are known for their respect and discipline, as they follow a code of honor and respect.

Silat

Silat is a collective term for various martial arts from Southeast Asia that involve striking, grappling, weapons, and animal-inspired movements. It is influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. This martial art can be deadly if used to target vital points or inflict severe injuries on the opponent.

Key Features

Some of the features of Silat are:

• It is a skill that requires agility, grace, fluidity, and precision.
• It also involves spiritual and mental aspects.
• Silat practitioners train to improve their skills in various forms and styles of silat.
• They also learn how to use weapons such as knives, sticks, swords, and spears.

Deadly potential of Silat

Silat is clearly one of the deadliest martial arts out there, particularly if used to strike vital points or use weapons such as swords or spears. It can cause bleeding, paralysis, organ damage, and even death.

Silat practitioners are known for their stealth and cunning, as they can blend in with their surroundings and surprise their enemies. Think ninjas, but very real and deadly ones.

Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a general term for various Chinese martial arts that involve striking, grappling, weapons, internal energy, and animal-inspired movements. This popular martial art has a long history and a rich culture behind it.

It can be deadly if used to strike vital points or use weapons such as swords or spears.

key features

Defining characteristics of Kung Fu include:

• It is a skill that requires speed, power, grace, and harmony.
• It also involves mental cultivation and moral values.
• Kung Fu practitioners train to improve their skills in various styles and forms of Kung Fu.
• They also learn how to use their internal energy or qi to enhance their performance.

Deadly potential of kung fu

Kung Fu can be deadly if used to strike vital points or use weapons such as swords or spears. It can cause paralysis, organ damage, bleeding, and quick and painful death.

Practitioners of the most popular representative of Chinese martial arts are usually seen as wise and spiritual, as they follow a philosophy of balance and harmony. Their calmness should not be mistaken as complacency, though.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that emphasizes kicking techniques, especially spinning and jumping kicks. It also incorporates punching, blocking, and self-defense skills. It is one of the most popular and widely practiced martial arts in the world.

Taekwondo is a full contact combat sport and also one of the deadliest martial arts if/when used to break bones or knock out an opponent with a powerful kick. Ther is plenty of brutal Taekwondo knockout footage out there to corroborate this statement.

key features

Important features of Taekwondo are:

• It is a skill that requires speed, power, balance, and flexibility.
• It also involves mental focus and discipline.
• Taekwondo practitioners train to improve their skills in various patterns and sparring modes.
• They also learn how to use their legs as their main weapon.

Deadly potential of taekwondo

Taekwondo can be a particularly deadly martial art if used to break bones or knock out an opponent with a powerful kick. It can cause fractures, concussions, internal injuries, and even death.

The practitioners of this Korean martial art are known for their athleticism and elegance, as they can perform impressive and beautiful kicks.

Combat Sambo

Combat Sambo is a Russian martial art that combines judo, wrestling, boxing, and other skills for military and law enforcement purposes. It allows striking, grappling, and, in military or law enforcement versions, even weapons usage.

Sambo, translated as “self-defense without weapons” is designed to be effective in any situation and against any opponent, originally tailored for close quarter combat needs on the battlefield.

key features

The most distinct Combat Sambo features are:

• It is a skill that requires strength, endurance, technique, and adaptability.
• It also involves tactical awareness and survival skills.
• Combat Sambo practitioners train to improve their skills in various combat scenarios and environments.
• They also learn how to use weapons such as knives, guns, and grenades.

Deadly potential of combat saMBO

Combat Sambo can be deadly if used to neutralize or eliminate an opponent with any means necessary. It can cause injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, or death.

Combat Sambo practitioners are known for their versatility and resourcefulness, as they can use anything as a weapon or manipulate the environment to their advantage.

Similar to Krav Maga, Sambo’s military version sand application makes it a legitimate contender for the top among the deadliest martial arts in the world.

Kajukenbo

Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that combines karate, judo/jujutsu, kenpo, and boxing. It was created in Hawaii by a group of street fighters who wanted to develop a more effective system for self-defense. It is known for its hard-hitting and aggressive style.

key features

A few of the popular features of Kajukenbo are:

• It is a skill that requires strength, endurance, technique, and adaptability.
• It also involves street smarts and survival skills.
• Kajukenbo practitioners train to improve their skills in various scenarios and situations.
• They also learn how to use weapons such as knives or sticks.

Deadly potential of kajukenbo

Kajukenbo can be deadly if used to overwhelm or incapacitate an opponent with any means necessary. It can cause injuries such as broken bones, concussions, cuts, bruises, and death.

Practitioners are known for their courage and loyalty, as they follow a code of brotherhood and honor.

Keysi Fighting Method

Keysi Fighting Method is a fighting system, rather than a martial art, that was developed by two Spanish street fighters who based it on their own experiences of violence. This fighting style involves using all parts of the body as weapons, especially the elbows and head. It also teaches awareness, instinct, and adaptation to any situation.

key features

Some of the features of Keysi Fighting Method are:

• It is a skill that requires speed, power, technique, and intuition.
• It also involves mental toughness and resilience.
• Keysi Fighting Method practitioners train to improve their skills in various scenarios and environments.
• They also learn how to use their natural weapons and defend themselves from multiple attackers.

Deadly potential of the keysi fighting method

Keysi Fighting Method finds its way on the list of deadliest martial arts due to the potential to inflict severe damage on the opponent with any part of the body. It can cause cuts, bruises, fractures, concussions, and even death.

The practitioners of this art are known for their realism and pragmatism, as they do not rely on any rules or styles.

Bojuka

Bojuka is a fighting style that was created by Tom Schrenk, a former police officer, and SWAT team member. It combines elements of boxing, wrestling, jujutsu, and other skills for close-quarters combat. It teaches how to use strikes, takedowns, locks, and escapes to survive an attack.

Simply put it is a deadly version of MMA.

Key features

The main aspects of Bojuka are:

• It is a skill that requires strength, endurance, technique, and adaptability.
• It also involves tactical awareness and survival skills.
• Bojuka practitioners train to improve their skills in various scenarios and situations.
• They also learn how to use weapons such as knives or guns.

Deadly potential of Bojuka

Bojuka can be deadly if used to neutralize or eliminate an opponent by any means necessary. It can cause fractures, dislocations, or death by way of overwhelming trauma. A defining characteristic is the clear lack of any rules or styles.

Kapu Ku’ialua

Kapu Ku’ialua is a Hawaiian martial art that involves bone-breaking, joint manipulation, pressure point strikes, and nerve attacks. It is also known as Lua or Hawaiian Bone Breaking. No wonder it is on our list of the deadliest martial arts.

It was originally practiced by warriors and nobles as a way of defending their land and culture.

key features

What makes Kapu Ku’ialua stand out are the following features:

• It is a skill that requires strength, flexibility, technique, and courage.
• It also involves spiritual and cultural aspects.
• Kapu Ku’ialua practitioners train to improve their skills in various forms and techniques of Lua.
• They also learn how to use weapons such as shark teeth or fish hooks.

Deadly potential of Kapu Ku’ialua

Kapu Ku’ialua can be deadly if used to break bones, dislocate joints, or strike vital points of the opponent. It is a brutal martial art that can cause severe pain, paralysis, organ damage, and even instant death.

Wrestling

Wrestling is a combat sport that involves grappling with an opponent, using various techniques such as takedowns, throws, pins, locks, and holds. It is one of the oldest and most universal forms of martial arts in the world. It can be practiced for self-defense, sport, or entertainment.

It is also the one form of fighting that people might don’t often associate as one of the deadliest martial arts in existence.

key features

What makes Wrestling unique is that:

• It is a skill that requires strength, endurance, technique, and strategy.
• It also involves physical fitness and mental toughness.
• Wrestlers train to improve their skills in various styles and rules of wrestling.
• They also learn how to use leverage, balance, and momentum to control their opponent.

deadly potential of wrestling

Wrestling is an extremely effective martial art style that can be deadly if used to slam or choke an opponent to unconsciousness or death. It can also cause permanent damage to the neck or spine if applied correctly or excessively.

Wrestlers are notorious for their determination and perseverance, as they can overcome any challenge or obstacle.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular martial arts in the world that can also be very deadly, but they are not the only ones. There are many other martial arts that can be lethal in the right hands and circumstances. However, it is important to remember that martial arts are not only about fighting and killing. They are also about self-improvement, discipline, respect, and peace.

Martial arts can be used for good or evil, depending on the intention and morality of the practitioner. They can be a source of empowerment and confidence or a tool of violence and destruction. The choice is up to you.