BoxingThe sweet science — Olympic sport since 1904 and a global professional business, from national amateur programs to world title fights.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & GrapplingThe gentle art — Brazil's ground-fighting science turned global sport, from the IBJJF Mundials to ADCC, with a belt system that is itself a credential.
FencingFoil, épée and sabre — one of only five sports at every modern Olympics, fought on an electric piste under the FIE.
JudoThe gentle way — Kanō's Olympic martial art of throws and submissions, the belt system's origin, and the root from which BJJ grew.
KarateOkinawa's empty hand — kumite and kata under the WKF, an Olympic sport once (Tokyo 2020) and campaigning to return.
Kendo & WushuTraditional Asian martial arts as modern sport — Japan's way of the sword and China's codified wushu, each with world championships.
Kickboxing & Muay ThaiStriking combat sports — Muay Thai under IFMA and the kickboxing codes under WAKO, both fully IOC-recognised in July 2021, alongside professional promotions.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)The complete fighting sport — striking and grappling under the Unified Rules, from Brazil's vale tudo roots to the UFC's global stage.
SamboThe Soviet grappling art — sport and combat sambo under FIAS, which won full IOC recognition in 2021.
SumoJapan's national sport and living ritual — six grand tournaments a year, a ranked hierarchy of stables, and the yokozuna at its summit.
TaekwondoKorea's Olympic striking art — electronic scoring, spinning head kicks, an Olympic medal sport since Sydney 2000, governed by World Taekwondo.
WrestlingSport's oldest contest — freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling under UWW, with the NCAA mat America's proving ground.