Martial arts as a whole are made up of many variations. Some of these are specific to military uses such as Krav Maga (Israel) and Systema (Russia). Military variations are more about getting an opponent down and keeping them down. They may also offer ways to quickly subdue an opponent – which is generally the variations that police officers train in. Many of the military variations are steeped in history. This is especially true when you consider Systema. Systema was created by the Cossacks. It came about because Russia had to defend itself from various invading armies early in its history. It was then used primarily by Russian Special Forces.

Krav Maga is a form of martial arts that is a conglomeration of various martial arts styles. It also encourages people who practice it to go for the throat, eyes and groin (well it is a military martial arts style). Some might consider this fighting dirty. However, keep in mind that it was developed in order to keep law men and soldiers alive during close combat. It is also designed to disable the target in the quickest possible manner. Because of this – you will not find Krav Maga tournaments because it is too risky for the participants.

In India a lesser known variation of martial arts has started seeing a revival after they repelled British colonization. Kalarippayattu is considered one of the oldest martial arts styles in existence. This style has a fairly wide variety of styles unto itself and focuses on the body as a whole. It also borrows a lot from traditional dance and because of this it has a great emphasis on flexibility and fitness. It also involves a variety of weapons such as blades and large wooden poles. It is good to see ancient styles coming back into the limelight.

Related posts:

1. Lesser Known Variations of Martial Arts
2. Martial Arts Equipments