10 most common styles of MA

[mmljpp]

tkd

shotokan

mma

bjj

jjj

kickboxing

muay thai

boxing

kung fu

wrestling

[ps1]

Because it's not. Wrestlers (and boxers as well) are not considered martial artists in this country, they are considered athletes. Also, you never see wrestling and boxing listed in the martial arts section of Yellow Pages. Okay, boxing maybe.

Wrestling is considered a western sport, is taught as a sport, and practiced to win medals and competitions.

Therefore, in my opinion, wrestling should not be considered one of the major martial arts.

By that logic...neither is Judo. I don't consider the phone book to be a valid sourse of defining a martial art. I am defining it as a system of combat that can be used for self defense.

To answer the question I'd have to say:

10 Silat

9 Kick boxing (MT or other)

8 JKD

7 Kung Fu (usually a form of Shaolin)

6 Boxing (western)

5 Judo

4 "American"/Freestyle Karate

3 Japanese/ Okinawan Karate

2 TKD

1 Wrestling

Sadly, I agree that BJJ isn't up there yet. At least not in my Area of the country (ohio). It's close though. Another 10 years and it'll be in the top 5. We have alot of people coming up through the ranks. Combine that with it's popularity due to MMA events and it's the next big thing.

[bushido_man96]

Because it's not. Wrestlers (and boxers as well) are not considered martial artists in this country, they are considered athletes. Also, you never see wrestling and boxing listed in the martial arts section of Yellow Pages. Okay, boxing maybe.

Wrestling is considered a western sport, is taught as a sport, and practiced to win medals and competitions.

Therefore, in my opinion, wrestling should not be considered one of the major martial arts.

By that logic...neither is Judo. I don't consider the phone book to be a valid sourse of defining a martial art. I am defining it as a system of combat that can be used for self defense.

Exactly. The reason that Wrestling is practiced as a sport, and done to "win medals" is because that is the way things evolved in Western society. Competition and strength have always been highly valued in Western cultures (as well as many others), and that is why feats of strength and cunning, such as Wrestling, Boxing, and Swordplay evolve from the fighting systems that they were into the sports that we see them as now. The Eastern arts became "ways" and Western arts became sport.

[Zanshin]

Because it's not. Wrestlers (and boxers as well) are not considered martial artists in this country, they are considered athletes. Also, you never see wrestling and boxing listed in the martial arts section of Yellow Pages. Okay, boxing maybe.

Wrestling is considered a western sport, is taught as a sport, and practiced to win medals and competitions.

Therefore, in my opinion, wrestling should not be considered one of the major martial arts.

By that logic...neither is Judo. I don't consider the phone book to be a valid sourse of defining a martial art. I am defining it as a system of combat that can be used for self defense.

Exactly. The reason that Wrestling is practiced as a sport, and done to "win medals" is because that is the way things evolved in Western society. Competition and strength have always been highly valued in Western cultures (as well as many others), and that is why feats of strength and cunning, such as Wrestling, Boxing, and Swordplay evolve from the fighting systems that they were into the sports that we see them as now. The Eastern arts became "ways" and Western arts became sport.

Yes...

You could also say that because in the west, we like to have a sporting approach to many of the things we do, sport is our "way".

Ultimately the eastern "do" principle of the martial ways aspire to achieve the same end results as western sport IE self improvement.

[bushido_man96]

Yes...

You could also say that because in the west, we like to have a sporting approach to many of the things we do, sport is our "way".

Ultimately the eastern "do" principle of the martial ways aspire to achieve the same end results as western sport IE self improvement.

I could not agree more. Very well worded.