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Some martial arts are designed to hone the mind and body. Some are used as exercise or for spiritual harmony. And some are designed to kill. Take a tour of some of the deadliest martial arts ever invented. These styles turn the human body into a lethal weapon, showcasing the awesome power warriors can harness with their bare hands. Enter the dragon and see for yourself.
Silat
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Malaysia may not be the first place you think of when talking about martial arts, but their unique form of fighting - called Silat - is one of the deadliest in the world. Unlike some martial arts that stress spirituality or self-perfection, Silat is all about one thing: violence.
Silat
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Silat is an ancient art with no clear beginning, though some masters believe it was created by watching the movements of animals. This makes sense because the fighting style is all about exploiting weaknesses in your enemy and incapacitating them as quickly as possible.
Another theory, proposed by "The Malay Art of Self-Defense," is that Silat grew out of a combination of Chinese and Indian martial arts.
Silat
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Speed, leverage and devastating disabling moves are the basis for Silat. In the modern era, this fighting style is a sport like many others. But it's hard trying to regulate a form designed to break rules (and bones.)
Kung Fu
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No list of deadly martial arts would be complete without Kung Fu. The granddaddy of hand-to-hand fighting has been practiced for centuries in China, and used by its warriors to deadly effect for just as long.
Kung Fu
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Kung Fu is actually the general name for all Chinese martial arts. There are a variety of styles, but they all share the same root: striking your opponent with lightening speed and unstoppable power.
Monks were once the guardians of Kung Fu, honing their bodies and minds into lethal tools of war - with or without weapons.
Taekwondo
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The Korean fighting style known as Taekwondo is possibly the most popular martial art in the world. It is easily the most popular martial sport. But that hides its roots as a deadly form of combat.
The name literally means "the art of kicking and punching."
Taekwondo
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This ancient form of fighting goes as far back as the B.C. era, according to some scholars ("A Brief History of Taekwondo" claims the first evidence of the style was found in a cave painting dating to 37 B.C.)
Taekwondo
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The emphasis of Taekwondo is on kicking. As the longest, strongest limb, fighters realized that using legs in combat gave them an edge over other fighting styles that focus on punching. The devastating power of a Taekwondo kick can drop opponents in seconds.
Muay Thai
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From Thailand comes Muay Thai, also known as The Art of Eight Limbs. Yes, eight. This form of fighting relies heavily on elbows and knees, which the Thai count as limbs. Hard, lightening fast knee strikes form the backbone of this deadly fighting style.
Muay Thai
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Though an ancient form of fighting, Muay Thai is a popular sport in modern Thailand. It is still extremely dangerous. Boxing gloves don't offer much protection - or soften the blow - from a knee to the ribs.
MCMAP
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When it comes to waging war, few organizations have as much experience as the United States Marine Corp. So it's no surprise that their unique brand of hand-to-hand fighting, the Marine Corp Martial Arts Program, is one of the deadliest forms in the world. Troops learn a variety of moves, from simple take-downs and strikes to advanced bayonet techniques and how to fight unarmed against an opponent wielding a rifle.
MCMAP
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MCMAP is sometimes called "Semper Fu" by the troops. Believe it or not, this lethal art is actually less deadly than their previous style. The LINE System, used by Marines from the 80's to 2001, was deemed too deadly by command. Due to the variety of peacekeeping duties Marines undertake - as well as the simple fact that sometimes you want your target alive - the MCMAP fighting style was created. Of course, less lethal can still be plenty deadly.
Karate
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Japan is the home of Karate, one of the most popular martial arts today. Unlike other forms that focus on a single body part or form of combat, Karate incorporates the whole body. Punching, kicking, elbows, throws, and open handed "knife strikes" are all staples of the form.
Karate
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Karate is actually one of the youngest fighting styles on this list. This martial art became popular among Japan's military in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Karate
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Karate is also unusual in that it is one of the few martial arts on this list to truly focus on the mind as much as the body. With a focused mind, and a fully trained body, Karate can easily become one of the most unstoppable fighting forms out there.
Krav Maga
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Israelis are no strangers to conflict, and so perhaps it is not surprising that Israel has its own martial art - one of the deadliest in the world. Krav Maga was designed by the Israeli military and is taught worldwide.
Krav Maga
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There is no spiritual journey, no harmony to be achieved in Krav Maga. This fighting form was designed with one thing in mind: disarming, disabling and destroying your enemies.
The unofficial slogan of the style, according to the New York Times, is "Hurt them real bad and then get away."
