Top 10 Martial Arts in the World

10. Krav Maga

This type of self-defense system was developed for use by the Israeli military. The name stands for “contact combat” and it consists of a variety of techniques. It focuses on real world situations and brutal counter attacks that are based on street fighting skills that were created by Imi Lichtenfeld. However, it is a type of fighting that encourages students to avoid confrontation but if the fight is unavoidable; its techniques will end the fight quickly by aiming at the most vulnerable areas of the human body. Some moves can permanently injure or kill opponents.

9. Kickboxing

This type of martial arts focuses on standing fights using kicking and punching. It uses techniques derived from karate, western boxing, and Kun Khmer/Muay Thai. People train to do it in order to defend themselves from attacks, stay in shape, and to use as a sport. There are kick boxing championships and there are various rules for “safe fighting”.

8. Kendo

The name stands for “Way of the Sword” and it is one of the more modern Japanese martial arts. It is a direct decendant from swordmanship that is known as Kenjutsu that uses bamboo swords as well as armor. It is practiced in many nations around the world. People enjoy not only the physical activity that goes along with it but the mental challenge that it presents.

7. Aikido

Developed by Morihei Ueshiba is what you find when you practice Aikido which is a Japanese martial art. He developed it to combine his martial studies, religious belief, and philosophy. It is performed by redirecting force from an attack rather than opposing it. It requires very little physical strength. It is popular all over the world and there are a variety of styles. These styles maintain the techniques from Ueshiba and all have consideration for the well-being of an attacker.

6. Tai Chi Chuan

This Chinese martial art is practiced both for the health benefits and self-defense training that comes along with it. It improves a person’s balance and psychological health according to medical research. It is easy for older people to use because of the slower movements involved in using it.

5. Jujitsu

This Japanese martial art is a method of close combat that allows someone to defeat an armed as well as armored opponent using no weapon by manipulating the opponent’s force against them because of the simple fact that striking an armored opponent is a fairly useless attack. Therefore, this practice allows you to neutralize an enemy using their energy against them. Jujitsu schools use various techniques of grappling. This may include various holds, striking, kicking and even biting.

4. Kung Fu

ung Fu is a Chinese martial art that is used for self-defense. It involves both hand to hand combat as well as combat with weapons. It combines a variety of other types of fighting techniques including karate and wushu. To learn it you must practice patience and energy. You use it when unarmed and in need of protecting yourself using the strengths that you naturally possess.

3. Judo

This modern martial art means “gentle way” and it is commonly used in combat situations as well as for an Olympic sport in Japan where the objective is simply to throw or take down your opponent and subdue them by pinning them. You can also force them into submission by using a joint lock or a choke hold. To fight you can use hands, feet and even weapons. The overall idea is that if you resist your opponent you will find defeat, instead, evade and your opponent will lose his balance and therefore his power is reduced so that you can win. It allows the weaker opponent to beat someone who is significantly stronger than they are.

2. Tae Kwon Do

This Korean martial art combines self-defense with sports and exercise. It combines taekkyeon, Okinawan karate, as well as other types of defensive arts. It is a sport that places high emphasis on speed and competition. It allows the opponents to use hands, feet, and pure speed if you find yourself in an unarmed combat situation. You use your strength, survival skills and speed to win against even the most formidable opponent.

1. Karate

To practice the ancient art of karate you will use everything that you can to win against your opponent including punches, kicks, knee strikes, knife hands, spear hands, grappling, joint locks, restraints, and more. If you want to practice karate it is believed that only a clear mind and conscience can understand and that you must be inwardly humble and gentle outwardly. You should be receptive to criticism and if you are indecisive it is a weakness. This form of martial arts is popular all over the world and several movies have been based on it to give it even more popularity.

Martial arts is a form of fighting but it is also much more than that. All types of martial arts within the list of the top 10 martial arts in the world are based on gaining confidence and stability. These techniques are taught to help you avoid getting hurt in a combat situation but all will encourage you to avoid confrontation if at all possible. Use martial arts only for your health, your confidence, and if you need it, to protect yourself.

Top Ten Largest and Strongest Armies in the World 2014

10. Egypt

The Egyptian army with 468,500 military personnel works for the safety of the country from internal and external enemies. Its military personnel are good and well trained and the army has given training to several nations like Arab and African states. Its armaments came from all around the globe and it has been recently innovating with British, American and French equipment. 

9. Iran

Iran is a Muslim country with abundance of natural resources and was established in 1925. Its army has long and varied history and is comprises of more than 523,000 army personnel. Its army officers got training in European and American military academies, most of its weapons came from the United States of America, which were its friend at that time but in 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, its relations with United States became tensed. It has quarrelsome relations with its neighbors and its army has grown to become one of the most powerful militaries of the Middle East.

 8. Pakistan

The Pakistan armed forces were established after achieving freedom from British Empire in 1947 and are country’s best organized institution. It has been playing a fundamental role in keeping the state together and maintaining a feeling of nationhood since the formation of Pakistan. It has close military terms with China including research cooperation and developmental programs for enhancing the military system, China is also the biggest supplier of military weapons to Pakistan. Its army is very alert regarding its defense system due to antagonistic relationships with its neighboring countries, especially India.

Pakistan is the world’s second largest Muslim country and its army has over 617,000 courageous and brave military personnel serving the nation and work closely with two world’s largest armies including China and United States for maintaining the security at borders and developing new technologies.

7. Turkey

The military forces of Turkey are termed as Turkish Armed Forces whose overall head is President of Turkey. Turkey won the independence war in 1992 and remained neutral till the closure of World War II. On 18th February, after joining NATO, it started an extensive modernization plans for its Armed Forces including new technologies and advanced weapons. The Turkish military sent troops to battle in Korea where they played important roles at some points. With 664,060 soldiers, this country is doing a great expenditure on its military powers in order to make it one of the largest fighting forces in all over the world. 

 

6. South Korea

The South Korean army is much smaller as compared to the North Korean and was founded in 1948 when there was separation of the country in two different states. Its armed forces are known as the Republic of Korea Armed forces or ROK Armed Forces. This country has received long time assistance from the United States of America, however its armed forces are undergoing speedy innovation and would be able to be powerful enough to control various defense issues itself by December 2015. The South Korean army comprises of more than 687,000 military personnel. 

 

5. Russian Federation

The military services of Russia were established on 7th May, 1992 and it is the world’s second largest country according to its nuclear armaments. It has almost 1,040,000 active military members and has more than 2 million reserve military members. Its military expenditures are approximately $72 billion which are going to be increased in 2014.It is one of the highly experienced armies in the world which requires its residents of age from 18 to 27 years, to obtain army education or to be engaged in service. 

 

4. North Korea

The armed forces of North Korea are known as the People’s Army or the Korean People’s Army and was established in 1930. It one of the world’s largest military organization with a man power of 1,106,000 soldiers. This country is also proud of having the world’s biggest Special Forces and submarine fleet. The army of this country stands face to face against the United States and South Korea along the deactivated zone. It is a small country that hardly can afford this huge size military but it chooses to spend one quarter of its financial resources on it that are approximately equal to $10 billion. It has also a reserve military force of over 8 million personnel which is the largest in the world. 

3. India

This is the world’s second largest populated country and possesses the third largest army having more than 1,325,000 soldiers that are serving the nation. It is the biggest importer of military weapons in the world with Israel, Russia and to some extent United States and France and for this its expenditures are equivalent to nine percent of the imports of the world. It has a good relationship with Russia that also helped in developing its military aircrafts. This country has also 2.1 million reserve military personnel that are almost twice of the active personnel. It needs a continuous level of alertness because of its border tensions with China and conflict issues with Pakistan. Since 1974, this country has been in possession of nuclear armaments.

2. United States of America

The second largest army in this world is of United States of America with a man power of more than 1,458,219 individuals. It draws its armed forces from a collection of paid volunteers. It is considered as one of the most trained armies in the world with the most active nuclear armaments as compared to the world’s other nuclear powers. The military expenditures are more than half a trillion every year with an additional expenditure of $88.5 billion for its overseas emergency actions and these expenditures are similar to almost 39 percent of the total military expenditures in the world. 

1. China

China is the largest country according to the size of the population but it is also the country having largest army in the world with military size of more than 2,285,000 soldiers. The military of China is also known as the People’s Liberation Army and is one of the strongest armies in the world. The military services are mandatory for Chinese men when they reach at the age of 18 years, however a draft is never enforced due to a large number of volunteers. 

Top Ten Richest People in the World 2014

1) Bill Gates – $77.1 billion

Perhaps the most famous icon for wealth and philanthropy in the world, after holding down the second place spot for three years, Bill Gates reclaimed his position in 2014 as the world’s richest person. Gates is known as a prominent American investor, philanthropist, inventor and programmer. He co-founded Microsoft, and also held positions of CEO, chairman and chief software architect at the company before retiring. Through his charitable organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has donated more than $26 billion dollars to philanthropic causes such as enhancing healthcare and reducing extreme poverty worldwide.

So there you have it, the ten richest people in the world for 2014. Luckily for the world, the richest people in the world, by and large, are heavily involved in philanthropic pursuits that help those who are less fortunate. Many in the above list have signed a pledge to actually donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy, which will drastically change and improve many lives in the years and decades to come.

2) Carlos Slim Helu – $68.8 billion

Holding the title of the world’s richest person from 2010 to 2013, this Mexican businessman dropped in rank this year. Via his conglomerate, Grupo Carso, Helu is involved in many Mexican companies in the fields of communication, retailing, technology, and finance. He is also the chairman and chief executive of popular telecommunication companies Telmex and América Móvil. Helu has also been named as one of the world’s biggest charitable givers, donating a total of $4 billion to his foundation.

3) Amancio Ortega – $63.8 billion

hanks to his success in the retail industry, this Spanish businessman is worth $64 billion. Ortega is the founder of the famous Spanish clothing company, the Inditex fashion group, which is headquartered in Arteixo, Spain. Perhaps his best known chain is the Zara clothing and accessories shops. Since 2013, Ortega’s wealth has increased by $7 billion. 

4) Warren Buffet – $63.3 billion

The fourth richest man in the world has amassed a total net worth of $58.2 billion, over $10 billion more than Ellison. Buffett has long been known as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and has been praised for his sound financial investing and advice. Buffett is the CEO, chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, an American multinational conglomerate holding company based out of Omaha, Nebraska, and has famously pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune.

5) Larry Ellison – $49.3 billion

Heavily involved in the tech industry, Larry Ellison is the chief executive officer of Oracle, an American multinational computer technology corporation based out of California that specializes in computer hardware systems. Ellison is worth $48 billion, a whopping $8 billion more than the two Koch brothers. Named the third wealthiest man in America last year, Ellison also has large stakes in companies such as Salesforce, NetSuite, Astex Pharmaceuticals and Quark Biotechnology. Ellison was, along with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, one of the billionaires to sign the “The Giving Pledge,” where most of his wealth will be given to philanthropic causes.

6) Charles Koch – $40.1 billion

The other man at the head of Koch Industries, Charles Koch ties with his brother for the sixth richest person in the world, worth a total of $40 billion. Charles is the official chief executive officer of Koch Industries and is also fond of charitable organizations such as the Institute for Humane Studies, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and the Cato Institute.

7) David Koch – $40.1 billion

Worth $40 billion, David Koch is one of the two American businessmen who owns Koch Industries, the second largest private company in the United States. David ties for sixth place with his older brother, Charles Koch, and is considered the wealthiest person in New York. David Koch is an active man who, along with being the executive vice president of Koch Industries, is involved in various businesses, philanthropic pursuits and political events, along with also being a chemical engineer. He is known for his love of arts and often contributes to the Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History. David Koch is also heavily involved in the political sphere, where he donates to various political campaigns and advocacy groups.

8) Sheldon Adelson – $37.9 billion

With a net worth of $38 billion, the chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation has made most of his money from the casino business, but also owns the Israeli newspaper, Israel HaYom. Las Vegas Sands Corporation is the parent company of Venetian Macao Limited, which operates both the The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Adelson has a strong commitment to charity including his own organization, the Adelson Foundation, which has made over $140 million in contributions to Birthright Israel.

9) Christy Walton – $37.6 billion

From the same family, Christy Walton is the only woman to routinely be included in top 10 lists of the world’s richest people. She has a net worth valued at $36.7 billion — $2 billion more than her brother-in-law Jim. Christy is the widow of John Walton, one of the sons of Sam Walton, and inherited his fortune after his death in 2005.

Christy Walton is the world richest woman in 2014. Also check out top 10 richest women in the world 2014.

10) Jim Walton – $35.2 billion

He is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart. Walton’s net worth increased to $34.7 billion in 2014, which is $3 billion more than his ranking was in 2013. He replaced his brother, John, on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors in 2005 and is currently on the Strategic Planning and Finance committees as well. Walton is also the CEO of Arvest Bank, another Walton family owned business.