Martial Art is a form of fighting sport pursued for various reasons, such as self-defense, fitness, leisure, or boosting confidence.
Individuals who practice or teach martial arts are known as martial artists.There are renowned forms of martial arts, including punching (Boxing or Karate) and kicks (Kickboxing or Taekwondo).
Another form involves holds and throws, seen in sports like Judo or Wrestling.
Martial arts have become globalized and gained popularity in diverse cultures.The popularity of martial arts is attributed to its numerous benefits, including increased activity, self-defense skills, and discipline.
Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Wushu, and Mixed Martial Arts are some of the most popular forms.The movie industry has played a significant role in popularizing martial arts, with actors like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li becoming iconic figures.
Vidyut Jammwal, a Bollywood actor, has recently gained recognition as one of the world’s best martial artists.
He is bringing pride to the country, and there’s hope that Indian martial arts will gain prominence globally.Martial arts are used not only for self-defense but also in armed services and law enforcement.While commonly associated with Asian origins, the term “martial” can be traced back to the Roman War God Mars.
The “Top 10 Martial Artists In The World 2021” is a popular subject that is updated yearly to recognize the best performers worldwide.If you want to know the current list, let’s get started.
1. Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee holds the top rank among the world’s top 10 martial artists in 2021.Lee Jun-fan, born on 27 November 1940, was a prominent Chinese martial art performer and filmmaker.He also served as a martial art teacher and philosopher.Jeet Kune Do, a fusion martial arts ideology, was founded by Bruce Lee.It draws from various combat disciplines and is praised for its influence on modern mixed martial arts (MMA).Lee is widely regarded as the most prominent martial artist of all time.He is considered a symbol of popular culture in the twentieth century, bridging the gap between East and West.Bruce Lee is credited with changing how Asians were portrayed in movies.His father introduced him to the fundamental concepts of Wu-style t’ai chi ch’uan, exposing him to martial arts.During his adolescence, Lee got involved in Hong Kong gang conflicts, leading to frequent street fights.Wing Chun had a significant impact on Lee’s martial arts development.
2. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, ranked second among the top 10 martial artists in 2021, was born as Chan Kong-sang on 7 April 1954.He is a renowned Hong Kong entertainer and martial artist, known for his slapstick acrobats, fighting skill, quick wit, and groundbreaking stunts, which he performs on his own.
From the 1960s, he has acted in over 150 films, showcasing his talents in Wushu and Hapkido.
Chan’s fame extends across the globe, with a massive fan base in both the eastern and western hemispheres, making him one of the most well-known action movie artists of all time.His impact is undeniable, and he has been honored with various awards and accolades, such as the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
3. Vidyut Jammal
Ranked third among the top ten martial artists in the world for 2021 is him. Born on 10 December 1980, he is an Indian movie star and an exceptional stunt artist. His primary appearances are in Hindi action movies, particularly the Commando series. He started exploring the art of kalaripayattu at the age of three. In 2018, he was recognized as one of the top six martial artists globally.
Many young female fans consider him a heartthrob and celebrity. They were thrilled to learn about his current ranking as the third-best martial artist in the world. In India, he has portrayed various prominent roles and is especially renowned for his action-packed performances.
4. Jet Li
Next on the list is Jet Li. He holds the fourth rank among the world’s top ten martial artists in 2021. Li Lianjie, also known as Jet Li, was born on 26 April 1963. He is a movie actor, producer, martial artist, and former Wushu champion from China Singaporean.
Li achieved his debut national title for the Beijing Wushu Team after three years of dedicated practice and learning under the renowned Wushu master Wu Bin. At the age of 19, he decided to leave professional Wushu and ventured into a successful career as a performer in China. He made his debut in the movie Shaolin Temple (1982).
The renowned celebrity has appeared in numerous critically acclaimed martial arts blockbuster films. Some of his notable works include Zhang Yimou’s Hero (2002), Fist of Legend (1994), and the first three movies of the Once Upon a Time in China trilogy (1991-1993), where he portrayed the local star Wong Fei-hung.
5. Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal holds the fifth rank among the top ten martial artists in the world as of 2021. His birthplace is Lansing, Michigan. Starting as an Aikido 7th-dan black belt, Seagal began his career as a martial arts instructor in Japan, becoming the first expatriate to run an aikido school in the nation. Later, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he continued to work in the same industry.
His first film, Above the Law, was released in 1988, and by 1991, he had already been featured in four successful movies. In 1992, he portrayed Navy SEAL counter-terrorist professional Casey Ryback in the film Under Siege. Towards the end of the 1990s, he appeared in three more feature films and the straightforward film The Patriot.
After that, his career primarily shifted to direct-to-video films. He also ventured into television, playing the role of a standby deputy sheriff in the series Steven Seagal: Lawman.
6. Wesley Snipes
Ranked sixth on the list of top ten martial artists in 2021, this performer hails from the United States. Snipes was born on July 31, 1962, and has gained fame as an incredible martial artist, performer, and movie producer.
His impressive filmography includes iconic roles in movies like New Jack City (1991), White Men Can’t Jump (1992), Passenger 57 (1992), Demolition Man (1993), U.S. Marshals (1998), and the Blade film trilogy (1998-2004), where he portrayed the Marvel Comics character Blade.
In recognition of his talent, Snipes received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, thanks to his remarkable performances in The Waterdance and One Night Stand, which also earned him the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
Snipes’ journey in martial arts began at the age of 12 when he started taking lessons. Over the years, he has achieved a 5th-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and a 2nd-degree black belt in Hapkido. In addition to that, he delved into Capoeira under the guidance of Mestre Jelon Vieira, and learned kung fu at the USA Shaolin Temple, along with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing.
During his time in New York, Snipes received fighting training from Brooke Ellis, his buddy and instructor.
7. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Ranked seventh on the list of the top ten martial artists in 2021, this star is Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, born on 18 October 1960.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a renowned performer, director, fight choreographer, and former martial artist hailing from Belgium, famous for his action-packed martial art movies.At the age of 12, Van Damme joined the National Center of Karate in Belgium, guided by Claude Goetz.
For four years, he studied and trained, eventually earning a spot on the Belgian Karate Squad.
He further honed his skills in comprehensive karate and kickboxing under the guidance of Dominique Valera.Starting his professional karate journey at 15, Van Damme achieved an impressive record of 44 wins and 4 losses in semi-contact tournaments and non-tournament competitions between 1976 and 1980.
One notable achievement was his participation in the European Karate Tournament on 26 December 1979, where the Belgian Karate Team emerged victorious in Brussels.During his first trial, he secured the second position at the Challenge Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament, surpassing 25 competitors and making it to the finale with his teammate Angelo Spataro
8. Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen, born on 27 July 1963, holds the eighth rank among the world’s top ten martial artists in 2021. Hailing from Hong Kong, China, he is not only an actor but also a renowned martial artist, movie maker, composer, action choreographer, stuntman, and winner of numerous global wushu competitions. Being a well-known Hong Kong entertainer, Yen has left a significant impact on the industry.
From the early 2000s, Yen gained recognition for revolutionizing Asian cinema by incorporating mixed martial arts (MMA) into several of his movies. Zhang Weili, the first Chinese UFC champion, credits Yen’s movies for inspiring her to pursue MMA.
With remarkable skills in various disciplines, including Tai Chi, Boxing, Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wing Chun, and Wushu, Yen has proven his versatility. During the early 2000s, he emerged as one of Asia’s most successful film artists and commanded one of the highest salaries in the region. For instance, in 2013, he earned HK$220 million (US$28.4 million) from four movies and six advertisements.
9. Tony Jaa
Tony Jaa, born on 5 February 1976, holds the ninth rank among the world’s top 10 martial artists in 2021.Tatchakorn Yeerum, also known as Tony Jaa or Jaa Phanom in Thailand, is a renowned Thai martial performer.
He has a diverse skill set, including being an artist, fight choreographer, stuntsman, filmmaker, and traceur. Additionally, he was once a Buddhist monk.
Some of his notable films include “Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior” (2003), “Tom-Yum-Goong” (2005), “Ong Bak 2: The Beginning” (2008), “Furious 7” (2015), and “SPL II: A Time for Consequences” (2016).Jaa’s journey in martial arts started at the age of 10 when he began training in Muay Thai at a local temple.
At 15, he became a protégé of the esteemed stuntman and action movie director, Panna Rittikrai, who guided his path.
Panna advised him to pursue his education at Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education, where he completed his graduation.
10. Johnny Trí Nguyễn
Johnny Tr Nguyn secured the tenth position on the 2021 list of the world’s best ten martial artists. He is renowned as a Vietnamese-American fight choreographer, movie star, martial artist, and stuntman, primarily celebrated for his contributions to the Vietnamese movie industry.
Prior to venturing into Hollywood as a stuntman and appearing in notable films like Spider-Man 2 and Jarhead, he actively participated as a martial artist for the United States national team.
In addition to his accomplishments in Vietnamese cinema, Nguyn also played minor roles in significant Thai films like Tony Jaa’s Tom-Yum-Goong, as well as Indian movies such as 7aum Arivu and Irumbu Kuthirai.
