Quiz: Can You Name This Martial Art?

How much do you really know about the history of martial arts? Test your knowledge with this Martial Development interactive quiz.

If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions, you are welcome to look it up first, either online or offline. That’s not cheating, folks–it’s research!

  1. Which martial art is said to have been transmitted to its founder in a dream?
  2. Which martial art was originally taught and/or practiced by criminals?
  3. Which martial art was created specifically for theatrical performance?
  4. Which martial art was designed to prepare a student’s mind and body for spiritual cultivation?
  5. Which martial art attempts to use an attacker’s own strength against them?
  6. Which martial art was developed to restore the national and cultural pride of a subjugated population?
  7. Which martial art’s practices are camouflaged within the movement of dance?
  8. In which martial art were the deadliest and most dangerous techniques intentionally removed, so that the remainder could be safely trained at a higher intensity?
  9. Which empty-handed martial art is actually used in modern warfare?
  10. Which martial art is never practiced without a weapon in hand?
  11. Which martial art draws its principles and techniques from among the best of older arts, while discarding the stale and useless aspects of those same arts?
  12. Which martial art famously restored the failing health of its own master(s)?
  13. Which martial art is best practiced alone?

Official Contest Rules

Answer as many questions as you wish, either in a comment below, or on your own blog. You may answer the questions in detail, or if you prefer, simply provide the name(s) of the martial art(s). All those who answer five or more questions–correctly or not–will become eligible for a special prize!

Best Hands for MMA Vol. 1: Stepping Inside

On September 17, I will randomly select one eligible entry to win a free copy of the Best Hands for MMA Volume 1 DVD, by Fwape*. Fwape is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of 52 Blocks (a.k.a. Jailhouse Rock, or “dirty boxing”), “in light of its cultural importance and its potential to steer African-American men to more positive futures.” (Women and non-African-Americans can practice 52 Blocks too–I think?)

All those who can answer ten or more questions, are invited to pose one additional question of their own.

Good luck and have fun!

September 18 Update: The prize has been awarded–but you may still take the quiz.

* Fwape (Haitian Creole): To strike, or throw to the ground.

12 comments

  1. 1. Which martial art is said to have been transmitted to its founder in a dream?

    Bukti Negara, the martial art practiced by Paul Dethouars.
    2. Which martial art was originally taught and practiced by criminals?

    52 Blocks
    3. Which martial art was created specifically for theatrical performance?

    Wushu
    4. Which martial art was designed to prepare a student’s mind and body for spiritual cultivation?

    Quite a few claim this. Its tough. But I’ll say Largusa Kali.
    5. Which martial art attempts to use an attacker’s own strength against them?

    Aikido
    6. Which martial art was developed to restore the national and cultural pride of a subjugated population?

    Also Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba defanged his Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu roots in order to have something which would allow people to practice an art.
    7. Which martial art’s practices are camouflaged within the movement of dance?

    Capoeira
    8. In which martial art were the deadliest and most dangerous techniques intentionally removed, so that the remainder could be safely trained at a higher intensity?

    Judo. Infact, Jigaro Kano was able to prove that this method worked by challenging other jujitsu schools.
    9. Which empty-handed martial art is actually used in modern warfare?

    Gracie Jujitsu/Brazillian Jujitsu
    10. Which martial art is never practiced without a weapon in hand?

    Okinawan Kobudo
    11. Which martial art draws its principles and techniques from among the best of older arts, while discarding the stale and useless aspects of those same arts?

    Jeet Kune Do
    12. Which martial art famously restored the failing health of its own master(s)?

    Gracie Jujitsu and its founder Helio Gracie.
    13. Which martial art is best practiced alone?

    Yiquan. Although there are drills to work on jing generation, there’s an awful lot of standing around.

  2. I think I got a lot of what might be the standard answers but honestly I think most martial arts would satisfy all of these descriptions except #10.

  3. Which martial art is said to have been transmitted to its founder in a dream?

    Shorinji Kempo – Bodhidharma transmitted the martial are to Doshin So in a dream.

    2. Which martial art was originally taught and practiced by criminals?

    Jailhouse Rock, Savate and Capoeira were all initially practiced by criminals.

    3. Which martial art was created specifically for theatrical performance?

    Wushu

    4. Which martial art was designed to prepare a student’s mind and body for spiritual cultivation?

    Tai-Chi / Qi-Qong / Fulan Dafa

    Quite a few claim this. Its tough. But I’ll say Largusa Kali.
    5. Which martial art attempts to use an attacker’s own strength against them?

    Aikido
    6. Which martial art was developed to restore the national and cultural pride of a subjugated population?

    Also Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba defanged his Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu roots in order to have something which would allow people to practice an art.
    7. Which martial art’s practices are camouflaged within the movement of dance?

    Capoeira

    8. In which martial art were the deadliest and most dangerous techniques intentionally removed, so that the remainder could be safely trained at a higher intensity?

    Judo – When it took on a more “sport/ combat sport” role, many of the martial or ware fare techniques were discarded

    9. Which empty-handed martial art is actually used in modern warfare?

    JuJitsu

    10. Which martial art is never practiced without a weapon in hand?

    Katori Shinto – Japanese Swordsmanship

    11. Which martial art draws its principles and techniques from among the best of older arts, while discarding the stale and useless aspects of those same arts?

    Jeet Kune Do – Bruce Lee

    12. Which martial art famously restored the failing health of its own master(s)?

    Hmm this is a tough one, I’m going have guess Qi Qong

    13. Which martial art is best practiced alone?

    Most of the Internal styles, namely Tai-Chi & Qi Qong

  4. 1. Which martial art is said to have been transmitted to its founder in a dream?
    Shorinji Kempo. However, the stories of the mythical Chang San Feng say that he created the original 13 postures of Tai Chi Ch’uan because of a dream he had in which he saw a snake and crane fighting. That the snake was able to avoid the crane linear strikes with it’s coiling movements is said to be the foundation of Tai Chi.
    2. Which martial art was originally taught and/or practiced by criminals?
    52 Blocks aka Jailhouse Rock, Savate, and Capoeira
    3. Which martial art was created specifically for theatrical performance?
    Wushu
    4. Which martial art was designed to prepare a student’s mind and body for spiritual cultivation?
    Qigong, and to a lesser extent Taijiquan, however several martial arts can lay claim to this concept to include Shaolin Gong-fu.
    5. Which martial art attempts to use an attacker’s own strength against them?
    Akido and Taijiquan most notably, but also Judo, Jujitsu, and Hapkido have strong elements of this concept. Taijiquan uses this as a root concept with the saying “four ounces deflect a thousand pounds.”
    6. Which martial art was developed to restore the national and cultural pride of a subjugated population?
    Taekwondo, this modern martial art was created as a response to the banning of the native Korean Martial arts of taekkyeon and subak during the Japanese occupation.
    7. Which martial art’s practices are camouflaged within the movement of dance?
    Capoeira
    8. In which martial art were the deadliest and most dangerous techniques intentionally removed, so that the remainder could be safely trained at a higher intensity?
    Judo
    9. Which empty-handed martial art is actually used in modern warfare?
    Krav Maga (Israeli) and Systema (Russian)
    10. Which martial art is never practiced without a weapon in hand?
    I would have to go with Iaido, as I don’t think one can practice sword drawing without the sword. Historical European Martial Arts would be worth mentioning here as the unarmed techniques are taught mostly as what to do if one gets disarmed and weapon techniques comprise the core of these arts.
    11. Which martial art draws its principles and techniques from among the best of older arts, while discarding the stale and useless aspects of those same arts?
    Jeet Kun Do created by Bruce Lee
    12. Which martial art famously restored the failing health of its own master(s)?
    Cheng Man-Ch’ing style Taijiquan. Professor Cheng credited his recovery from tuberculosis to his study of Taiji under Yang Chen Fu.
    Also, Gracie Jujitsu and its founder Helio Gracie.
    13. Which martial art is best practiced alone?
    Yiquan also known as Da Cheng Ch’uan. The emphasis on standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang) makes it very much a solitary practice although there are Yiquan schools that have group practices. Also, some forms of Qigong.

  5. 3. wushu
    5.Aikido/Hapkido/Wing Chun
    6. Tae Kwon Do
    7. Capoiera
    8. Judo
    9. Krav Maga/Judo BJJ is taught but I have never heard of it being employed in a combat situation.
    10.Fencing/kumdo/kendo
    11. Jeet Kune Do
    12. Tai Chi?
    13. Shadow boxing

  6. We presented these questions to Jerry during “This Week in Martial Arts” podcast. He had no prep time. The questions start around 53 minutes into the program.

  7. Hey Phil, thanks for the plug. The best part was when the guy said, “The guy who wrote this quiz sucks at life,” and then everyone explained why the questions were wrong. I guess any answer can be right if the question was wrong! LOL.

  8. Chris, I think Jerry is the pessimist, Budd is the optimist, and I’m the apologist:) It was all meant in good fun and we love your stuff. I think Jerry was a little upset because you stumped him on a couple of questions.

  9. A random number generator has selected Daryl Naidoo as the contest winner. Daryl, please contact me with your mailing address so I can send the DVD.

    Although the prize has now been won, most of the quiz questions have not been answered comprehensively yet, so readers are still welcome to contribute whatever they can.

  10. Hi There.. just wanted to drop and thank you for the Prize.

    Received it a while back and it’s great!!! Thanks again 🙂

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