This is my second installment in the Art of Fighting series. In this article we will be discussing the Martial Arts of South America!

1. Capoeira

One of the most recognized martial arts in the world, Capoeira was developed by Brazilian slaves in the 16th century. It is often labeled as dance, as it uses graceful ballet-like acrobatics. However, it is actually a form of self-defense the slaves used to fight off slave traders and collectors. Most capoeira attacks are made with the legs, like direct or swirling kicks, leg sweeps, or knee strikes. Elbow strikes, punches and other forms of takedowns complete the main list. The swaying, dance-like movement in capoeira is referred to as the Ginga. It also has music to accompany it. This one is my personal favorite.

2. Huka-Huka

A folk wrestling style used by the Xingu people of Brazil, Huka-Huka starts off with both fighters on their knees and the goal is trying to pick their opponent up and slam them on the floor. While an incredibly rare martial art, it is gaining traction in Brazil. The São Paulo State Military Police has recently started to teach its members Huka-Huka as an experiment in self-defense. Mixed Martial Artists hailing from Brazil, such as Anderson Silva and Wanderlei Silva have also started adding some Huka-Huka into their arsenal of fight skills, hoping it will improve their fight game.

3. Grima

An armed fighting style developed in Colombia, Grima practitioners use machetes and sticks to subdue their opponents. Grima makes use of manual dexterity, cunning, and sharp footwork in order to fully utilize the stick and the machete. There are even different syles that utilize different types of stances and footwork, depending on the region. One example of this is Palo Negro, which is close range in nature and uses a circular walking pattern.

4. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Founded by Helio and Carlos Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become one of the most popular forms of Jiu-Jitsu in the Western Hemisphere. As with nearly all forms of Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ emphasizes ground fighting and submissions, including some highly unorthodox ones, such as the Triangle Choke, the Omoplata, and Gogoplata. BJJ was first introduced by the legendary Royce Gracie, in his first Ultimate Fighting Championship debut. The 6 foot tall, 176 lbs. BJJ practitioner tapped out three other men in one night to become the first UFC champion, introducing the world to his family's Jiu-Jitsu style in the process.

And this concludes part two of this series! Next time, i will talk about fighting styles developed in Europe!