Fyte IQ
Hall of Legends
Founders, guardians, and legends who shaped the martial arts we practice today.
⚔
100 profiles
AE
FOUNDER
Adriano Emperado
USA (Hawaii) · Jun 15, 1926 – Apr 4, 2009
KajukenboKenpoJudo+3
FOUNDER
Bruce Lee
USA/Hong Kong · Nov 27, 1940 – Jul 20, 1973
Jeet Kune DoWing Chun (Ip Man)Boxing+2
FOUNDER
Carlos Gracie Sr.
Brazil · Sep 14, 1902 – Oct 7, 1994
Brazilian Jiu-JitsuJudo (under Mitsuyo Maeda)
FOUNDER
Charles Lecour
France · 1808 – 1894
SavateChaussonEnglish boxing
FOUNDER
Chōjun Miyagi
Okinawa/Japan · Apr 25, 1888 – Oct 8, 1953
Gōjū-ryū KarateNaha-te (Higaonna)Chinese MA
FOUNDER
Chuck Norris
USA · Mar 10, 1940 – Mar 19, 2026
Chun Kuk DoTang Soo DoTKD+3
ĐN
FOUNDER
Đông Ngô
Vietnam/USA · Jun 16, 1934 – May 2, 2021
Cuong NhuShotokanWing Chun+3
FOUNDER
Dōshin Sō
Japan · Feb 10, 1911 – May 12, 1980
Shorinji KempoChinese Kung Fu (Shaolin-derived)
EP
FOUNDER
Edmund Parker
USA (Hawaii) · Mar 19, 1931 – Dec 15, 1990
American KenpoKenpo (William Chow)Boxing
FOUNDER
Edward Barton-Wright
British India/England · Nov 8, 1860 – 1951
BartitsuJūjutsuSavate+1
FOUNDER
Gichin Funakoshi
Okinawa/Japan · Nov 10, 1868 – Apr 26, 1957
Shotokan KarateShōrei-ryūShōrin-ryū (Itosu+1
FOUNDER
Hangan Denkibo Katsuhide
Japan · 1550 – 1587
Tendō-ryū NaginatajutsuClassical Japanese martial arts
FOUNDER
Hélio Gracie
Brazil · Oct 1, 1913 – Jan 29, 2009
Brazilian Jiu-JitsuJudoKodokan Jiu-Jitsu (via Carlos Gracie)
FOUNDER
Heung Chan
China · Aug 23, 1806 – 1875
Choy Li FutChoy GarLi Gar+1
FOUNDER
Hironori Ōtsuka
Japan · Jun 1, 1892 – Jan 29, 1982
Wadō-ryū KarateShindō Yōshin-ryūShotokan
FOUNDER
Hong Hi Choi
Korea · Nov 9, 1918 – Jun 15, 2002
TaekwondoShotokan KarateTaekkyeon
FOUNDER
Imre Lichtenfeld
Hungary/Israel · May 26, 1910 – Jan 9, 1998
Krav MagaBoxingWrestling+2
FOUNDER
Jigorō Kanō
Japan · Dec 10, 1860 – May 4, 1938
JudoTenjin Shin'yō-ryūKitō-ryū Jūjutsu
KH
FOUNDER
Kee Hwang
Korea · Nov 9, 1914 – Jul 14, 2002
Tang Soo DoOkinawan KarateChinese MA+1
FOUNDER
Kenwa Mabuni
Okinawa/Japan · Nov 14, 1889 – May 23, 1952
Shitō-ryū KarateShuri-te (Itosu)Naha-te (Higaonna)
FOUNDER
Lộc Nguyễn
Vietnam · Apr 8, 1912 – Apr 29, 1960
VovinamVietnamese and Chinese MA
FOUNDER
Luchan Yang
China · Nov 1, 1799 – 1872
Yang-style Tai ChiChen-style Tai Chi
FOUNDER
Manuel Machado
Brazil · Nov 23, 1899 – Feb 5, 1974
Capoeira RegionalCapoeira AngolaBatuque
FOUNDER
Masutatsu Ōyama
Korea/Japan · Jul 27, 1923 – Apr 26, 1994
Kyokushin KarateShotokanGōjū-ryū+1
FOUNDER
Morihei Ueshiba
Japan · Dec 14, 1883 – Apr 26, 1969
AikidoDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsuYagyū Shingan-ryū
FOUNDER
Muneomi Sawayama
Japan · 1906 – 1977
Nippon KempoJudoKarate
FOUNDER
Musashi Miyamoto
Japan · 1584 – Jun 13, 1645
Niten Ichi-ryūEnmei RyūTōri Ryū
FOUNDER
Remy Presas
Philippines/USA · Dec 19, 1936 – Aug 28, 2001
Modern ArnisFilipino MAShotokan+1
FOUNDER
Sōkaku Takeda
Japan · Oct 10, 1859 – Apr 25, 1943
Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsuOno-ha Ittō-ryūTakeda clan arts
FOUNDER
Vasili Oshchepkov
Russia · Jan 7, 1893 – Oct 10, 1937
SamboKodokan Judofolk wrestling
FOUNDER
Venancio Bacon
Philippines · 1912 – 1981
Balintawak EskrimaTraditional Cebuano Eskrima
FOUNDER
Vicente Pastinha
Brazil · Apr 5, 1889 – Nov 13, 1981
Capoeira AngolaTraditional Capoeira
WJ
FOUNDER
Wally Jay
USA (Hawaii) · Jun 15, 1917 – May 29, 2011
Small Circle JujitsuDanzan-ryū JujitsuJudo+2
FOUNDER
Wangting Chen
China · 1580 – 1660
Chen-style Tai ChiMilitary artsTaoist philosophy
FOUNDER
Yong-Sool Choi
Korea · Nov 9, 1904 – Jun 15, 1986
HapkidoDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
GUARDIAN
Anatoly Kharlampiev
Russia · Oct 29, 1906 – Apr 16, 1979
Sambo (Sport)Judo (under Oshchepkov)folk wrestling
GUARDIAN
Ankō Itosu
Okinawa · 1831 – Mar 11, 1915
Okinawan KarateShuri-te (Matsumura Sōkon)
GUARDIAN
C.V. Nair
India (Kerala) · 1905 – 1944
KalaripayattuTraditional Kalaripayattu
GUARDIAN
Chōki Motobu
Okinawa · Apr 5, 1870 – Apr 15, 1944
Okinawan KarateMotobu family TiShuri-te
GUARDIAN
Chōtoku Kyan
Okinawa · Dec 1870 – Sep 20, 1945
Okinawan KarateShuri-teTomari-te
GUARDIAN
Duk-ki Song
Korea · 1893 – 1987
TaekkyeonTraditional Taekkyeon
GUARDIAN
Gōzō Shioda
Japan · Sep 9, 1915 – Jul 17, 1994
Yoshinkan AikidoAikido (pre-war Ueshiba)
GUARDIAN
Kanryō Higaonna
Okinawa · Mar 10, 1853 – Oct 1916
Naha-teChinese MA (Fuzhou)
GUARDIAN
Koichi Tohei
Japan · Jan 20, 1920 – May 19, 2011
Ki-AikidoAikido (10th dan)Zen meditation
GUARDIAN
Kyūzō Mifune
Japan · Apr 21, 1883 – Jan 27, 1965
JudoKodokan Judo
GUARDIAN
Lutang Sun
China · Nov 10, 1860 – Dec 16, 1933
Sun-style Tai ChiXingyiBagua+1
GUARDIAN
Mitsuyo Maeda
Japan/Brazil · Nov 18, 1878 – Nov 28, 1941
JudoKodokan Judo
MT
GUARDIAN
Miyako Tanaka
Japan / USA · Unknown – Deceased (pre-2016)
Atarashii Naginata (US)Atarashii Naginata
GUARDIAN
Nai Khanom Tom
Thailand · 1750 – Unknown
Muay ThaiMuay Boran
SY
GUARDIAN
Sachiko Yamauchi-Prough
Japan / USA · Unknown (Japanese-born) – January 2012
Atarashii Naginata (US)Atarashii NaginataTendō-ryū
GUARDIAN
Shōshin Nagamine
Okinawa · Jul 15, 1907 – Nov 2, 1997
Matsubayashi-ryūShuri-teTomari-te (Kyan+1
VS
GUARDIAN
Viktor Spiridonov
Russia · 1882 – 1943
Sambo (co-founder)Jujutsuwrestling+1
GUARDIAN
William Fairbairn
England/Shanghai · Feb 28, 1885 – Jun 20, 1960
WWII CombativesJujitsuBoxing+1
GUARDIAN
Yip Man
China/HK · Oct 1, 1893 – Dec 2, 1972
Wing Chun
GUARDIAN
Yuanjia Huo
China · Jan 18, 1868 – Sep 14, 1910
Chinese MAMizong Quan
LEGACY
Alexis Argüello
Nicaragua · Apr 19, 1952 – Jul 1, 2009
Boxing
LEGACY
Andy Hug
Switzerland · Sep 7, 1964 – Aug 24, 2000
KickboxingKyokushin Karate
LEGACY
Anthony Johnson
USA · Mar 6, 1984 – Nov 13, 2022
MMAWrestling
LEGACY
Antonio Inoki
Japan · Oct 20, 1943 – Oct 1, 2022
Pro WrestlingCatch WrestlingMartial Arts
LEGACY
Apidej Sit-Hirun
Thailand · 1941 – Apr 2, 2022
Muay Thai
LEGACY
Arturo Gatti
Italy/Canada · Apr 15, 1972 – Jul 11, 2009
Boxing
LEGACY
Barney Ross
USA · Dec 23, 1909 – Jan 17, 1967
Boxing
LEGACY
Benny Paret
Cuba · Mar 14, 1937 – Apr 3, 1962
Boxing
LEGACY
Carlos Monzón
Argentina · Aug 7, 1942 – Jan 8, 1995
Boxing
LEGACY
Carlson Gracie
Brazil · Aug 12, 1932 – Feb 1, 2006
BJJGracie JJ
LEGACY
Duk Koo Kim
South Korea · 1959 – Nov 18, 1982
Boxing
LEGACY
Elias Theodorou
Canada · May 31, 1988 – Sep 11, 2022
MMA
LEGACY
Evan Tanner
USA · Feb 11, 1971 – Sep 5, 2008
MMABJJMuay Thai+1
LEGACY
Fiore dei Liberi
Italy · 1350 – 1420
FencingMedieval European combat arts
LEGACY
Gene LeBell
USA · Oct 9, 1932 – Aug 9, 2022
BoxingJudoWrestling+2
LEGACY
Gōgen Yamaguchi
Japan · Jan 20, 1909 – May 20, 1989
KarateGōjū-ryū Karate (under Miyagi correspondence)
LEGACY
Harry Greb
USA · Jun 6, 1894 – Oct 22, 1926
Boxing
LEGACY
Henry Armstrong
USA · Dec 12, 1912 – Oct 24, 1988
Boxing
LEGACY
Jack Dempsey
USA · Jun 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983
Boxing
LEGACY
Jason Frank
USA · Sep 4, 1973 – Nov 19, 2022
MMAKarateBJJ+1
LEGACY
Joe Frazier
USA · Jan 12, 1944 – Nov 7, 2011
Boxing
LEGACY
Joe Louis
USA · May 13, 1914 – Apr 12, 1981
Boxing
LEGACY
Johannes Liechtenauer
Germany · 1300 – 1389
German LongswordMedieval German swordsmanship
LEGACY
Joseph Charlemont
France · 1839 – 1914
SavateSavate (under Lecour's lineage)
LEGACY
Karl Gotch
Belgium/Japan · Aug 3, 1924 – Jul 28, 2007
Pro WrestlingCatch WrestlingJudo
LEGACY
Ken Norton
USA · Aug 9, 1943 – Sep 18, 2013
Boxing
LEGACY
Kevin Randleman
USA · Aug 10, 1971 – Feb 11, 2016
MMAWrestling
LEGACY
Kimbo Slice
USA (Bahamas-born) · Feb 8, 1974 – Jun 6, 2016
MMAStreet fightingBoxing
LEGACY
Marvin Hagler
USA · May 23, 1954 – Mar 13, 2021
Boxing
LEGACY
Masahiko Kimura
Japan · Sep 10, 1917 – Apr 18, 1993
Judo
LEGACY
Masatoshi Nakayama
Japan · Apr 13, 1913 – Apr 15, 1987
KarateShotokan Karate (under Funakoshi)
LEGACY
Muhammad Ali
USA · Jan 17, 1942 – Jun 3, 2016
Boxing
PW
LEGACY
Pernell Whitaker
USA · Jan 2, 1964 – Jul 14, 2019
Boxing
LEGACY
Ramon Dekkers
Netherlands · Sep 4, 1969 – Feb 27, 2013
Muay ThaiJudoBoxing
LEGACY
Ricardo Bernardo
Brazil · Feb 20, 1975 – Nov 25, 2016
KickboxingMuay Thai
LEGACY
Rocky Marciano
USA · Sep 1, 1923 – Aug 31, 1969
Boxing
RG
LEGACY
Rolls Gracie
Brazil · Mar 28, 1951 – Jun 6, 1982
BJJGracie JJWrestling+2
RG
LEGACY
Ryan Gracie
Brazil · Jan 9, 1974 – Dec 15, 2007
BJJGracie JJMMA
LEGACY
Salvador Sánchez
Mexico · Jan 26, 1959 – Aug 12, 1982
Boxing
SO
LEGACY
Shigeru Oyama
Japan/USA · Jun 7, 1935 – Apr 29, 2016
KarateKyokushin (under Mas Oyama)
LEGACY
Stephan Bonnar
USA · Apr 4, 1977 – Dec 22, 2022
MMAVarious MA
LEGACY
Sugar Ray Robinson
USA · May 3, 1921 – Apr 12, 1989
Boxing
LEGACY
Torao Mori
Japan / USA · Unknown – Deceased
NaginataKendoIaido
VF
LEGACY
Vernon Forrest
USA · Jan 3, 1971 – Jul 25, 2009
Boxing
LEGACY
Willie Pep
USA · Sep 19, 1922 – Nov 23, 2006
Boxing