The Most Famous

MARTIAL ARTS from United States

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This page contains a list of the greatest American Martial Arts. The pantheon dataset contains 179 Martial Arts, 64 of which were born in United States. This makes United States the birth place of the most number of Martial Arts.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary American Martial Arts of all time. This list of famous American Martial Arts is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of American Martial Arts.

Photo of Linda Lee Cadwell

1. Linda Lee Cadwell (b. 1945)

With an HPI of 68.01, Linda Lee Cadwell is the most famous American Martial Arts.  Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages on wikipedia.

Linda Claire Emery Lee Cadwell (née Emery; born March 21, 1945) is a retired American teacher and writer, the widow of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee (1940–1973), and the mother of actor Brandon Lee (1965–1993) and actress Shannon Lee (born 1969). She is the author of the Bruce Lee biography Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew, upon which the film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) is based, as well as the founder, a former trustee of, and an unpaid advisor of the Bruce Lee Foundation.

Photo of Jon Jones

2. Jon Jones (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 63.72, Jon Jones is the 2nd most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist who has competed from 2008. During his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he was the Light Heavyweight Champion from 2011 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2020, and the Heavyweight Champion from 2023 to 2025, as well as the interim Light Heavyweight Champion in 2016. He is the eighth UFC fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes, and the fourth to defend titles in two different weight divisions. Jones is regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with his light heavyweight title victory over Maurício Rua at age 23. He holds many UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including the most title defenses, most wins, and longest win streak. He is also the only fighter ever to beat five former UFC champions consecutively. During much of his championship reign, Jones was widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and spent a record 1,743 days as the UFC's #1 pound-for-pound fighter. Never stopped nor outscored during his career, Jones's only professional loss is a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill; a result disputed by Hamill and UFC president Dana White. Between 2015 and 2017, Jones was involved in several controversies and lost his light heavyweight title three times as a result of disciplinary action. He was first stripped of his title and removed from the official rankings by the UFC in 2015 after he was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges. His subsequent returns to the UFC in 2016 and 2017 saw him emerge victorious in title bouts against Ovince Saint Preux and Daniel Cormier, but were both cut short by Jones testing positive for banned substances and receiving further suspensions, with the latter reversed to a no contest. After his 2017 suspension was lifted, Jones reclaimed the championship by defeating Alexander Gustafsson in 2018, which he held until voluntarily vacating it in 2020. Jones spent three years away from MMA before returning in 2023 to win the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane, later defending it against Stipe Miocic and holding it until his 2025 retirement.

Photo of Cynthia Rothrock

3. Cynthia Rothrock (b. 1957)

With an HPI of 61.82, Cynthia Rothrock is the 3rd most famous American Martial Arts.  Her biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Cynthia Rothrock (born March 8, 1957) is an American martial artist and actress best known for her martial arts films. She holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high-level competitor in martial arts before becoming an actress. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. In 2016, Martial Arts History Museum bestowed Rothrock the official title of The Queen of Martial Arts. Rothrock made her acting debut in the Hong Kong action film Yes, Madam (1985), alongside Michelle Yeoh. She went on to star in several Hong Kong action films, such as Millionaires Express, The Magic Crystal, Righting Wrongs (all 1986), No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987), and The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988). In the 1990s, Rothrock co-starred with Richard Norton in three martial arts films: China O'Brien, China O'Brien II and Lady Dragon (all 1990). She also starred in Martial Law, and its sequel, Martial Law 2: Undercover (both 1991), as well as Tiger Claws (1991), Irresistible Force (1993), Undefeatable, and Fast Getaway II (both 1994).

Photo of Randy Couture

4. Randy Couture (b. 1963)

With an HPI of 61.04, Randy Couture is the 4th most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

Randall Duane Couture (; born June 22, 1963) is an American mixed martial arts commentator, actor, former United States Army sergeant, former professional mixed martial artist, and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, making him a six-time UFC Champion and the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament winner. He is the first fighter in history to win a UFC championship in two different divisions. He currently serves as a commentator and analyst for the Professional Fighters League. Couture has competed in a record 16 title fights. He is tied for the record for the most wins in UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts (6) with former UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. He had the most title reigns in the UFC, with six. His last fight with Lyoto Machida marked his 24th fight in the UFC. He is the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is one of only 2 over the age of 40 to have won a UFC championship fight, having done so four times. He is one of the few MMA champions to regain a title he had lost, and the only to have done it three times (twice at heavyweight, once at light heavyweight). Couture was an Olympic wrestling alternate and has lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout much of his career, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University. He established Team Quest with Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson, a training camp for fighters, based out of Gresham, Oregon, and headed by coach Robert Folis. In 2005, he moved to Las Vegas, where he opened his own extensive chain of gyms under the name Xtreme Couture. He partnered with Bas Rutten to open Legends Gym in Hollywood, California. Couture is generally recognized as a clinch and ground-and-pound fighter who uses his wrestling ability to execute take downs, establish top position and successively strike the opponent on the bottom. He has displayed a variety of skills in boxing and catch wrestling. He is the only UFC fighter to win a championship after becoming a Hall-of-Famer and is the oldest champion in MMA history with his title victory over Tim Sylvia at age 43.

Photo of Billy Blanks

5. Billy Blanks (b. 1955)

With an HPI of 60.30, Billy Blanks is the 5th most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

William Wayne Blanks (born September 1, 1955) is an American actor, martial artist, boxing champion and fitness personality. He was a nationally ranked competitor in semi-contact and point karate during the 1980s, winning a bronze medal at the 1981 World Games, before creating the Tae Bo exercise program.

Photo of Benny Urquidez

6. Benny Urquidez (b. 1952)

With an HPI of 58.09, Benny Urquidez is the 6th most famous American Martial Arts.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Benny Urquidez (born June 20, 1952) is an American former professional kickboxer, martial arts choreographer and actor. Nicknamed "The Jet", Urquidez was a non-contact karate competitor who later pioneered full-contact fighting in the United States. He made the transition from point to full-contact karate in 1974, the year of its inception in the US, frequently fighting in bouts where the rules were ambiguous and contrasts in styles were dramatic. Urquidez is also known for once holding the rare achievement of six world titles in five different weight divisions, and remained largely undefeated in his 27-year career. His only loss came in a Muay Thai match which was shrouded in controversy, as Urquidez had only agreed to a no-decision exhibition, a clause that was ignored when the fight was over. Between 1974 and 1993, he amassed a documented professional record of 49–1–1 (win-loss-draw) with 35 knockouts and two controversial no-contests, although he is also supposed to have an additional record of 10–0–1 (10 KOs) in undocumented professional fights, making a total of 59–1–2–2 (45 KOs). However, sources vary with Ratings listing Urquidez as 63–0–1, (57 knockouts) and on his own official webpage, Urquidez lists his fight record as 200–0, and says he was 63–0, with 57 knockouts in title defenses. Also, he claims to have been undefeated in the "Adult Black Belt Division" prior to entering full-contact karate. Black Belt magazine voted Urquidez "Competitor of the Year" in 1978. In 2019, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. He has appeared in occasional acting roles, including the Jackie Chan movies Wheels on Meals (1984) and Dragons Forever (1988), and played a hitman in George Armitage's Grosse Pointe Blank (1997).

Photo of Nate Diaz

7. Nate Diaz (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 57.34, Nate Diaz is the 7th most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Nathan Donald Diaz (born April 16, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer who is currently a free agent. Diaz is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought for over 15 years after winning The Ultimate Fighter 5. Prior to signing with the UFC, Diaz competed in World Extreme Cagefighting, Strikeforce, and Pancrase. Diaz has the third most UFC bonus awards, with 16 in total. In 2012 he challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Photo of Tony Ferguson

8. Tony Ferguson (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 56.93, Tony Ferguson is the 8th most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist where he is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. A professional since 2008, and was signed to the UFC from his The Ultimate Fighter 13 win in 2011 until his departure in 2025. He is trained in freestyle wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun.

Photo of Demetrious Johnson

9. Demetrious Johnson (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 55.51, Demetrious Johnson is the 9th most famous American Martial Arts.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Demetrious Khrisna Johnson (born August 13, 1986) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the inaugural and former UFC Flyweight Champion (125 lbs) with a record of 11 consecutive title defenses. Johnson most recently competed in ONE Championship, where he is the former ONE Flyweight Champion (135 lb), and was the 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion. He also holds the record for most consecutive wins in UFC flyweight history with 13. Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. ESPN, MMA Weekly, and various UFC personnel have called Johnson one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world. Johnson has been referred to by many as ‘the greatest Flyweight (125 pound) Mixed Martial Arts fighter of all time’ with a record of 25 wins and 4 losses in professional MMA, and 36 wins and 4 losses including amateur and mixed rules bouts. At 125 pounds he only ever lost a single bout, a controversial split decision to Henry Cejudo, who he knocked out in their other bout. He also held titles and notable ranked wins at 135 pounds, though also picked up 3 losses in that division.

Photo of Ronda Rousey

10. Ronda Rousey (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 54.01, Ronda Rousey is the 10th most famous American Martial Arts.  Her biography has been translated into 51 different languages.

Ronda Jean Rousey ( ROW-zee; born February 1, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, actress, and former judoka and mixed martial artist. She is best known for her tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and WWE. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo by winning bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Lynn Roethke had previously won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics, but her medal was not counted toward the US medal count due to Women's Judo being a demonstration sport. Rousey began her mixed martial arts (MMA) career with King of the Cage in 2011. She soon joined Strikeforce, becoming their last Women's Bantamweight Champion, holding the championship until Strikeforce was acquired by the UFC. Rousey was part of the UFC's first female fight at UFC 157, was their inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion, and held the record for most UFC title defenses (6) by a female, until being surpassed by Valentina Shevchenko in 2022. Rousey retired from MMA in 2016 and was the first female fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. Rousey began a career in professional wrestling in 2018, signing with WWE, and debuted at WrestleMania 34. She won the Raw Women's Championship at that year's SummerSlam, and headlined WWE's first and only all-women's pay-per-view Evolution, in which she defended the title. Rousey lost the title in the first women's WrestleMania main event at WrestleMania 35. Rousey returned at the 2022 Royal Rumble, winning the women's Royal Rumble match. That year, she would win the SmackDown Women's Championship twice, making her an overall three-time women's world champion in WWE. She became the eighth Women's Triple Crown Champion when she won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship with Shayna Baszler. Rousey and Baszler also unified the WWE and NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. After leaving WWE in October 2023, she began wrestling on the independent circuit. Rousey is the only woman to become a champion in both the UFC and WWE as well as the only woman to headline a pay-per-view event in both companies. She was voted the best female athlete of all time in a 2015 ESPN fan poll, and Fox Sports described her as "one of the defining athletes of the 21st century." Rousey has also appeared in films, including The Expendables 3 (2014), Furious 7 (2015), and Mile 22 (2018), and published her autobiography, My Fight / Your Fight, in 2015.

People

Pantheon has 64 people classified as American martial arts born between 1945 and 1994. Of these 64, 62 (96.88%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living American martial arts include Linda Lee Cadwell, Jon Jones, and Cynthia Rothrock. The most famous deceased American martial arts include Kevin Randleman, and Anthony Johnson. As of April 2024, 64 new American martial arts have been added to Pantheon including Linda Lee Cadwell, Jon Jones, and Cynthia Rothrock.

Living American Martial Arts

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Deceased American Martial Arts

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Newly Added American Martial Arts (2024)

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