Most Influential Martial Artist Ever to Exist?

Question

Lee, Funakoshi, Kano, Mifune, Rickson, Royce, Lebell, Inosanto, Matsumura, Itosu or even Mr Miyagi!

Who in your opinion is the most Influential Martial Artist Ever to Exist.

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Answer 1

Bruce Lee. No doubt put martial arts movies in mainstream. I never cared for kung fu theater those cheesy low budget Saturday afternoon films. Bruces movies were different. The man had charisma ten fold. Plus his movies were great. guys like Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal. Van Damme, Jackie Chan should kiss the ground he walked on. Bruce paved the way for these guys.

In reality and fighting Royce Gracies victories in UFC 1,2 and 4 opened the publics eyes to grappling , submissions and groundfighting.

Answer 2

Jet Li or Bruce Lee because they made it mainstream.

Answer 3

In my opinion it is Bruce Lee. I believe that many like myself gained an interest in martial arts because of Bruce Lee and his movies. Every since I saw one of his movies I have been inspired to learn martial arts. I still have that burning desire today.

Answer 4

I would say Bruce Lee.  He challanged the restrictions of culture and promted adaption to situations rather then one method always being correct.

Answer 5

I agree with Katana there's no right or wrong answer on this one as everyone has someone who has either made an impression or inspired them,for myself there's too many to mention but here are some of my favourites in no exact order of preference btw.

Bruce Lee, Gene Lebell,Mas Oyama,Yukio Tani,Morihei Ueshiba and Steven Seagal

But on a worldwide basis overall I'd say...Bruce Lee

Best wishes :)***

Answer 6

In all honesty I do not think there is going to be a correct answer on this, as everyone has there own opinions, and even though some people may not have influenced the masses, they may have had a profound impact on just the one person:

Example: My instructor has had the biggest influence on me. He didn't give up on me when I was fighting a substance abuse problem. he kept me in the fold, even though he didn't approve of or care for what I was doing. He never turned his back on me or turned me away, and always made me feel like part of the family, even if it meant putting a foot in my A**.

So for me it would be him. These other guys are just names who maybe invented styles that I do not know, or in Lee's case a concept. They are people I can read about, and maybe gain from insight from, but or day to day life, my instuctor has had a bigger influence then any of them.

Answer 7

The most influential has to be Bruce lee. He may not be the best fighter (he was a very good fighter) , but he was definitely the most influential and still is, because he was much more than just a martial artist, he was a philosopher as well as an actor. His screen presence was incredible. millions if not billions of people  has taken up martial arts because of him, or just became  martial art fans because of him.

Answer 8

William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke

This guy was the first, and arguably the best, at the application of strategy, tactics, and individual ability in warfare.  He's the reason they are called "Martial Arts'

Answer 9

Bodhidharma, for sowing the seeds of martial arts in Asia. Close second: Miyamoto Musashi.

Answer 10

I would have to say Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, was the most influential martial artist to ever exist.

Here's why:

Dr. Kano developed Kodokan Judo in 1882 when he was 22, and pushed it to get it accepted within Japan's conservative Jiu-Jitsu circles of the late 19th century.

Dr. Kano emphasized the concept of 'kuzushi' (balance) over Jiu-jitsu's use of 'leverage'.  Dr. Kano introduced 'randori' (free practice) in his Ju-do and spent five years developing the Gokyo No Waza.  http://judoinfo.com/gokyo.htm

Dr. Kano also emphasized the important Judo principles of:

1. Maximum efficiency with minimum effort.

2. Mutual development and welfare.

Dr. Kano's emphasis of: 'Ju-no-Ri' (technique over strength); 'Kuzushi' (balance); and Maximum efficiency with minimum effort, had permeated 20th century Japanese society, culture, and budo as an official doctrine.

Dr. Kano also invented  the 'black belt' ranking system which permeates almost all the martial arts today (even stock brokerage schools and the U.S. Marine Corp use a colored belt ranking system to designate skill levels).

http://www.judoinfo.com/obi.htm

Kodokan Judo has also had a visible and lasting impact on all other martial arts ranging from Kung fu to Aikido to karate to western wrestling [Ippon Seoinage (one armed shoulder throw) is called a "j*p whizzer" in western free style wrestling].  There are very few martial arts today that does not include Judo type throws, hold-downs, arm-bars, chokes or the black belt ranking system.  For example; Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ or basically just Judo) is a direct knock-off of Kodokan Judo; and all the mixed martial arts include Judo methods in their training regimen.

So Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, has had a direct or indirect effect on all contemporary martial arts with his Judo philosophy, methods, ranking system, techniques, and free practice which pervades most of the thinking or practice of the world's martial art enthusiasts.

Answer 11

I think that all martial artists have influenced their respective arts in one way or another.  It's just that their impact is not noticed because it is not well known as someone like Bruce Lee.

Answer 12

I would say that in the early stages it was definitely Bruce.

But now, I have to say Chuck Norris.

He is everywhere. Even people who don't have a clue of martial arts know who he is.

His movies and his tv show.

It's Chuck!

All those other guys who's names appear here, we know because we are immersed in MA.

You could be one of the Lost Tribes and if you see chuck's picture... you know him!

Answer 13

I really think the Hollywood guys have to be given the nod on this.

Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagul, Sho Kosugi.  

IMO, these are the guys that got many people interested in martial arts to begin with.