Western boxing, Brazilian jiujitsu, krav maga and muay Thai are some of the most common martial arts used by Navy SEALs.

Mixed martial arts combines striking sports like boxing with grappling sports like wrestling and Judo.

What's the most deadly fighting style? Well, much depends on who's doing the fighting but here are a few options to bring your super hero fantasies to life.

The world can be a dangerous place for women. Women are victims of violent crimes like sexual assault and domestic violence on a daily basis. Many women are interested in learning how to protect themselves against violent situations, but they are often not sure where to turn.

When comparing martial arts styles, it is important to understand the different ranges that can occur in an actual fight. These ranges refer to the distance between you and your opponent. The ranges are kicking, striking, trapping and grappling.

There are literally hundreds of martial arts, and for each the black belt is a standard of excellence. It typically signifies the student is now an instructor and performs at an expert level. Four martial arts stand out for their black belt demands, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu may be the most demanding.

A sprain is a ligament injury caused by excessive stretching of the ligaments. A sprain can be sustained by exercising or exaggeration of general activity. Restricting movement of the injured limb is important to starting the healing process.

Both Muay Thai and krav maga are forms of combat martial arts. They originally were developed as survival skills in their countries of origin. Muay Thai means "the science of eight limbs;" krav maga means "contact combat." Muay Thai originated in Thailand, while krav maga was developed in Israel.

Improving your fighting techniques at home can be difficult without a training partner, equipment such as exercise mats and enough space for large movements such as sweeps. But short-range movements such as strikes and kicks while standing in place are fighting techniques you can practice at home with minimal space.

Your fighting style should match your personality and body type if you are to become proficient. Martial arts like Shotokan Karate are best for strong individuals, while others, like Jujutsu, are best suited for more agile people. And some fighting styles, like Kenpo and Arnis, use weapons.

The close-quarters combat techniques used by the world’s most elite fighting units are not publicized.

Many of the old Shaw Bros. martial arts films play off the mystique of the wise old master. Sure, the star of the film is half his age, ripped and gets the girl, but the master can beat the student with just his pinky. The message here is that martial wisdom trumps youth.