JUDO
Famous practitioners: Don Frye, President Theodore Roosevelt
Ninety percent of all fights end up on the ground. And if one of the fighters happens to know judo, he’ll probably be the only one getting up. As one of the few martial arts represented in the Olympics, judo’s relatively short history — it was founded in Japan in 1882 — is a tale of throws, slams, and takedowns designed to immobilize opponents into submission. Its emphasis on leverage and momentum make it perfect for Frodo-sized fighters, as well as larger dickheads who just want an unfair advantage. The highest rank a Judo student can achieve is Tenth Dan; only 12 have ever existed.