Martial arts is a great way to practice self-defense, or just to get fit, and there are loads of Android apps that can help you. Some options offer a mix of techniques, while others are dedicated to specific martial arts.
Here are six of the best martial arts apps for Android. Whatever your reasons for needing them, you can expect professional guidance and plenty of exercise. For best results, choose apps that fit your life and stick to a daily routine.
1. Martial Arts – Training and Workouts
This app is basically a video library, sourcing from YouTube and the Internet Archive. Its many perks are enough to forgive the frequent adverts disrupting your training.
First off, you get quick access to a huge range of training material in five languages that can keep your body and technique in top form.
All popular martial arts are available, from Muay Thai and Ninjutsu to MMA and Boxing. There are also archives specifically for long-standing courses and body conditioning.
Many videos give tips on how to deal with a street fight, for example. You never know when such tricks, alongside the best personal safety apps, could save the day.
On top of that, you’ll find extra resources on martial arts, like podcasts, biographies, and a wiki page on weapons. Other features include the ability to save and share your favorite videos, as well as a forum to discuss all things martial arts.
Download: Martial Arts – Training and Workouts (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Fighting Fitness Trainer – Martial Arts Academy
Instead of videos, you could follow a 3D martial artist demonstrating punches, kicks, evasions, and more. In Hazard Studio’s app, everything happens in a virtual boxing ring, where all you need to do is set a fitness program and copy what you see.
There are no distinct martial arts to choose from and navigating the different features can take some getting used to. Adverts pop up, now and then, too. On the other hand, the app does exactly what it’s supposed to: keep you fit through fighting techniques.
The virtual trainer’s animation is realistic and clear. You can rotate the scene and slow down movement to study techniques. Every day you could try a different training program, moving up the difficulty ranks.
Download: Fighting Fitness Trainer – Martial Arts Academy (Free)
3. Muay Thai Fitness
The developers of Fighting Fitness Trainer have made more specialized apps, and this is one of the best. If your priority is to improve your health through exercise and healthy eating, this is a package you really want to check out. It might even be worth paying to remove the ads.
To begin with you get a calendar, which tracks your daily Muay Thai training and calories burned. There are programs for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students, as well as some focused on specific interests like movement, blocking, and defense. A 3D trainer leads them all.
You also get nutritional features so you can plan your own healthy meals or follow the app’s daily suggestions. It even provides a handy shopping list to make sure you get all your essentials.
Basically, this app is the handiest fitness companion you could wish for, and is able to sync with Google Fit too for a more tailored experience. The fact that it trains you in Muay Thai is the cherry on the cake. Combine it with other mobile and web fitness apps, like Virtual Gym and 300 Squats, to take your workout to the next level.
Download: Muay Thai Fitness (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Martial Arts – Advanced Techniques
Here is a much simpler but no less valuable app. It teaches Jeet Kune Do through written guides and pictures of Bruce Lee demonstrating them. Its creators, MGG Developer, actually offer several such apps for you to explore.
Reading about all these methods is a bit more time-consuming than watching videos, but the instructions are thorough and clear. If you want to learn from one of the best martial artists in history, you could get a lot out of this training program.
Just take one lesson at a time, study their ins and outs, and put them into practice. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to do them from memory. This isn’t just healthy for your body, but your mind as well.
Download: Martial Arts – Advanced Techniques (Free)
5. Taekwondo Training
It’s worth exploring different martial arts and their apps. In that sense, Thunder Wolf is a developer to look into as its Taekwondo fitness program is one of many popular options.
They contain short clips of techniques, in this case related to Taekwondo. You can watch and copy them, but also follow a daily set of moves, mostly involving kicks. You get access to one set per day, unless you’re willing to watch adverts to unlock the next few programs.
Almost every action you take on the app, from training to sharing, earns you points. Collecting these helps you progress to higher levels and unlock more advanced programs.
The main downside are the adverts that appear a lot more frequently that in the other apps on this list. The fee to deactivate them is small, however, and the app’s instruction is much better without interruptions.
Download: Taekwondo Training (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Fighting Trainer
Simplicity is often best when it comes to learning a martial art. This app’s main feature is one to two 3D figures demonstrating MMA techniques.
Punches, takedowns, master combos, and more play out on a platform you can rotate and zoom in and out of. Above each move, you’ll also find a handy tip and the moves in a combo.
Unfortunately, there are no ready-made training programs, so you’ll have to get creative. For example, you can tag techniques, so you have them in a sequence. Then practice them one after the other as a routine. A timer is available on each demonstration too.
While ads are an issue here too, they’re less intrusive and much cheaper to get rid of. Overall, Fighting Trainer is a decent example of how a mobile app can help you train. If you have a sparring partner, you can make even better use of it.
Download: Fighting Trainer (Free, in-app purchases available)
Prepare to Train With More Than Apps
Any of these Android martial arts apps will show you how techniques work, but you also need to prepare your space and self. Wear comfortable clothes, make sure you have room to move safely, and get your mind in the game.
The more you practice, the faster and more naturally your skills will improve. But whether you go for generalized training or a particular martial art, it can be a strain. So stick to your programs, but don’t push yourself too far—set a strict time limit for each of your sessions.
