Mongolia is well known for its history of conflict. From Genghis Khan in 1206 to its Democratic revolution in 1990, Mongolia's own history combined with its proximity to China and the former Soviet Union give the region an image of military conflicts.
Ironically, Mongolia is not well known for martial arts or hand-to-hand fighting techniques, but it does have a history of fighting styles and techniques that evolved with the region. Bajutsu is a martial arts style of Mongolian origin that specialized in fighting techniques while on a horse. Balance was essential as the style developed because the rider had to remain in his saddle at all times while wielding swords, bows and naginatas (pole weapons). Infantry would carry long, bladed weapons that served the dual purpose of helping with a dismount and cutting off the legs of an opposing horse. Bajutsu schools taught weapons handling and horseback riding simultaneously and in conjunction with each other and it was used primarily for military purposes. It is not practiced much today but schools do exist in Belgium and Japan. Wrestling played an important part of the Mongolian culture.
Mongolian wrestling is very offense-minded. A Mongolian wrestler is either attacking or pretending to yield to set up a counter-attack. The style does not prefer a particular stance because unpredictability is considered a large asset and stance can yield predictability of movement. The main objective in Mongolian wrestling is to take the opponent's legs out from under him and take his balance and base of power away. The best way of doing this is to trap the arm and use it as a lever to manipulate the body to move in a certain direction.
While jiu-jitsu is a style that thrives on the ground and in submission grappling, Mongolian wrestling emphasizes that a fighter should never go to the ground by choice. Once the opponent is knocked down, he should be disabled. The other tactic was that a restraining hold should never be applied without a strike preceding it. Mongolian wrestling preferred ridge-hands and palm heel strikes instead of traditional punches.