Martial Arts is defined as a codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental and spiritual development; and entertainment or the preservation of a nation’s intangible cultural heritage.
The origin of the word “martial” can be traced back to Latin, from the word Mars (the Roman God of War), hence the art of Mars.
This art form is often categorized using various criteria which includes (but not limited to):
- Traditional i.e. Capoeira, Kung Fu, Pankration, Silat, etc.
- Contemporary i.e. Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Systema, etc.
- Armed (by type of weapon) i.e. Swordsmanship, Stick fighting, Knife fighting, etc.
- Unarmed (by type of combat) i.e. striking, grappling, stand-up fighting, ground fighting, etc.
- Intent i.e. Self-defense, combat sport, choreography, demonstration, physical fitness, etc.
- Internal or external style (primarily within Chinese tradition)
While Martial Arts may be studied for various reasons, it shares a single objective: to physically defeat another person(s) and to defend oneself or others from physical threat. In addition, some martial arts are linked to philosophical teachings (i.e. Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, etc.) or religion (i.e. Hinduism, Shinto, etc.), while others follow a particular code of honor.
In some of the arts’ effort to stay relevant in a modern society where violence is often frowned upon, they evolve and incorporate rules and regulations in a control combat environment. This allows the practitioner to stay competitive and provides a platform for competition, most commonly known as combat sports, but may also take the form of dance and performance.
