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What Is Martial Arts?

Martial arts are structured systems of combat practices — techniques for fighting, self-defense, and (in many traditions) personal development. They exist in virtually every culture, from Chinese kung fu to Brazilian capoeira to Filipino escrima, and they’ve been practiced for thousands of years.

The term “martial” comes from Mars, the Roman god of war. But modern martial arts are about much more than fighting. For most practitioners, martial arts are a fitness discipline, a mental practice, a competitive sport, a cultural tradition, or some combination of all four. About 3.6 million Americans practiced martial arts in 2020, and the number has been growing steadily.

Major Styles

The world of martial arts is enormous — there are hundreds of named styles. Here are the most widely practiced:

Striking Arts

Karate — a Japanese art emphasizing punches, kicks, and blocks, practiced in a structured progression through belt ranks. Multiple styles exist (Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu), each with different emphasis. Karate joined the Olympics in 2020.

Taekwondo — a Korean art known for its spectacular high kicks and spinning techniques. An Olympic sport since 2000 and one of the most widely practiced martial arts globally, with an estimated 70+ million practitioners.

Muay Thai — Thai boxing, which allows punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes, plus clinch fighting. Known as the “art of eight limbs.” Muay Thai fighters are among the toughest combat athletes in the world.

Boxing — the Western striking art, focused purely on punches. Despite its apparent simplicity, boxing’s footwork, timing, and defensive skills are extraordinarily refined. It’s been an Olympic sport since 1904.

Grappling Arts

Judo — a Japanese art focused on throws and groundwork, developed by Jigoro Kano in 1882. Kano’s genius was creating a system where smaller practitioners could defeat larger opponents through technique and use. Olympic sport since 1964.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) — ground-fighting art that uses joint locks and chokeholds to submit opponents. Developed in Brazil by the Gracie family, BJJ became globally famous through early UFC events that demonstrated its effectiveness. A 150-pound BJJ black belt can control and submit a much larger untrained opponent.

Wrestling — one of the oldest sports in existence, with roots in ancient Greece and nearly every other civilization. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are Olympic disciplines. Collegiate wrestling is a major U.S. sport.

Hybrid and Traditional Arts

Kung fu (Chinese martial arts) — a vast category including hundreds of styles: Wing Chun, Shaolin, Tai Chi, Hung Gar, and many more. Chinese martial arts emphasize both external (physical technique) and internal (breathing, energy flow) practice.

Aikido — a Japanese art focused on redirecting an attacker’s energy through circular movements, joint locks, and throws. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba, aikido is philosophically oriented toward harmony rather than destruction.

Krav Maga — developed for the Israeli military, emphasizing practical self-defense against real-world attacks. Krav Maga isn’t concerned with tradition or sport — it focuses on neutralizing threats as efficiently as possible.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — a combat sport combining techniques from multiple disciplines. MMA fighters typically train in striking (boxing/muay thai), wrestling, and BJJ. The UFC, founded in 1993, is the premier MMA organization.

History

Martial arts have ancient roots. Chinese martial arts traditions date back at least to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). Indian wrestling (kushti) is documented from similar periods. Greek pankration — a no-holds-barred combat sport — was part of the ancient Olympics.

Formalized training systems developed differently across cultures:

• In Japan, the samurai class developed jujutsu, kenjutsu (swordsmanship), and other combat arts. After the samurai era ended, these evolved into modern arts like judo, aikido, and kendo.
• In China, Buddhist and Taoist monasteries (especially Shaolin) became centers for martial arts development, blending combat training with spiritual practice.
• In Korea, indigenous martial traditions combined with Japanese and Chinese influences to produce taekwondo and hapkido in the 20th century.
• In Southeast Asia, arts like Muay Thai, silat, and arnis developed from both military training and cultural traditions.

The 20th century saw massive globalization of martial arts. Bruce Lee’s films in the 1970s triggered a worldwide kung fu craze. The Karate Kid (1984) drove American enrollment in karate classes. The UFC’s early events (1993-) demonstrated the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and popularized MMA globally.

Beyond Fighting

Most people who train martial arts never fight anyone. The benefits they seek are elsewhere:

Physical fitness. Martial arts training improves cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, coordination, and body composition. A one-hour karate or BJJ class burns 500-800 calories.

Mental discipline. The structured, progressive nature of martial arts training builds focus, patience, and persistence. The belt system provides clear milestones. The training environment demands respect, attentiveness, and self-control.

Stress relief. Hitting pads, grappling, or running through kata (forms) provides a physical outlet for stress. Many practitioners describe training as meditative — their mind clears when they’re focused on technique.

Confidence. Knowing you can defend yourself — or at least having practiced managing physical confrontation — changes how you carry yourself. This isn’t about aggression; it’s about calmness that comes from competence.

Community. A good martial arts school creates bonds. You train together, struggle together, and progress together. The relationships formed on the mats are often deeper than casual gym friendships.

Choosing a Style

If you’re interested in starting, consider what draws you:

• Fitness focus? Muay Thai and BJJ provide intense workouts. Capoeira is uniquely athletic.
• Self-defense? Krav Maga, BJJ, and Muay Thai are considered the most practical.
• Traditional practice? Karate, judo, and kung fu offer rich cultural contexts and formal progression systems.
• Competition? Judo, taekwondo, boxing, wrestling, and BJJ all have active competitive circuits.
• Low-impact? Tai Chi and aikido emphasize flowing movement over high-impact contact.

The single most important factor, though, is the quality of the school and instructor. A great teacher in any style will give you more than a mediocre teacher in the “perfect” style. Visit classes. Watch how the instructor interacts with students. Notice whether the atmosphere is respectful and supportive. That matters more than the name on the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best martial art for self-defense?

There's no single 'best' art — it depends on context. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu excels in one-on-one ground situations. Muay Thai and boxing develop effective striking. Krav Maga focuses specifically on street self-defense scenarios. Most self-defense experts recommend cross-training in both a striking art and a grappling art. Consistent training matters more than which style you choose.

At what age can children start martial arts?

Most schools accept children from age 4-6 for beginner programs focused on coordination, discipline, and basic movements. Structured technique training usually begins around age 7-8. Competitive sparring typically starts at 10-12, depending on the art and the child. Research suggests martial arts training can improve children's attention, self-regulation, and social skills.

What do the different belt colors mean?

Belt rankings (common in Japanese and Korean arts) indicate progression from beginner to advanced. White belt is the starting rank; black belt indicates advanced proficiency (not mastery — there are typically 10 degrees of black belt). The colors between white and black vary by style but often progress through yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and brown. The belt system was introduced by judo founder Jigoro Kano in the 1880s.

Further Reading

• World Martial Arts Center - UNESCO
• International Olympic Committee: Combat Sports
• National Institutes of Health: Martial Arts Research