Martial arts vary widely, and may focus on a specific area or combination of areas, but they can be broadly grouped into focusing on strikes, grappling, or weapons training.

Martial arts or fighting arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of Combat. Martial arts all have a very similar objective: defend oneself or others from physical threat. In addition, some martial arts are linked to beliefs such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism or Shinto while others follow a particular code of honor. Martial arts are considered as both an art and a science. Many arts are also practiced competitively, most commonly as combat sports, but may also take the form of dance.

The term martial arts refers to the art of warfare (derived from Mars,Aris the Greek god of war) and comes from a 15th-century European term referring to what are now known as historical European martial arts. A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist. As the word 'Martial' refers to a specific person ( though mythological )and as such 'Martial' should be capitalized; if, the word 'Martial' is being used as originally intended. However, if the word "martial" is being used to describe fighting arts in general terms, then writing 'martial' in the lower case is appropriate.

When originally coined in the 1920s, the term martial arts referred specifically to Asian fighting styles, especially the combat systems that originated in East Asia. However, the term both in its literal meaning and in its subsequent usage may be taken to refer to any codified combat system, regardless of origin. For example, Europe is home to many extensive systems of fighting, both living traditions that have existed through the present and others which are now being reconstructed. In the Americas, Native Americans have traditions of open-handed martial arts such as wrestling, while Hawaiians have historically practiced arts featuring small and large-joint manipulation. A mix of origins is found in the athletic movements of Capoeira, which African slaves developed in Brazil based on skills they had brought from Africa. While each style has unique facets that differentiate it from other martial arts, a common characteristic is the systematization of fighting techniques.

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Taekwondo

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners.

Karate

What is Karate?

Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th century annexation by Japan.

Kung Fu

What is Kunf Fu?

Chinese martial arts, sometimes referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu.

Judo

What is Judo?

Judo is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that was created in Japan.

What Are the Martial Arts in the World?

Taekwondo is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners. Its popularity has resulted in the varied development of the martial art into several domains: as with many other arts, it combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, meditation, and philosophy. Taekwondo is also used by the South Korean military as part of its training. Gyeorugi, a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000.
-Taekwondo

Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th century annexation by Japan. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans. In 1922 the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. In 1924 Keio University established the first university karate club in Japan and by 1932, major Japanese universities had karate clubs. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from ("Chinese hand") to ("empty hand") – both of which are pronounced karate – to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After the second world war, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.
-Karate

Chinese martial arts, sometimes referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu (simplified Chinese: traditional Chinese; pinyin: wushu) and popularly as kung fu (Chinese: pinyin: gongfu), are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in what is today the country of China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" (jia), "sects" (pai) or "schools" (men) of martial arts. Examples of such traits include physical exercises involving animal mimicry, or training methods inspired by Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. Styles which focus on qi manipulation are sometimes labeled internal (neijiaquan), while others concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness and are labeled external. Geographical association, as in northern (beiquan) and southern (nanquan), is another popular method of categorization.
-Kung Fu

Judo (meaning "gentle way") is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that was created in Japan in 1882 by Dr Kano Jigoro. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking or by executing a choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defences are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).
-Judo

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music, and dance. It was created in Brazil by slaves from Africa, especially from Angola, Mozambique and Congo sometime after the sixteenth century. It was developed in the region of Quilombo dos Palmares, located in the Brazilian state of Alagoas, which was the state of Pernambuco before dismemberment,and has had great influence on Afro-Brazilian generations, with strong presence in the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio d e Janeiro and São Paulo. Participants form a roda, or circle, and take turns either playing musical instruments (such as the Berimbau), singing, or ritually sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The sparring is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, takedowns, and with extensive use of leg sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Less frequently used techniques include elbow strikes, slaps, punches, and body throws. Its origins and purpose are a matter of debate, with theories ranging from views of Capoeira as a uniquely Brazilian folk dance with improvised fighting movements to claims that it is a battle-ready fighting form directly descended from ancient African techniques.
-Capoeira