What is Martial Arts?
Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. Today, martial arts are studied for various reasons including combat skills, fitness, self defense, sport, self-cultivation (meditation), mental discipline, character development and building self-confidence. A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist. Â
Worldwide there is a great diversity of martial arts. Broadly speaking, martial arts share a common goal: to defeat a person physically or to defend oneself from physical threat. In many martial arts, training goes beyond fighting to include personal, mental, and spiritual development.A common characteristic of martial arts is the systemization of fighting techniques. One common traditional method of training, particularly in the East Asian martial arts, is the form or kata (also known by any other names). This is a set routine of techniques performed alone, or sometimes with a partner.Martial arts may focus on one or more of these areas:
- Striking, kicking, grappling and weaponry.
Some martial arts, particularly the traditional Chinese martial arts, also teach side disciplines such as bone-setting, Qigong, acupuncture, acupressure (Tui na), and other aspects of traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Indian martial arts also teach aspects of traditional Indian medicine as side disciplines. The martial arts, though commonly associated with East Asian cultures and people, are by no means unique to this region. For example, various Dravidian Indian martial arts, such as Kuttu Varisai, Varma Kalai, Kalari Payattu and Adithada, were developed in ancient Thamizhakkam (
