| Martial arts refers to various self-defense | | | | popular wrestling form, attempts to turn an |
| techniques, usually unarmed combat, based on | | | | attacker's force to one's own advantage by using |
| skills developed in ancient China, India, Korea and | | | | throwing and grappling techniques. Some martial |
| Tibet. Some of the popular martial art forms | | | | art forms also use weapons like in fencing, |
| include karate, kung fu, judo, tai chi chuan, sumo | | | | banshay, Iaido, etc. |
| wrestling, aikido and tae kwon do, among others. | | | | In Asia the teaching of martial arts still follows the |
| However, in the contemporary world, martial arts | | | | Confucian cultural tradition of teacher-disciple |
| are not only used for self-protection but often | | | | apprenticeship, wherein a student is trained in a |
| focus on spiritual aspects, as well as increasing | | | | strictly hierarchical system by a master instructor. |
| self-confidence, assertiveness and concentration. | | | | However, martial art forms in Europe are more |
| Martial arts are generally characterized according | | | | in-tune with contemporary technology and are |
| to the fighting styles i.e. striking, kicking, grappling | | | | used as an extension to modern-day warfare. In |
| and throwing, and weaponry. Kung fu and karate, | | | | the US, Native Americans had their own martial |
| a popular martial arts form, use striking techniques | | | | art forms which became obsolete with the |
| that include kicks, throws, dodges, holds, leaps and | | | | passing of time. However, European colonists and |
| somersaults. However, tae kwon do, which | | | | Asian immigrants brought their own martial arts |
| originated in Korea, employs kicking, punching, and | | | | such as boxing, fencing and wrestling, which |
| various evasive techniques. Meanwhile, grappling | | | | gained considerable popularity. |
| and throwing techniques are used mostly in sumo | | | | Traditionally, martial arts were used as a |
| wrestling, aikido and judo. In sumo wrestling, huge | | | | self-defense system. However, in the |
| men attempt to force each other out of the ring | | | | contemporary world, the fighting form is not only |
| or bring each other to the mat by employing | | | | modified into various sports forms, but some of |
| various grappling skills. Aikido is considered to be | | | | them are also used in dance-like settings as a |
| the gentlest martial art, and is not practiced as a | | | | popular style of self-expression. |
| competitive sport. On the other hand, judo, a | | | | |