Martial arts refers to various self-defense techniques, usually unarmed combat, based on skills developed in ancient China, India, Korea and Tibet. Some of the popular martial art forms include karate, kung fu, judo, tai chi chuan, sumo wrestling, aikido and tae kwon do, among others. However, in the contemporary world, martial arts are not only used for self-protection but often focus on spiritual aspects, as well as increasing self-confidence, assertiveness and concentration.

Martial arts are generally characterized according to the fighting styles i.e. striking, kicking, grappling and throwing, and weaponry. Kung fu and karate, a popular martial arts form, use striking techniques that include kicks, throws, dodges, holds, leaps and somersaults. However, tae kwon do, which originated in Korea, employs kicking, punching, and various evasive techniques. Meanwhile, grappling and throwing techniques are used mostly in sumo wrestling, aikido and judo. In sumo wrestling, huge men attempt to force each other out of the ring or bring each other to the mat by employing various grappling skills. Aikido is considered to be the gentlest martial art, and is not practiced as a competitive sport. On the other hand, judo, a popular wrestling form, attempts to turn an attackers force to ones own advantage by using throwing and grappling techniques. Some martial art forms also use weapons like in fencing, banshay, Iaido, etc.

In Asia the teaching of martial arts still follows the Confucian cultural tradition of teacher-disciple apprenticeship, wherein a student is trained in a strictly hierarchical system by a master instructor. However, martial art forms in Europe are more in-tune with contemporary technology and are used as an extension to modern-day warfare. In the US, Native Americans had their own martial art forms which became obsolete with the passing of time. However, European colonists and Asian immigrants brought their own martial arts such as boxing, fencing and wrestling, which gained considerable popularity.

Traditionally, martial arts were used as a self-defense system. However, in the contemporary world, the fighting form is not only modified into various sports forms, but some of them are also used in dance-like settings as a popular style of self-expression.