There are hundreds and hundreds of martial art styles throughout the world. Some countries have developed their own unique martial art, while others adapted other martial arts to fit their own situations. All it takes to "found" a martial art is to give your way of fighting a new name and make yourself the "master." For this reason, new martial arts and "styles" of existing martial arts appear all the time. A style may refer to a specific martial art or a variation of an established martial art. Some martial arts have been in existence for centuries, some for decades, and others for weeks.

Many oriental martial arts have religious roots, while most occidental martial arts have no relation to any metaphysical or religious system. Oriental martial arts move with the adversary, amplifying his movement, and using it to defeat the opponent. Occidental styles move against the opponent, blocking attacks, and then counterattacking. Some martial arts specialize in tournament competition, some in street self-defense, and some in combat fighting. 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

The martial art styles are like the childhood game "Rock, Paper, Scissors" where scissors may cut the paper, paper may cover the rock, and the rock may smash the scissors—each has some advantage over the other while also having some vulnerability to the other.

Hard vs. Soft

Most martial arts fall into one of two categories: hard (external) styles, such as Taekwondo and most styles of Karate, and soft (internal) styles, such as Kung-fu. This hard/soft characterization relates mainly to the way blocks are used.

Hard styles use direct techniques. They use forceful blocks to stop attacks, they use powerful, linear attacks, and they use angular movements. The advantage of a hard style is that there is direct feedback to the attacker; they feel pain when the attack is blocked and they may be injured. The disadvantage is that hard techniques require a lot of strength and energy, may result in injury to the user, and they may appear extremely violent to outsiders.

Soft styles use indirect techniques. They use sweeping, circular blocks and attacks, such as pushing, deflecting, and twisting. The advantage is that the opponent may be neutralized with little effort, without injuring the opponent or yourself. The disadvantage is that soft techniques require a lot of skill and practice to master them.

Linear vs. Circular

This distinction refers to lines of movement, during attack and defense. Linear styles use direct, straight-in movements, blocks, and attacks; they usually meet attacks head-on. Circular styles use circular movements to block, attack, or move; they usually attempt to deflect attacks. Styles may mix circular blocks with linear attacks, or vice versa, so this distinction is not absolute.

Internal vs. External

Internal styles emphasize the non-tangible elements of the arts. They utilize the flow of chi/ki/qi, rooting, and other elements which some people may consider "mystical." They tend to emphasize meditation, body control, perception, mind control, and pressure points.

External styles emphasize body mechanics, leverage, and applied force. They tend to use weight, strength, positioning, and anatomy to again an optimal advantage.

Classic vs. Mixed

The "classic" or "traditional" martial arts may be grouped by counties of origin, such as Japan, Korea, and China, but there are many other eclectic arts from other counties. These arts may cling to the "old" way or they may have adapted to modern times.

Early Japanese combat arts were known a Bugei arts, they had no philosophical or spiritual side. Later martial arts that were developed with a spiritual side are known as Budo. For example, Judo is a Budo form of the Bugei art of Jujitsu.

The word Bushido "way of the warrior" is used when speaking about the martial arts. Bushido is not a martial art, it is a fighting philosophy, a system of combat ethics. Bushido  incorporates Shinto and Confucian ideals. By following Bushido, warriors could apply their combat skills in strictly defined right or wrong ways.

Mixed martial arts claim to be "complete." They include strikes, kicks, throws, grappling, pressure points, and joint locks. Although some arts contain more techniques than others, no art is "complete" just because it includes important techniques from other arts. 

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