There are many ways to categorize martial arts from around the world even though many people have changed the meaning either for simplicity or due to a lack of knowledge. For anyone seeking training, it is vital to understand the differences as the average person does not know much, if anything at all, about the vast world of martial arts. Before listing our categories of martial arts, it is also important to obtain some background. 

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Where did the term "martial arts" come from?

 An ancient Latin term "ars martialis", meaning "art of Mars" - the Roman god of war. It was supposedly created between the 1300-1400s CE to describe European combat such as swordsmanship, archery, and armed fighting for the battlefield. It is believed to have been introduced into the English language in the 1600-1700s. For millennia, the rest of the world referred to their fighting systems under different names such as Bujutsu (Japanese), Wushu (Chinese), Dhanurveda/Shastravidya (Indian), Mu Sool (Korean), and many more. These are not the names of specific styles - just generic names for battlefield fighting. However, we should also respect that things change with time, and for the sake of simplicity, we will refer to any fighting system as a martial art.

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The 4 categories of martial arts:

1. Combat Sports: Systems designed around competitions, tournaments, weight classes, and/or sets of rules. 

2. Combatives: Modern, pragmatic self-defense systems utilizing modern combat methods for daily survival. 

3. Internal Arts: Gentle, meditative systems designed to focus primarily on developing one's inner self and finding peace.

4. Traditional Martial Arts: Systems historically used in battlefields while also preserving historical knowledge/lineage. Many times, these were interwoven with spiritual practices to create balanced lifestyles during periods of war.

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Which category is the best?

 No single category is the best. It is a matter of perspective and personal preference. Each category has its advantages and disadvantages. However, it is important that you as an individual are aware of what a school is teaching instead of just following a familiar name. Once you have decided what you want for your own training, you should focus on the quality of the head instructor and instructor staff. Today, most schools have information about their instructors on their websites and online reviews are often a good way to gauge the public's experiences with them.​