Categorizing the MAs by George Hernandez

Martial activities may be categorized in many ways:

Personal v Group Combat. The popular interpretation of the term "martial arts" is that it applies to personal combat. However martial arts also covers group or mass combat or "military arts".
- Distinctions should be made between 1 v 1, 1 v Few, 1 v Many, Few v Few, Few v Many, Many v Many.
- Logistics.
- Moving in formation.
Armed v Unarmed.
- Armed distinctions:
  - Projectile v Hand-to-hand.
  - Ease of use.
    - Guns are an order of magnitude easier than arrows, blades, clubs, and other pre-gun weapons.
    - Blades do not require as much pressure as impact weapons such as clubs.
  - Dedication. Some items were designed specifically for combat (EG: Swords), but many weapons, especially civilian weapons, have or had some other utility (EG: Axes can be used for chopping wood or fighting). Here are some common modern items that may be conscripted as weapons:
    - Canes, belts, pens, nail files, kitchen knives, scissors.
    - Pocket knives. Chicago Municipal Ordinance 8-24-020 specifies that those over 18 can carry a concealed knife blade no longer than 6.35 cm = 2.5 inches. Other cities require that at least the clip of a knife should show.
    - Tools: Axes, screwdrivers, hammers.
    - Sports: Baseball bats, cue sticks, cables with pad locks, golf clubs.
- Unarmed combat. Aka close combat; close quarters combat (CQC); mano a mano (Spanish). The word mêlée (French pronounced MAY LAY, derived from the Old French meslede, derived from the Vulgar Latin misculāta) refers to disorganized hand-to-hand combat involving multiple people, but in the modern vernacular, "melee" commonly refers to hand-to-hand combat.
Armored v Unarmored. Harnischfechten and Blossfechten respectively in German.
Mounted v Un-mounted. The mount may be a horse, a tank, a jet, etc.
Range, Techniques, and Tactics. See more at Fighting Dynamics.
Covert v Overt Activities. Most activities are overt but some martial arts include activities such as camouflage, stealth, leaderless organizations (cells), booby traps, lock picking, survival arts, assassination, etc. Special Operations come to mind. Don't make me say ninja!
Legal v Illegal. This is the difference between Self-Defense and Battery. This also covers the Geneva convention, terrorism, fair fights, interrogation, sporting fight, etc. This is related to the distinction between cruel and non-cruel violence. This is related to the distinctions between irrational, rationalized, and justified violence.
By Comprehensiveness. Some styles try to be more comprehensive than others. EGs:
- Karate is mostly stand up fighting with striking.
- Judo is mostly wrestling and grappling.
- The Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), the Chinese martial arts (CMA), and the historical Western martial arts (WMA) each cover a wide variety of pre-gun combat.
By Cultural, Geographical, and Historical origin.
- Eastern Martial Arts (EMA). EGs: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino.
- Western Martial Arts (WMA). EGs: Italian, German, American.
- Historically: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, Modern.
Combat Type.
- Degree
  - Solo. Open air or against inanimate targets. This may be drills or forms (kata in Japanese, taolu in Chinese, tuls in Korean).
  - Set play. Similar to solo, but with a partner. The techniques and sequence are established ahead of time in order to learn techniques or principles.
  - Loose play. Pre-arranged combat. The techniques are established ahead of time. May be multi-person drills.
  - Tournament combat. According to specific rules. The pressure of public performance and wide competition can raise combat or sports skills to higher levels. Shiai in Japanese.
  - Free play. Free friendly combat. This ranges from light to heavy. Free friendly combat can very closely approximate real fighting. Randori in Japanese.
    - Semi-free friendly combat. The combat is free but there are particular restrictions. EGs: Only opponent A can initiate attacks.
  - Malicious combat. Real fighting. On the street or in the field and possibly unbound by rules. Combatants may die or be severely injured. EG: If a police officer is in combat with a criminal, the officer is bound by certain rules of engagement while the criminal may disregard any rules.
- Homogeneity
  - Same v Same. EG: Single rapier v Single rapier.
  - Mixed. EGs: Spear v Long sword. One v Many.

Beyond Combat Applications. Unless you are a professional combatant (EGs: soldier, police, security) or you live in a violent environment or you seek violence, you will never do real combat regularly. Basic self-defense is easily taught in one session (prevention, diffusion, 5 Ts, alert colors, how to walk, how to look, boldness, groups, etc.). Learn what is necessary for your needs first and then expand.

Sports. Sports can be hone skills but are also activities unto themselves.
- Some MAs have become predominantly sports. EGs: Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Judo.
- Some MAs have some sporting aspects. EGs: Karate, Wushu, FMAs.
- Some MAs shun sports. EGs: Aikido, Krav Maga, Systema, Kyudo, Jujitsu, Jeet Kune Do.
Character development. Includes awareness, self-control, perseverance, sensitivity, strategy, sincerity, spirit, patience, humility (you will lose), respect, self-respect, confidence, trust (if you practice with others), loyalty (people who spend time together naturally bond), will, courage. EG: The Chinese MAs and Japanese do variants (EG: jujitsu v judo) place heavy emphasis on character development.
Physical development. Includes cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, balance, reflexes, grace, bone strength. The Chinese MAs in particular focus on acquiring control over mind and body.
Entertainment. There are a lot of MAs movies out there. MAs are fascinating and beautiful. A lot of MA competitions are competitions in entertainment/artistic value.
Commercialism. People are in the MAs for the MAs or the money or both, but some are in it more for one than the other.
A study of strategy (overall plans), tactics (means to achieve goals), and logistics
- The strategies and tactics of combat are applicable everywhere. Practicing can develop insights that merely reading books on strategy cannot. Famous strategy books include Sun Tzu's Art of War and Carl von Clausewitz's On War.
- The fine art of distance, timing, and initiative is a bright jewel of martial arts. Unlike sports, the goal is life or death.
A study of biology. How does the human body work? How do we control, injure, or kill it? How can I increase my performance?
A study of physics. How can I tighten my move? How can I get more leverage?
A study of psychology. How can I psyche my opponent out? How can I psyche myself up?
Studies in histories, languages, and cultures. I want content/knowledge accurately interpreted in context but I also want to cross-reference content/knowledge while I analyze and synthesize it.
Teaching and learning. No matter how advanced you get, you're always learning. Real live people (instructors, coaches, training partners, opponents, etc.) can help you get to places that books, videos, the Internet, etc. can't and vice versa.
Others. As in any field, you learn whatever it takes to achieve your objective. Especially in the military arts this includes all sorts of studies:
- Map reading.
- Knot tying.
- Camping.
- Metallurgy.
- Wood.
- Satellite systems.
- Swimming.
- Climbing.

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