Classification of the Martial Arts

Many different criteria have been developed to classify different fighting systems, but most of them are controversial or inadequate. For example, some Chinese systems are classified as either "internal" or "external," but to understand what this means requires familiarity with the concept of qi, or chi. This concept is not internationally applicable to all systems.

Other criteria use the distinction of "hard" versus "soft." A hard system relies on attack and force and a soft system relies on leverage and avoidance of attack to defeat the opponent. The Shotokan school of karate may be described as "harder" and judo as “softer.” However, most systems have both hard and soft features. For example, a judo practitioner uses full physical strength when throwing an opponent.

Another set of criteria use the concepts "striking" versus "grappling" to classify the fighting system. The former focuses on punching and kicking, as in boxing and taekwondo, and the latter on clinching and holding, as in wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this case, some systems actually do restrict their techniques to only striking or only grappling. However, many other systems use both approaches. These systems include Sambo or San Shou. Another system, Muay Thai, basically consists of a striking art, but frequent use is made of the grappling technique known as the Muay Thai clinch.
 

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