Martial arts is a word that generically encompasses all systems and styles of fighting with, or defending from, another human.
Martial arts is a word that generically encompasses all systems and styles of fighting with, or defending from, another human. Some popular martial arts systems are taekwondo, jujutsu, judo, kungfu, muay Thai, and karatedo. Each of these systems is made up of various styles.
The reason there are so many styles of each martial art system is due to many decades, and in some cases centuries, of adjustments made by students from a parent style of each system. Some adjustments were made to emphasize competition, others to complement a teacher’s nature, others to complement practical self-defense, and some students created new styles.