martial art

noun

1. Often martial arts. any of the traditional forms of Asian self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination without weapons, as karate, aikido, judo, or kung fu, often practiced as sport.

martial art

noun

1. any of various philosophies of self-defence and techniques of single combat, such as judo or karate, originating in the Far East

Other Words From

• martial artist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of martial art¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Some of our kind learned to fight entirely with their feet, developing what I suppose the solbreeders call a "martial art".

From The Daily Beast

She's brilliant, beautiful, and skilled in every known martial art.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling