Hand-to-hand martial arts styles teach practitioners how to defend themselves while on their feet by using blocks, kicks, punches, knees, and elbows. They focus extensively on body strength, nimble footwork, clever techniques, and reaction speed. This is a great way to sharpen mental skills and improve awareness, techniques and raw power.

The grappling styles in martial arts focus on teaching practitioners how to take opponents to the ground, where they either achieve a dominant position or utilize a submission hold to end the fight.

Many of the aforementioned styles used above use weapons in their systems. For example, Goju-ryu karate and many kung-fu style practitioners are taught to use the bokken (wooden sword). These bokken are used to refine actual metal-sword fighting skills. But some martial arts are centered entirely around weapons.

Meditative styles are mostly concerned with breathing techniques, fitness, and the spiritual side of their movements rather than combat in particular. They can be used for combat as well.