There are probably a hundred different types of different martial arts, without even going into the different styles within each martial art. Actually, if you go into all the different kinds of chinese kung-fu, you'd probably be far beyond the hundred mark. Let's discuss a few of these martial arts. We start out with Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Karate is Japanese and Tae Kwon Do is Korean, but I start with the two of them grouped together because they are very similar. They are two of the most commercialized martial arts that exist today, and they are both very stiff and rigid if you ask me. They are very basic, with your "knife hand"s and your "low block"s and such. Tae Kwon Do just has a few more kicks. Aikido. This is a much different martial art, all based on center of balance. This martial art takes longer than most to be able to use effectively in combat. It's all about very subtle movements and trying to softly and swiftly take away your opponent's center of balance and easily making him succumb to where your body is moving. This martial art was original created for the samurai - it was what he resorted to if he somehow lost his sword, so many of the movements resemble what it might look like if there was a sword in his hand. Ninjutsu. This is a very sneaky and deceptive form of martial art. The ninjas were all about defeating their opponents mentally and then physically, so you will never be able to predict how a ninja will attack. They are true masters of the art of mental warfare, so they will mislead you with their physical actions. Kung Fu.