Martial Arts are, simply put, systems of fighting.  There are many styles and schools of martial arts; however, they share a common goal - to defend oneself.  Certain martial arts, such as tai chi chuan may also be used to improve health and, allegedly, the flow of 'qi'. 

Not all Martial Arts were developed in Asia.  Savate, for example, was developed as a form of kickboxing in France.  Capoeira's athletic movements were developed in Brazil. 

The different styles of martial art are divided into two major groups.  There are the Hard styles like karate and kickboxing which favour an aggressive offense in order to quickly defeat an opponent.  On the other hand, there are the Soft styles like judo or aikido which favour a less aggressive approach which often includes using an opponent's aggressive movement against them. 

The history of martial arts is a long one.  Systems of fighting have likely been in development since learning became transferable among humans, along with the strategies of conflict and war.  Some of the oldest written material on the subject is from the European 1400s, and written by notable teachers like Hans Talhoffer[?]  and George Silver.  Some transcripts of yet older texts have survived, the oldest being a manuscript going by the name of I.33[?]  and dating from the late 1200s. 

On the subject of competition, martial artists differ in view.  Some arts, such as boxing and taekwondo, put an emphasis on contact sparring and competition, whereas the common forms of aikido and krav maga actively spurn competition.  The reasons for this disparity varies.  Many of the competetive arts hold that competition breeds better and more efficient techniques.  Some non-competetive schools, however, holds that the ruleset under which competition takes place forms the art so that it is no longer applicable in real situations.