Wikipedia:WikiProject Martial Arts - General Conventions - Types of Articles - Articles About "types" of Martial Arts

Articles About "types" of Martial Arts

Pages of this category are probably the most fundamental to this project and most should be listed in the martial arts navigation bars. "Types" of martial arts deserve a page of their own, such as taekwondo, judo, karate, or t'ai chi ch'uan. Try to avoid being too specific regarding the practice of a specific school or organization, unless of course specific information about an organization helps the reader to understand the martial art that is article's topic. In most cases, particular schools, branches, or styles of martial arts will warrant their own page, such as Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, a school of Japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu), or Moo Duk Kwan, a school of taekwondo. Subgroups or branches of such schools are typically included in the main page, rather than have their own article (see Ittō-ryū).

Individual martial arts articles will inevitably be rather free-form, suiting themselves to the nature of the art. However, some sections can be suggested:

  • History: this should include both recent history (who is teaching now, where they learned, how the art came to be widely known) and ancient history if applicable (if the art is derived from ancient Spanish and Filipino war techniques, say so). Ancient history will very often be a matter of debate; in order to maintain a neutral point of view, all versions in common circulation should be described, whether plausible or not, with appropriate Wiki links to the relevant history. Ancient history may well be shared with related arts, so this might belong on the family page. This section should also describe any related arts and their relationship (ancestor, descendant, factional split).
  • Technical Aspects: An overview of the art's technical features. This may include:
    • Whether emphasis is on self-defense, military effectiveness, or spiritual preparation,
    • Style (close or long-range, striking or grappling, etc...),
    • Training methods, drills, and equipment,
    • Weapons used, if any,
    • Forms (kata, hyung, poomse, aka, etc...),
  • Sport: Is the martial art practiced as a sport? Are there competitions? Sparring? Is there one or more international organization that administers the sport?

Other things that should be mentioned if relevant:

  • uniform
  • customs and etiquette (bowing, saluting and so on)
  • ranking (colored belts, colored gloves, official instructor certification)
  • organizations (e.g., International Taekwon-Do Federation, which has copyrighted the forms)

Pictures may be relevant, and always help liven up an article. Pictures may include:

  • organization logos (check copyright and trademark issues first!)
  • uniforms
  • training equipment
  • important people

Consider adding a small and short video of a characteristic drill or exercise. See the m:Video Policy first.

Read more about this topic:  Wikipedia:WikiProject Martial Arts, General Conventions, Types of Articles

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