English

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Etymology

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Calque of Japanese 武術 (bujutsu), which is itself borrowed from Chinese 武術 / 武术 (wǔshù). However this term has been already mentioned in Pope's Iliad (1715, 4.360), and in Sotheby's Iliad (1831, book 6).

Noun

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A dan graduation combat in judo.

martial art (plural martial arts)

 
Commons
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  1. Any of several fighting styles which contain systematized methods of training for combat, both armed and unarmed; often practiced as a sport, e.g. boxing, karate, judo, silat, wrestling, or Muay Thai.
  2. Military skills, proficiency in military strategy, prowess in warfare.
    • 1832, Richard Chenevix, An Essay Upon National Character: 4. On patriotism, p. 481:
      [] of all the modes by which the advantage of his country may be secured, the martial arts and valour are those by which a Swiss the most hopes to promote it.

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References

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