Overview
Martial arts (マーシャルアーツ, māsharu ātsu) is an English translation of the Japanese word for martial arts (武芸, bugei), both of these literally translate to martial arts. In Ikki Kajiwara's Shikakui Jungle, is described as a military fighting art.
Full-contact karate and kickboxing are also sometimes referred to as martial arts, as Benny Urquidez described himself as a full-contact martial artist.
External Links
English
Japanese
マーシャルアーツとは [単語記事] - ニコニコ大百科 (NicoNico Encyclopedia)