Martial arts hold a spiritual significance within many cultures. For example during the Zhou dynasty, martial arts grew alongside Taoism and Confucianism. Taoist philosophical concepts like those of natural opposites (heart and soft, fast and slow), natural boundaries, connections, and the natural flow of energies and cycles represented by Yinyang were woven into martial arts like Kungfu, and Confucian ideas of social structure and order, respect and honor, virtue through action, filial responsibility, allowing a teacher/ master, were also incorporated into the teaching methods, being central to the structure of how martial arts were (and are) taught. 

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Buddhism has also been incorporated into martial arts- martial arts are used to help the weak and defend, not to be the aggressor. Also, humility and restraint, using martial arts as a way to more deeply reflect on yourself, are other ways Buddhism has been exemplified through martial arts. There are external and internal martial arts. While external martial arts focuses primarily on obvious physical aspects, internal martial arts focuses primarily on establishing a balanced relationship with the more subtle energy and within and the less-obvious physical mechanisms of your own body or chi. Martial arts more focused on the external include Kung Fu, Karate, and Jujitsu. Internal martial arts include Tai Chi, Qigong, Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Liu He Ba Fa. Within China alone, there are hundreds of styles of martial arts, and a few major religions and philosophical schools of thought influence different styles, including Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam.