So, I've started to branch away from my hyper-focused practicum project (pre-Roman inspired Celtic fantasy) and have started to pick up some other projects that I've had to set by the wayside to finish before the semester does.

Mostly that means my assorted pulp and superhero projects. A few of them rely on knowledge of unique martial arts styles, and I've been doing research on different styles, but there's precious little that I can actually find about writing and creating a fictional style.

Do any of you have martial arts experience with different styles? What are characteristic aspects that styles rely on? Have any suggestions for forming a new fictional style? Writing one? Any resources that you've found?

I don't consider myself an expert by any means, even though I have learned a bit of martial arts. Since no one else has replied, though, I will give my two cents. I wonder if you could get a feel for it by watching YouTube videos of different styles? One thing I have picked up is that systems ending in -udo are newer, simplified (?) versions, while systems ending in -itsu are older versions. So, Judo vs. Jujitsu. Try watching training videos on different styles, or the differences between them. Take notes on the characteristics of different styles, and why they are that way, then pick and choose the sort of things you want. There are also multiple martial arts systems with bow staff and katana, etc. HEMA has something to do with historical martial arts as well. One fascinating tidbit I heard, but haven't found, is that a Latin American (?) country at one point was under a government that forbid them to practice fighting. So, they disguised it as a dance! Even now all their practice in that system (I can't remember what it's called) involves stepping from one side to the other in a sort of triangle. I remember seeing some stuff on here about Gracie Jujitsu, so you might try searching that. It seems that is a smaller school within Jujitsu?

One last thing, assuming you are using this for your novel, rather than trying to start a whole new system, is that you may not need to have a complete functioning system. Think Tolkien's languages. Some are complete enough to speak, others have a few words. You may be able to create the illusion of a full system, without having to actually create a fully functional martial arts tradition.

Thanks for the response! Appreciate it. I have been watching training videos on youtube, yeah, to get the way different styles function. Even watching different Donnie Yen movies show different styles. Wing chun in the Ip Man films, for example, is very different than what he does with the Legend of the Fist. And it is also true, I don't need the full system. Just the feel. The feel is sort of what I'm going for.

And judo isn't a simplified jiu jitsu, and gracie jiu jitsu is more commonly known as Brazilian jiu jitsu. Judo was the version developed for sport and more varied reasons, while original jiu jitsu was just an umbrella term for a bunch of different (and only lethal) samurai techniques.

I think the dance one you're referring to is capoeira. I've done a little bit of it, which is a really unique style to learn.

I feel like the person to talk to on this subject might be Domici, as he seems to be knowledgeable on all sorts of different martial arts styles (at least, certainly more knowledgeable than myself). (Side note: that's really cool that you've done capoeira. I've seen videos of it and it looks amazing.) I think maybe one question to ask when creating a martial art style is "What is this style known for?" or "What is its specialty?" For example, the style of Karate that I practice is known for its powerful blocks, and Taekwando is known for high kicks.

In addition to developing what the movements of the style would look like, you could also work on the culture of the style as well: what would the style's etiquette and principles be? For instance, in Karate, we do a lot of bowing, and we're very formal and polite and precise. I did a free 6-week class at a Krav Maga (Israeli martial art) school, and it was extremely different: very un-formal and also very into talking about beating those bad guys up. Or take our dojo precepts in Karate:"Strive for the perfection of character. Defend the paths of truth. Foster the spirit of effort. Honor the principles of etiquette. Guard against impetuous courage." What might your style's dojo precepts be, if any?

Hey, folks have given you a lot of good information. I'm happy to add what I can.

If you're doing pulp and superhero I assume you're mostly modern Earth (circa 1930 - present?) There are lots, as in hundreds, of styles to choose from and it's more going to be driven by the effect you want. Even better is the name recognition, a little bit will go a long way. Anything using ancient mystic secrets is probably a Chinese based art. Most of them claim some lineage to the Shaolin temple, but most don't have documentation either.

A few ideas
Brutal and to the point
Kokyoshinkai (Japanese) Easy to get a black belt. Harder to keep since you can get challenged at the drop of a gi. Get used to broken bones.
Krav Maga (Israeli) Aggressive, "control the flow of battle" system used to train troops quickly.
Muay Thai (Thailand) See "Bloodsport".
Mixed Martial Arts (America) Looks tough but made for in the ring. Side note, watch "Here comes the boom." A sort of romantic comedy, the guy playing the MMA instructor is Bas Rutten, former UFC champion.

Scientific and effective
Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee) A combination of Wing Chun, Boxing, and Fencing theory. Lee's is often referred to as the original MMA fighter.
Boxing (America) Surprised me too, until I started actually paying attention. Movement is key, not the ability to take a punch.
Wing Chun (China) Small movements inside the combat zone. 95% upper body.

Mystic
Most any traditional Chinese art claiming "Qi".
Taiji is for helping build the body.
Chin na for joint locks.
Hung gar is a commonly known external art.
All sorts of others that claim to be a mix of inner/outer, yin/yang, or soft/hard. You can pretty much do what you want with this.
Budotaijutsu (Japan) More commonly known as "ninjustu". Good for being a Sneaky Pete and having multiple tricks up your t-shirt sleeve. The actual art is based on maintaining your balance while taking your opponents. The movies were inspired by Chinese arts.

Weapons
HEMA (America) Historical European Martial Arts. Like the SCA on steroids and skipping out on saying "Yes, m'lord" all the time. You'd be amazed at the balance and ease of those weapons.
Escrima (Phillipines) Look up Dan Inosanto, a Bruce Lee student. Sticks and knives.
Samurai (Japan) or the Korean equivalent the Hwarang. Military sword, bow, horsemanship, etc.

Sport
Most anything ending in "-do"; judo, karate-do, tae kwan do, etc-do, do-si-do.
Wu shu (China) Kung Fu turned into a dance.

So, back to the question of how to use a style as part of the story. Using the above just assume it means "something like X" since this is sci-fi.

In TDW.1429.1 Marco Domici was trying to live a peaceful, hidden life. When a gang of thugs attacked the kids Marco was mentally in the "maintain the illusion" and used budotaijutsu to quickly negate the thugs without looking like he was fighting. The Sangrean games "fencing" is based off HEMA, not whippy flashing pretzels. Same as in "Ought Five and One Two Three". Ian Domici, habituated to the tight quarters of a starship, used Wing Chun. Coach Jen needed to get the team trained up quickly so they learned Krav Maga.

Akil is more a lover than a fighter. He does practice budotaijutsu occasionally.

And an expert arrives! Thanks for the information! Now I know to run if someone offers to give me a quick lesson in Kokyoshinkai...

You're welcome! I'm glad it stirred up some activity! And thanks for the clarifications on term meanings. Yes, capoeira sounds right!

Actor Dolph Lundgren has a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering and was accepted to MIT. He's far more qualified to be "The Science Guy" than Bill Nye. Mr Lundgren is also a 3rd degree black belt in Kokyoshinkai.

I told you he'd be the one to ask!

Thanks, everyone! Those are really useful pieces of information. I can definitely draw from them for multiple characters! 1920s Shanghai jazz singer/martial artist, interdimensional superhero, 1970s intelligence agent. Lots of options!