Merriam-Webster defines martial arts as “any of several arts of combat and self-defense that are widely practiced as sport” whereas Cambridge defines it in looser terms as “a traditional method of fighting or defending yourself..” While each dictionary will offer its own definition, martial arts refers to all the various systems of training for combat and self-defense that has been systemized and arranged. Read more at http://andybritnell.org/is-fencing-a-martial-art/