Other martial arts take a "softer" approach to training. This does not imply ineffectiveness. It simply implies the application of martial arts technique in a more evasive and less direct manner. Present day T'ai Chi is an example of a soft approach to training. For the most part, however, you will find that most martial artists train in an environment with both hard and soft elements. An Aikido stylist is a good example of this since they stress evasive movement and the re-direction of an opponent's force, however, a strike may be applied if needed.

Soft martial art concepts also include a wholistic or internal approach to martial arts and stress the spiritual and physical health of its practitioners.