Martial arts techniques can be defined in a 'hard' or a 'soft' manner. This applies to both unarmed combat and to the use of martial arts weapons.

Many martial arts combine 'hard' and 'soft' techniques, such as Goju Ryu or Goju Shorei karate. (The name Goju is derived from 'gō' (Hard) and 'jū' (Soft) in Japanese). Such arts are usually called 'hard/soft'. The Chinese martial arts emphasize a balance of yin and yang. In some styles these represent softness and hardness, respectively. One should yield (yin) to hard force (yang); inversely, one should attack (yang) a soft (yin) opponent. Other uses of this doctrine state the study of yin and yang involve offensive and defensive responses; if one is struck on the left, one can effectively counterstrike from the right, if a low kick comes in, strike high, if a high punch comes in, kick low. As well, if one initiates these sorts of attacks, one should be aware of the simultaneous defensive liabilities involved.

Soft styles or soft martial arts, such as Aikido and the Chinese internal martial arts, employ many soft techniques. For example, in Yin Style Baguazhang, a Chinese internal martial art which derives its philosophy from the I-Ching, the Kun trigram represents pure yin and it tends to yield to force. However, the Qian trigram represents pure yang and its techniques tend to be very hard. For instance, one might use a sweeping strike (an attack method of the Qian trigram) to block and break the arm of an incoming punch. Thus, while some might consider Baguazhang to be a "soft" martial art, it includes "soft" and "hard" techniques.

Soft techniques
Taijiquan Pushing Hands, Shanghai, circa 1930

In a soft technique the receiver uses the aggressor's force and momentum against him by leading the attack in a direction where the receiver will be positioned in advantage, then, in a seamless movement, effects an appropriate martial arts technique. In some styles, a series of progressively difficult training drills such as pushing hands or sticky hands teach students to exercise this concept. While less physically conditioned students may be encouraged to undertake soft style martial arts on the seemingly miraculous assumption that it does not take any strength to apply them, this is not technically so. The goal of soft arts is said to be able to turn an adversary's force to their disadvantage, and to use the least possible amount of force oneself.