diff --git a/data/json/techniques.json b/data/json/techniques.json
index 469ebf5b7009..a4bb1b7c657c 100644
--- a/data/json/techniques.json
+++ b/data/json/techniques.json
@@ -687,6 +687,7 @@
     "melee_allowed": true,
     "crit_tec": true,
     "weapon_damage_requirements": [ { "type": "bash", "min": 8 } ],
+    "weapon_categories_allowed": [ "STILETTOS", "KNIVES", "SHORT_SWORDS", "BATONS", "TONFAS" ],
     "stun_dur": 1,
     "mult_bonuses": [
       { "stat": "movecost", "scale": 0.6 },
@@ -1310,6 +1311,7 @@
     "skill_requirements": [ { "name": "melee", "level": 5 } ],
     "unarmed_allowed": true,
     "melee_allowed": true,
+    "weapon_categories_allowed": [ "STILETTOS", "KNIVES", "1H_HOOKED", "SHORT_SWORDS", "1H_SWORDS", "JAPANESE_SWORDS", "BIONIC_WEAPONRY" ],
     "crit_tec": true,
     "stun_dur": 1,
     "mult_bonuses": [
diff --git a/doc/src/content/docs/en/mod/json/reference/creatures/martialart_json.md b/doc/src/content/docs/en/mod/json/reference/creatures/martialart_json.md
index 3d1da171bdc5..9cf4a03deaa5 100644
--- a/doc/src/content/docs/en/mod/json/reference/creatures/martialart_json.md
+++ b/doc/src/content/docs/en/mod/json/reference/creatures/martialart_json.md
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ title: Martial arts & techniques
 "name" : "phasing strike",  // In-game name displayed
 "unarmed_allowed" : true,   // Can an unarmed character use this technique
 "unarmed_weapons_allowed" : true,    // Does this technique require the character to be actually unarmed or does it allow unarmed weapons
+"weapon_categories_allowed" : [ "BLADES", "KNIVES" ], // Restrict technique to only these categories of weapons. If omitted, all weapon categories are allowed. Empty hands are always allowed if unarmed_allowed is true.
 "melee_allowed" : true,     // Means that ANY melee weapon can be used, NOT just the martial art's weapons
 "skill_requirements": [ { "name": "melee", "level": 3 } ],     // Skills and their minimum levels required to use this technique. Can be any skill.
 "weapon_damage_requirements": [ { "type": "bash", "min": 5 } ],     // Minimum weapon damage required to use this technique. Can be any damage type.
@@ -82,7 +83,8 @@ title: Martial arts & techniques
 "description" : "+Strength bash armor, +Dexterity acid armor, +Intelligence electricity armor, +Perception fire armor.",    // In-game description
 "buff_duration": 2,                 // Duration in turns that this buff lasts
 "unarmed_allowed" : true,           // Can this buff be applied to an unarmed character
-"unarmed_allowed" : false,          // Can this buff be applied to an armed character
+"melee_allowed" : false,          // Can this buff be applied to an armed character
+"weapon_categories_allowed" : [ "BLADES", "KNIVES" ], // Restrict buff to only these categories of weapons. If omitted, all weapon categories are allowed. Empty hands are always allowed if unarmed_allowed is true.
 "unarmed_weapons_allowed" : true,          // Does this buff require the character to be actually unarmed. If true, allows unarmed weapons (brass knuckles, punch daggers)
 "max_stacks" : 8,                   // Maximum number of stacks on the buff. Buff bonuses are multiplied by current buff intensity
 "bonus_blocks": 1       // Extra blocks per turn
diff --git a/src/martialarts.cpp b/src/martialarts.cpp
index a5521bc5eb22..14a7b1e41370 100644
--- a/src/martialarts.cpp
+++ b/src/martialarts.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "itype.h"
 #include "json.h"
 #include "map.h"
+#include "messages.h"
 #include "output.h"
 #include "pimpl.h"
 #include "player.h"
@@ -176,6 +177,8 @@ void ma_requirements::load( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string & )
 
     optional( jo, was_loaded, "skill_requirements", min_skill, ma_skill_reader {} );
     optional( jo, was_loaded, "weapon_damage_requirements", min_damage, ma_weapon_damage_reader {} );
+    optional( jo, was_loaded, "weapon_categories_allowed", weapon_categories_allowed,
+              auto_flags_reader<weapon_category_id> {} );
 }
 
 void ma_technique::load( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src )
@@ -519,6 +522,18 @@ bool ma_requirements::is_valid_character( const Character &u ) const
         }
     }
 
+    if( !weapon_categories_allowed.empty() && is_armed ) {
+        bool valid_weap_cat = false;
+        for( const weapon_category_id &w_cat : weapon_categories_allowed ) {
+            if( u.used_weapon().typeId()->weapon_category.count( w_cat ) > 0 ) {
+                valid_weap_cat = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if( !valid_weap_cat ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -572,6 +587,18 @@ std::string ma_requirements::get_description( bool buff ) const
         }, enumeration_conjunction::none ) + "\n";
     }
 
+    if( !weapon_categories_allowed.empty() ) {
+        dump += vgettext( "<bold>Weapon category required: </bold>",
+                          "<bold>Weapon categories required: </bold>", weapon_categories_allowed.size() );
+        dump += enumerate_as_string( weapon_categories_allowed.begin(),
+        weapon_categories_allowed.end(), []( const weapon_category_id & w_cat ) {
+            if( !w_cat.is_valid() ) {
+                return w_cat.str();
+            }
+            return w_cat->name().translated();
+        } ) + "\n";
+    }
+
     if( !req_buffs.empty() ) {
         dump += _( "<bold>Requires:</bold> " );
 
diff --git a/src/martialarts.h b/src/martialarts.h
index fe5268269597..779418243ed6 100644
--- a/src/martialarts.h
+++ b/src/martialarts.h
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ struct ma_requirements {
     bool strictly_unarmed; // Ignore force_unarmed?
     bool wall_adjacent; // Does it only work near a wall?
 
+    /** Weapon categories compatible with this requirement. If empty, allow any weapon category. */
+    std::vector<weapon_category_id> weapon_categories_allowed;
+
     /** Minimum amount of given skill to trigger this bonus */
     std::vector<std::pair<skill_id, int>> min_skill;