Warriors
During the Contact period, it is known that certain military positions were held by members of the aristocracy, and were passed on by patrilineal succession. It is likely that the specialised knowledge inherent in the particular military role was taught to the successor, including strategy, ritual, and war dances.[148] Maya armies of the Contact period were highly disciplined, and warriors participated in regular training exercises and drills; every able-bodied adult male was available for military service. Maya states did not maintain standing armies; warriors were mustered by local officials who reported back to appointed warleaders. There were also units of full-time mercenaries who followed permanent leaders.[157] Most warriors were not full-time, however, and were primarily farmers; the needs of their crops usually came before warfare.[158] Maya warfare was not so much aimed at destruction of the enemy as the seizure of captives and plunder.[159]
There is some evidence from the Classic period that women provided supporting roles in war, but they did not act as military officers with the exception of those rare ruling queens.[160] By the Postclassic, the native chronicles suggest that women occasionally fought in battle.[148]
Weapons
The atlatl (spear-thrower) was introduced to the Maya region by Teotihuacan in the Early Classic.[162] This was a 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) long stick with a notched end to hold a dart or javelin.[163] The stick was used to launch the missile with more force and accuracy than could be accomplished by simply hurling it with the arm alone.[162] Evidence in the form of stone blade points recovered from Aguateca indicate that darts and spears were the primary weapons of the Classic Maya warrior.[164] Commoners used blowguns in war, which also served as their hunting weapon.[162] The bow and arrow is another weapon that was used by the ancient Maya for both war and hunting.[151] Although present in the Maya region during the Classic period, its use as a weapon of war was not favoured;[165] it did not become a common weapon until the Postclassic.[162] The Contact period Maya also used two-handed swords crafted from strong wood with the blade fashioned from inset obsidian,[166] similar to the Aztec macuahuitl. Maya warriors wore body armour in the form of quilted cotton that had been soaked in salt water to toughen it; the resulting armour compared favourably to the steel armour worn by the Spanish when they conquered the region.[167] Warriors bore wooden or animal hide shields decorated with feathers and animal skins.