Where did martial arts orginate from?

Answer 1

Kung Fu originated in China with some influences from India in the 7th Century AD, and other origins dating back thousands of years in China. From there it traveled to Okinawa and was combined with the local fighting arts known as "te" ("hand"). Centuries later, the Chinese hand fighting had made its way again to Japan, this time directly from the mainland of China to Japan. The people of Japan began to refer to this ancient form of of boxing as "Kara-te" (pronounced "ka-la-tay" not "Kor-ah-tee") meaning "Chinese Hand." One of the Chinese Characters for "Kara" used in Japan meant anything of ancient China, particularly from the Tang Dynasty. In time, the average Japanese person was calling all Martial Art systems in Japan "Kara-te. This bothered some Martial Artists as it gave credit to China for what Japanese Martial Artists had perfected as their own unique systems of fighting. The famed Karate Master, Gichen Funakoshi had brought the predominantly hand fighting system out of Okinawa, and into Japan as Shotokan Karate. Funakoshi suggested that a different Chinese character be written the Japanese art, that was pronounce the same as "Kara," but meant "empty." Thus the term "Karate-do" became applied to Japanese systems as distinguished from the Chinese "Kara-te"

Korean Martial Art techniques and philosophies existed in ancient Korea during the three kingdoms period. While little is known about the actual techniques used, there was hand strikes and grappling in Subak, and a unique tactic of using the legs as a primary weapon in Tae kkyeon (aka: "Tae kyon" - the "Kicking method"). During the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II, a few Koreans had been introduced at a young age to the kicking of their native Tae kkyeon, then later studied Chinese hand fighting to create a Korean version called Tang Su Do. In Japan, some Koreans were permitted to study Japanese Shotokan Karate under Gichen Funakoshi, and others studied Judo and Aikijutsu and Aikido. The Koreans then developed their own grappling system of Yudo based on Judo, and Hapkido based on Aikijutsu.

A Korean college professor named Won Kuk Lee had become one of the highest graded Black Belt students in Shotokan Karate under Gichen Funakoshi. He combined his knowledge of native Korean Tae kkyeon, Chinese influenced Tang Soo Do, and the Japanese Karate, and in 1944, opened the first official school of Korean Martial Art run by a Korean which he called the Chung Do Kwan. After the liberation of Korea at the end of WWII, several Kwans (schools) of Korean Martial Art opened between 1945 and 1955.

On April 11, 1955, the main Kwan leaders united together, and with the support of the government officials, officially chose the name of "Taekwondo" as a title for both ancient fighting skills and philosophies, and modern developments of unarmed combat. Shortly thereafter, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed, and Taekwondo was named the national Martial Art of Korea. In 1972, the Kukkiwon building (national academy and world headquarters) was build in Seoul, South Korea. In 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established for the purpose of organizing the sport aspect of Taekwondo tournaments and world championships.

Answer 2

Brazil: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

China: Kung Fu

Israel: Krav Maga

Japan: Karatedo, Kendo, Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo, Ninjitsu

Korea: Tae Kwon Do

Philipeans: Escrima

Russia: Sambo

Thailand: Muay Thai

USA: MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program)

Please note this list is not complete, it just represents what I am aware of.

Answer 3

This is a very broad question. The reason for this is that Martial Arts stems from military fighting. If boxing was used in combat, it would be a form of martial arts.

One common form of martial arts that we are familiar with stems from observations of animal natural defenses that turned into Kung Fu in China. However, Martial Arts as a terminology in relation to human history would date back to the stone age.

Answer 4

Martial arts didn't originate in a single place. Many countries developed their own styles independent of each other.