Where did martial arts originate from?

Answer 1

First answer

Most people do not agree on the definition of exactly what the "Martial Art" is, so it would be very difficult to agree upon an origin. Components for the earliest use of the term Martial Art included refined fighting skills, code of honor or tenets of ethical conduct, philosophy of life, and spiritual enlightenment. While many forms of fighting, and combative training have been around since early human existence, the physical elements came together with mental and spiritual aspects in various forms of structured education, most notably throughout Asia. There is no evidence to support that one system started it all, but rather many kingdoms developed unique fighting methods separate from each other, and later, mutually influenced by one another.

Second answer

It was originally a simple form of using the hand in a way to defend oneself, this was brought from India and was passed along with the teachings of buddisim however the shaolin temple is considered the birth place of Martial Arts because it added many of the principals teachings and techniques in what we call martial art today.

Third answer

Technically speaking, martial arts originated in Africa along with the first humans. We evolved from non-human primates over the course of several million years. Modern chimpanzees, our closest genetic cousins in the animal kingdom, are known to box and wrestle, as well as fight with sticks. One chimp community in Senegal is even known to hunt with spears. These were probably traits held by the joint human-chimp ancestor that lived 7 million years ago as humans have similar behavior. Anatomically modern humans appeared in Africa around 200,000 years ago. Their very thick bones indicate that they lived hard lifestyles. They lived in hunter-gatherer societies at this time. Modern examples of hunter-gatherers like the !Kung San people (! = click sound) are known to war amongst themselves, so there is no doubt that early humans did the same. The spears and bows and arrows that were used in hunting eventually became the first weapons of war. Humans are believed to have started to leave Africa around 50,000 years ago. Over the course of many millennia, they spread to countries all over the world. The skeleton of a Neanderthal, a close human cousin, discovered in Iraq in the mid-20th century indicates that he was killed by a spear thrown by humans shortly after their exodus from Africa. This is a prime example of humans bringing their martial skills with them. Like language, these skills splintered with each group and snowballed into the traditions that we have today, including armed and unarmed combat. That is why there are so many similarities between seemingly unrelated styles of boxing, Wrestling, and weapons.

The idea that martial arts followed the path of Greece --> India --> China is a 20th-century concept. It is all tied to a Chinese daoyin (breathing and stretching) manual published in 1624. The first of two forged prefaces ascribed to two famous historical generals of different eras attributes the creation of the exercise to the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The Chinese author of an early 20th century satirical novel reported the story of Bodhidharma's creation; however, he confused the exercise with boxing, thereby influencing the legend that the monk had been the source of Shaolin's boxing tradition. I honestly don't know when the Bodhidharma legend was first connected to Alexander the great's activities in India. But it's easy to understand how this further evolution of the legend came about. Knowing that Pankration is one of the oldest recorded martial arts, a Eurocentric sort of person most likely thought that Alexander was the source of the Indian martial arts that Bodhidharma passed to China. There is of course no evidence to support this. A historian would be hard-pressed to prove a connection without the Bodhidharma legend linking Pankration to Chinese martial arts. As I stated above, all similarities between foreign styles stem from the common "human" source.

Answer 2

There are many interpretations and definitions of exactly what the "Martial Art" is, thus finding an accurate history or origin can be difficult for even experts to agree upon.

The physical roots of the Martial Art involve refined methods of combat, primarily unarmed fighting. In order to get "refined" techniques, you must start with unrefined fighting, and improve upon it. Therefore, the fighting aspect of the Martial Art can date back to early human history. Also, any organized civilization, society, kingdom or country has had to defend their territory through trained soldiers, so this has been an ongoing process for thousands of years which many people interpret as the roots of the various systems of Martial Art around the world.

Many experts view the "Martial Art" as an enlightened philosophical approach to the way in which a trained warrior lives their life with a code of honor, rules of conduct, as well as moral and ethical behavior. The blend of highly refined, deadly fighting skills with the balance of mental and spiritual development is perhaps the unique quality of the Asian Martial Art systems, but it is difficult to pinpoint their exact origin, and some people believe this existed outside of Asia as well. While much was shared between all of the Asian countries over the past few thousand years, each country developed their own individual approach, techniques, tactics, and philosophical views.

One legend tells of the 5th or 6th century Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, believed to have traveled to China from India, teaching Zen Buddhism. Later accounts credit him with teaching physical exercise and hand fighting to Shaolin monks, which gave rise to Kung Fu, and other later versions that spread into Okinawa and Japan. However, many experts and historians have discredited this connection for containing many errors.

In fact, both China and Korea had documented native forms of fighting skills prior to the 1st century A.D. However, some experts believe that the introduction and influence of Zen Buddhism to China, Korea, and Japan changed the philosophical viewpoint of warrior training, which developed into what we know today as the "Martial Art," at least from an Asian perspective. In any event, no country is likely to give credit to Another Country for the origin of their native Martial Art, and the concept of warrior training appears to be universal, and gradually developed unilaterally with mostly undocumented influences from neighboring countries.

Answer 3

In the etymology of English, French, and Latin languages, the term "martial" is derived from "Mars" which is the Roman god of war. However, the earliest recorded use of the term "Martial Art" was in reference to Fencing (sword fighting), and was specifically applied to this form of combat because of the unique blend of refined skill of weaponry with a code of honor. It wasn't just about "fighting" with a sword, but called an "art" because the sword experts lived by rules of ethical conduct in applying their skills.

This term later shifted to a description of Asian fighting skills that were notably more refined and technically advanced from the average brawler, boxer or street-fighter long ago, and because it contained the blend of philosophical and spiritual development. The "way of the warrior," from a Martial Art standpoint, was training to be highly skilled in combat (particularly unarmed fighting), yet humble, and peaceful in everyday life. The warrior could end the lives of dozens of enemies in combat at one moment, then return to ordinary life where the focus was on the value of appreciating life, music, poetry, art, calligraphy, etc. A true Martial Artist lived by a code of conduct which made the warrior a peaceful, positive influence in society.

It is a common error among laypersons and novice to think that "Martial Art" only refers to the physical act of combat, or fighting. This over-simplified, modern definition of the term "Martial Art" being simply construed as the "art of war" or "skill of fighting" is a creation of young, uneducated minds trying to apply common sense logic to a deeper philosophy that has been well established for hundreds of years. Modern definition of this term, and usage might change with the latest fad, but the original meaning referred only to a select group of highly skilled masters of unarmed combat which was combined with a balance of body, mind and spiritual training as a way of life.

Answer 4

Karate originated in the Ryukyu Islands or what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called tegumi (手, literally "hand"; tii in Okinawan) and Chinese White Crane Kung Fu. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. A karate practitioner is called a karateka(空手家?).

Answer 5

Different Martial Art systems came from different countries. Most all ancient civlizations have had various forms of combat training, and unarmed methods of combat (mostly grappling, and crude striking methods). The evolution of refining technical skills, and the blend of philosophical and spiritual aspects with a code of moral and ethical principles is what historically became known as "Martial Art" or "The way of the warrior." This developed simultaneously over hundreds of years, most notably in Asian territories of China, Korea, Japan, and surrounding regions. There is not one form that started it all, and spread to the other countries. Instead, each country had their own similar training that intermittently influenced each other over time. They all borrowed and exchanged information between each other that it would be impossible to determine what techniques or concepts originate where.

In modern times, many people tend to broaden the definition, and include virtually any combat training, or physical fighting as being under the heading of "Martial Art." Ignoring the original concept of a warrior's code of conduct, and spiritual enlightenment, many of today's so-called "Martial Artists" focus just on the fighting aspect. In that regard, the origins of Martial Art may stretch back to any form of physical conflict or brutality - - that is, if you want to call Neanderthals the earliest "Martial Artists."

Answer 6

Martial Arts were "invented" pretty much anywhere there are people. In Japan both the Samurai and the peasants had different types of martial arts while in Europe people created martial arts with broadswords, heavy armor and fencing.

Israel even has their own type of martial arts and brazillian have developed a type of dance fighting called capoeira that could be practiced by slaves.

Answer 7

It originated in Okinawa. Legend has it that kung fu originated in the Shoalin Temples. The Bodhidharma, a monk from India, created it from his native Indian combat skills to keep the monks fit. It spread throughout China. Chinese sailors took it to other countries in Southeast Asia, including Okinawa. There it was combined with the local arts to become karate.

Answer 8

Martial arts began all over the world. Any place that man had conflict, they learned how to fight. The beginning would have been the first time someone hit someone else. From there it evolved throughout the world.

Answer 9

The first time someone shared a technique or method of fighting with someone else.