by Tracy Wever

Created on: February 08, 2010

The early history of Martial Arts can trace its start to the first fight between two humans. Martial arts are basically practiced systems of fighting. Who are we to say that the earliest humans did not practice against each other to gain skills used against enemies. Therefore the time line has to start with mans earliest conflicts against each other.

One of the earliest examples of Martial Arts is found in Egyptian tombs, these wall paintings that show men fighting date back to 2000 B.C. The Egyptians had many enemies so it is only natural that they would practice a form of fighting. There are also accounts of hand to hand fighting during the iron and bronze ages. Hand to hand combat is also written about in detail including different techniques in the fifth century.

The Shaolin Kung Fu style of martial arts originated from the style practiced by the Shaolin monks. There are documented accounts of this style as far back as 610 B.C.This is a style that would become widespread in the 16th and 17th centuries. Greeks were practicing Pankration as early as six or seven hundred B.C. This fighting style taught its followers many different forms including wrestling, punching and grappling techniques. Muyejebo is a Korean martial arts form that produced a written manual as early as 1598. Japans Koryu is a word meaning old school. This form of Martial Arts teaches followers many of the old practices learned over centuries. This style became popular around the eighteen sixties.

Two of the most legendary of all Martial Arts groups are the Samurai and the Ninja. The Samurai came into existence around the 12th century. These were fierce fighting warriors loyal to the death to their lords. The Samurai warrior fought in most of the customary martial arts styles and was a very honorable fighter. The only way for him to keep his honor if he lost a battle was to commit suicide. The Ninja on the other hand saw no method unfair as long as the battle was won. They practiced a form of Martial Art known as Ninjutsu. This form has it’s origin about 1162 when a disgraced Samurai Daisuke Togakure was wandering  in the mountains and crossed paths with a Chinese warrior monk named Kain Doshi.  They combined the Samurai way of fighting with the warrior monk ways and came up with Ninjutsu. The difference between the Samurai way of fighting with its tradition and honor was Ninjutsu warriors saw no shame in any method to achieve a victory. They would sneak up behind a foe and slit his throat or put poison in his rice. The Ninja became the lower class fighters (although not in terms of skill) against the ruling lords and their Samurai.

It is noted in several history books that Martial Arts started to become popular in the United States around the start of the 1800’s. This coincided with the trade between the U.S. and Asian countries and the import of Chinese workers. The art of boxing has been around since the start of the U.S. and this is a form of Martial Art.

 This is a brief history of Martial Arts. These practiced forms of fighting have really been around since the dawn of time.   

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