Martial arts really dates back to the Bronze Age, during which murals in tomb 15, located in Beni Hasan, depict wrestling. Before gunpowder was invented, the Babylonian Gilgamesh used hand-held weapons like the sword and axe.
Around 600 BC it’s believed that many of the martial arts known today began to take root in China and India, where trade roots began to grow. This philosophy likely moved to Japan as well when trade expanded to the island. In the 8th century BC the Greek Olympic Competition began, which included boxing and wrestling. Sun Tzu then wrote The Art of War in the 6th century BC, which is of work of military tactics and strategy. Also during the Iron Age was the foundation of Taoism and the early recordings of a Korean martial arts form called Taekkyon. In AD 72 the Colosseum opened in Rome.
In the year 500 the main Shaolin Temple is built. Chinese emperors give authorization for fighting monks to train in the Shaolin temple. In 550 an Indian monk called Bodhidarma founds Zen Buddhism, which uses meditation and breathing methods that incorporate common martial arts values like discipline and restraint. In 782 the Japanese Heian periods begins and curved swords referred to as Tachis begin to appear. These are the swords commonly referred to as samurai swords, although samurais do not come about until the 12th century. In 1400 China delegates travel to Okinawa, beginning trade with Japan and China. The Okinawan unarmed martial art Te begins the basic for modern Karate. In 1477 King Sho Skin of Okinawa bans the carrying of arms, which led to the development of striking arts and martial art forms.
In 1700 Wing Chun Kung Fu develops. Fifty years later the techniques of Tai Chi are written down for the first time. By 1882 Japanese Jujitsu is modified by Jigoro Kano into Judo, and a school is opened. Between 1893 and 1901 Edward William Barton-Wright studies in Japan and creates Bartitsu, the first known martial art to combine European and Asian fighting.
Martial arts spreads greatly throughout the 20th century. Karate becomes an official form in 1935 and Aikido is created in 1942 by Morihei Ueshiba. Judo, Karate and Kung Fu enter Korea the next year. By 1972 Judo is an official Olympic sport and Bruce Lee’s film Enter the Dragon brings the martial arts of Asia into the US for the first time the following year.
Though most think of Asian styles of combat when hearing the term “Martial Arts,” the term derives from the Latin “Arts of Mars,” referring to the Roman God of war. Martial Arts are a style of combat created for defense that has proscribed movements and includes a code of conduct that emphasizes restraint and humility.