The origins of martial arts can be traced back to ancient times when it was commonly practiced in arenas and battlefields. There is no easy answer to this question, as the history of all of these arts is too deep to talk about in one blog post. Besides the various styles that are commonly practiced, there are also other factors that have contributed to the development of this discipline.
Even though the exact history of martial arts is still unknown, there are various places where we know it started. This is a brief explanation of how martial arts developed in the western world.
Europe
In Europe, martial arts were still prevalent in countries such as Greece, where sports were an integral part of the culture. During the Ancient Olympic Games, various forms of martial arts were shown, such as boxing, wrestling, and Pankration. Gladiatorial combat was also a type of public spectacle that was produced by the Romans.
Several of the historical fencing manuals and forms that were produced during the time of European martial arts have survived. Many groups are also working on reconstructing the older styles of this discipline. This process involves studying the combat treatises that were produced during the 1400s to 1900s period. This process is commonly referred to as the Western martial arts reconstruction effort. The various styles that were commonly practiced during this period include sword fighting, jousting, and halberd fighting. Many of the medieval manuals that were produced during this period have survived. One of the most prominent of these is the Fechtbuch by Johannes Lichtenauer, which is regarded as the most famous of the medieval manuals.
The rise of firearms in Europe has drastically decreased the number of martial arts that have historical roots in the region. These are not exactly the same as in Asia, as traditional forms of martial arts either died out or were replaced by sports. Some forms of this discipline, such as fencing, continue to exist.
Due to the technological advancements that have occurred in the region, some forms of martial arts, such as marksmanship and bayonet combat, still exist. However, military personnel are taught in these skills instead of traditional arts. Some European weapons systems, such as those used by the Canary Islands and Portugal, still exist and are used as self-defense methods.
Americas
South America and North America’s native peoples have their own martial arts training. Martial arts were taught in childhood, and some First Nations individuals were only called warriors after they had proven themselves in combat. During early adolescence, most groups trained individuals using various weapons such as spears, knives, and blowguns.
War clubs were regarded as the preferred weapons for Native American warriors due to their ability to raise their social status through combat. They trained hard in order to improve their skills and hone their stalking techniques.
The Okichitaw is a type of martial art that is based on the Plains Cree of Canada. It uses various weapons such as spears, knives, and tomahawks. It also emphasizes the use of striking and grappling techniques.
Brazilian comormeira, which is a type of martial art that originated in Brazil, is known for its high level of endurance and flexibility. It consists of various kicks and strikes. Another type of martial art that is commonly practiced is Brazilian jiu jitsu, which is an adaptation of pre-war techniques such as jujutsu and Judo. This type of discipline has gained popularity due to its ability to compete in mixed martial arts tournaments.