Editing History of martial arts (section)

====Middle Ages====

Like other branches of [[Sanskrit literature]], treatises on martial arts become more systematic in the course of the 1st millennium CE.  The grappling art of [[vajra-mushti]] is mentioned in sources of the early centuries CE. Military accounts of the [[Gupta Empire]] (c. 240–480) and the later ''Agni Purana'' identify over 130 different weapons, divided into thrown and unthrown classes and further into sub-classes.<ref>Parmeshwaranand Swami, ''Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Purāṇas'', Sarup & Sons, 2001, {{ISBN|978-81-7625-226-3}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=nmmkM0fVS-cC&pg=PA467  s.v. "dhanurveda"]; 
Gaṅgā Rām Garg, ''Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World'', Concept Publishing Company, 1992
{{ISBN|978-81-7022-376-4}}, s.v. "archery".
</ref> The ''[[Kama Sutra]]'' written by [[Vātsyāyana]] suggested that women should regularly "practice with [[sword]], single-stick, [[quarterstaff]], and [[Bow (weapon)|bow]] and [[arrow]]."

The ''[[Sushruta Samhita]]'' (c. 4th century) identifies 107 vital points on the human body<ref>G. D. Singhal, L. V. Guru (1973). ''Anatomical and Obstetrical Considerations in Ancient Indian Surgery Based on Sarira-Sthana of Susruta Samhita''.</ref> of which 64 were classified as being lethal if properly struck with a fist or stick.<ref name=Svinth/> [[Sushurata|Sushruta]]'s work formed the basis of the medical discipline [[ayurveda]] which was taught alongside various martial arts.<ref name=Svinth/> With numerous other scattered references to vital points in Vedic and epic sources, it is certain that [[Indian subcontinent]]'s early fighters knew and practised attacking or defending vital points.<ref name=Zarrilli1992/>

Fighting arts were not exclusive to the [[kshatriya]] caste, though the warrior class used the systems more extensively. The 8th-century text ''Kuvalaymala'' by Udyotanasuri recorded such systems being taught at [[gurukula]] educational institutions, where [[Brahmin]] students from throughout the subcontinent "were learning and practicing archery, fighting with sword and shield, with daggers, sticks, lances, and with fists, and in duels (niuddham)."

The earliest extant manual of Indian martial arts is contained as chapters 248 to 251 in the ''[[Agni Purana]]'' (c. 8th – 11th centuries), giving an account of ''[[dhanurveda]]'' in a total of 104 [[shloka]].<ref name=Zarrilli1992>{{cite journal | author = Zarrilli, Phillip B. | year = 1992 | title = To Heal and/or To Harm: The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions Part I: Focus on Kerala's Kalarippayattu |url=https://spa.exeter.ac.uk/drama/staff/kalari/healharm.html | journal = Journal of Asian Martial Arts | volume = 1 | issue = 1 }}</ref><ref>P. C. Chakravarti (1972). ''The art of warfare in ancient India''. Delhi.</ref><ref>[http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gret_utf.htm#AgniP_BI GRETIL etext] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724075838/http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gret_utf.htm |date=2009-07-24 }}, based on Rajendralal Mitra, Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal 1870–1879, 3 vols. (Bibliotheca Indica, 65,1-3); AP 248.1-38, 249.1-19, 250.1-13, 251.1-34.</ref>
These verses describe how to improve a warrior's individual prowess and kill enemies using various different methods in warfare, whether a warrior went to war in chariots, elephants, horses, or on foot. Foot methods were subdivided into armed combat and unarmed combat.<ref name=Svinth>J. R. Svinth (2002). [http://ejmas.com/kronos A Chronological History of the Martial Arts and Combative Sports.] ''Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences''.</ref> The former included the [[Bow (weapon)|bow]] and [[arrow]], the [[sword]], [[spear]], [[noose]], [[armour]], [[Dart (missile)|iron dart]], [[Club (weapon)|club]], [[battle axe]], [[discus]], and the [[trident]].  The latter included [[wrestling]], [[Knee (strike)|knee strikes]], and [[Punch (strike)|punching]] and [[kicking]] methods.