Editing History of martial arts

{{Short description|None}}
Although the earliest evidence of [[martial arts]] goes back millennia, the true roots are difficult to reconstruct. Inherent patterns of [[human aggression]] which inspire practice of [[mock combat]] (in particular [[folk wrestling|wrestling]]) and optimization of serious [[close combat]] as [[cultural universal]]s are doubtlessly inherited from the [[Hominina|pre-human]] stage and were made into an "[[art]]" from the [[Upper Paleolithic Revolution|earliest emergence]] of that concept. Indeed, many universals of martial art are fixed by the specifics of [[human physiology]] and not dependent on a specific tradition or era.

Specific martial [[traditions]] become identifiable in [[Classical Antiquity]], with disciplines such as [[shuai jiao]], [[Greek wrestling]] or those described in the [[Indian epic poetry|Indian epics]] or the [[Spring and Autumn Annals]] of [[China]].
[[Image:Thermae boxer Massimo Inv1055.jpg|thumb|The [[Boxer of Quirinal]] resting after contest (Bronze sculpture, 3rd century BCE)]]

==Early history==
[[Image:Young_boxers_fresco,_Akrotiri,_Greece.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] youths boxing, reconstruction of a [[Knossos]] fresco (1500 BC). Earliest evidence for use of gloves.{{Dubious|date=June 2011}}]]
The earliest evidence for specifics of martial arts as practiced in the past comes from depictions of fights, both in [[figurative art]] and in [[early literature]], besides analysis of archaeological evidence, especially of [[weapon]]ry.  The oldest work of art depicting scenes of battle, dating back 3400&nbsp;BC,<ref>[http://www.kobukaijujitsu.com/grapplingstyles.html World grappling styles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101053822/http://www.kobukaijujitsu.com/grapplingstyles.html |date=2015-01-01 }}. Retrieved 2013-06-22.</ref> was the [[Ancient Egypt]]ian paintings showing some form of struggle.<ref name="iwonawalery">Iwona Czerwinska Pawluk and Walery Zukow (2011). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=NY81p9dVI70C&dq=Egyptian+paintings+showing+some+form+of+struggle+comparable+to+the+stocks&pg=PA21 Humanities dimension of physiotherapy, rehabilitation, nursing and public health]''. p. 21</ref> Dating back to 3000&nbsp;BC in [[Mesopotamia]] ([[Babylon]]), reliefs and the poems depicting struggle were found.<ref name="iwonawalery" /> In [[Vietnam]], drawings and sketches from 2879&nbsp;BCE describe certain ways of combat using sword, stick, bow, and spears.<ref name="iwonawalery" />{{Better source|reason=|date=March 2015}}

The [[spear]] has been in use since the [[Lower Paleolithic]] and retained its central importance well into the 2nd millennium AD. The [[Bow (weapon)|bow]] appears in the [[Upper Paleolithic]] and is likewise only gradually replaced by the [[crossbow]], and eventually [[firearm]]s, in the Present Day. True [[bladed weapon]]s appear in the [[Neolithic]] with the [[stone axe]], and diversify in shape in the course of the [[Bronze Age]] ([[khopesh]]/[[kopis]], [[Bronze Age sword|sword]], [[dagger]])

Some early examples are the depiction of [[wrestling]] techniques in a [[tomb]] of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt]] at [[Beni Hasan]] (c. 2000 BC) and pictorial representations of fist fighting in the [[Minoan civilization]] dating to the 2nd millennium BCE.

In ancient [[China]], [[Yellow Emperor]] (2698 BC) is described as a famous [[general]] who, before becoming [[China]]’s leader, wrote lengthy treatises on [[medicine]], [[astrology]] and the [[martial arts]].  Literary descriptions of combat began in the 2nd millennium BC, with mention of weaponry and combat in texts like the [[Gilgamesh epic]] or the [[Rigveda|Rig-Veda]]. Detailed description of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age hand-to-hand combat with spear, sword and shield are found in the ''[[Iliad]]'' (c. 8th century BC) and also the ''[[Mahabharatha]]''.

==Africa==
[[Image:Beni Hassan tomb 15 wrestling detail.jpg|thumb|300px|Detail of the wrestling fresco in tomb 15 at [[Beni Hasan]].]]

An  [[Egypt]]ian fresco, dated to 3400 BC, and depicting military training at Beni Hassan is the world's oldest known artistic representation of an organised fighting system. In gymnasiums similar to those of Greece, recruits would practice wrestling, callisthenics and duelling with single-stick. The attacking weapon apparently had a basket-guard protecting the hand, while the left forearm had a splint strapped on to serve as a shield. Soldiers fought with spears, large shields with an eye-hole, clubs, axes, poleaxes, flails, bows, slings, and swords of various forms.

Later, martial styles as varied as Gidigbo (a form of wrestling practiced by the [[Yoruba people]] of [[Nigeria]]), Donga (a form of stickfighting practiced by the [[Suri people]] of [[Ethiopia]]), Musangwe (a form of bare-knuckle boxing practiced by the [[Venda people]] of [[South Africa]]), Tahtib (a form of stickfighting practiced by the [[Copt]]s of [[Egypt]]) and Engolo (a form of kicking, dodging and leg sweeping practiced by the tribes of the [[Cunene river]] region of [[Angola]]), to name just a few, were developed by cultures all over [[Africa]].

=={{visible anchor|Asia|East Asia}}==
{{further|Origins of Asian martial arts|Modern history of East Asian martial arts}}

===China===
{{Main|History of Chinese martial arts}}

====Antiquity (Zhou to Jin)====
A hand-to-hand combat theory, including the integration of notions of [[Hard and soft (martial arts)|"hard" and "soft"]] techniques, is expounded in the story of the ''Maiden of Yue'' in the [[Spring and Autumn Annals]] of Wu and Yue (5th century BCE).<ref>trans. and ed. Zhang Jue (1994), pp. 367-370, cited after Hennin (1999) p. 321 and note 8.</ref>

The ''[[Book of Han|Han History]] Bibliographies'' record that, by the [[Former Han]] (206 BC – 9 AD), there was a distinction between no-holds-barred weaponless fighting, which it calls ''shǒubó'' (手搏), for which "how-to" manuals had already been written, and sportive wrestling, then known as juélì or [[jiǎolì]] (角力).

Wrestling is also documented in the Shǐ Jì, ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'', written by [[Sima Qian]] (c. 100 BCE).<ref name=Henning>Henning, Stanley E. (Fall 1999). [http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/china_review_international/v006/6.2henning.pdf Academia Encounters the Chinese Martial arts]. ''China Review International'' '''6''' (2): 319–332. ISSN 1069-5834</ref>

Jiǎolì is also mentioned in the [[Classic of Rites]] (1st century BCE).<ref name=classicofrites>[[Classic of Rites]]. Chapter 6, Yuèlìng. Line 108.</ref>

In the 1st century, "Six Chapters of Hand Fighting", were included in the ''Han Shu'' (history of the Former Han Dynasty) written by [[Ban Gu]].
The [[Five Animals]] concept in Chinese martial arts is attributed to [[Hua Tuo]], a 3rd-century physician.<ref>Dingbo. Wu, Patrick D. Murphy (1994), "Handbook of Chinese Popular Culture", Greenwood Press, {{ISBN|0-313-27808-3}}</ref>

====Middle Ages====
In the [[Tang dynasty]], descriptions of [[sword dance]]s were immortalized in poems by [[Li Bai]] and [[Du Fu]]. In the Song and Yuan dynasties, xiangpu (the earliest form of [[sumo]]) contests were sponsored by the imperial courts.<ref>The ''customary [[Bowing]] of martial arts'' is thus due to the "transmission of the task or work to be carried out", in ancient times precisely for the reigning [[Empire]]</ref>

In regard to the [[Shaolin Kung Fu|Shaolin]] fighting system, the oldest evidence of Shaolin participation in combat is a stele from 728 CE that attests to two occasions: a defense of the [[Shaolin Monastery]] from bandits around 610 CE, and their subsequent role in the defeat of [[Wang Shichong]] at the [[Battle of Hulao]] in 621 CE. From the 8th to the 15th centuries, there are no extant documents that provide evidence of Shaolin participation in combat.

====Late Ming====
The modern concepts of wushu emerge by the late Ming to early Qing dynasties (16th to 17th centuries).<ref>China Sportlight Series (1986) "Sports and Games in Ancient China". New World Press, {{ISBN|0-8351-1534-8}}.</ref>

Between the 16th and 17th centuries there are at least forty extant sources which provided evidence that, not only did monks of Shaolin practice martial arts, but martial practice had become such an integral element of Shaolin monastic life that the monks felt the need to justify it by creating new [[Buddhist]] lore.<ref>Shahar, Meir (2000). "Epigraphy, Buddhist Historiography, and Fighting Monks: The Case of The Shaolin Monastery". Asia Major Third Series 13 (2): 15–36.</ref>

References of martial practice in Shaolin appear in various literary genres of the late Ming: the epitaphs of Shaolin warrior monks, martial-arts manuals, military encyclopedias, historical writings, travelogues, fiction, and even poetry. However these sources do not point out to any specific style originated in Shaolin.<ref>Shahar, Meir (December 2001). "Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 61 (2): 359–413. {{ISSN|0073-0548}}.</ref>

These sources, in contrast to those from the Tang period, refer to Shaolin methods of armed combat. This include the forte of Shaolin monks and for which they had become famous — the [[Gun (staff)|staff (gun)]]; General [[Qi Jiguang]] included these techniques in his book, Treatise of Effective Discipline.<ref>Henning, Stanley (1999). "Martial arts Myths of Shaolin Monastery, Part I: The Giant with the Flaming Staff". Journal of the Chenstyle Taijiquan Research Association of Hawaii 5 (1), Shahar, Meir (2007), The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion and the Chinese Martial arts", Honolulu: The University of Hawai'i Press</ref>

====20th Century====
At the beginning of the century, first attempts were made to standardize the practice of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts in cities. A notable example was that of the Jing Wu Academy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=Brian|author-link= |year=2010|title=Jingwu: The School that Transformed Kung Fu|publisher=Blue Snake Books|isbn=978-1583942420}}</ref> 

The rise of the [[Proclamation of the People's Republic of China|People's Republic of China]] has gradually led to many changes in the practice, culture and dissemination of Chinese Martial Arts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lorge|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Lorge|year=2017|title=Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century|publisher=Cambridge University|isbn=978-1316633687}}</ref> While on one hand, many martial arts teachers were persecuted because of their political view or activities,<ref>{{cite book|last=Henning|first=Stanley|author-link=Stanley Henning|year=1999|title=Academia Encounters the Chinese Martial Arts|publisher=University of Hawai’i Press|isbn=978-0824819483}}</ref> the [[Communism|communist]] government also invested in the creation of new styles: [[Sanda (sport)|Sanda]], [[Wushu (sport)|Modern Wushu]], and Standardized [[Tai Chi|Taiji Quan]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Wile|first=Douglas|author-link=Douglas Wile|year=1996|title=Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0791426535}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Morris|first=Andrew|year=2004|title=Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Culture in Republican China|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0520240841}}</ref> Later, beginning in the 1980s, the [[Chinese Communist Party]] also began to promote Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bluestein|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Bluestein|year=2024|title=Martial Arts Politics Explained|publisher=Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP|isbn=979-8335564984}}</ref>

From the 1970s, Traditional Chinese Martial Arts slowly became very popular in Western Countries as well. The development and spread of Chinese [[Kung fu film|Kung Fu movies]] from [[Hong Kong]] greatly contributed to this, especially via the influence of [[Bruce Lee]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Krug|first=Gary|author-link=Gary Krug|year=2001|title=Communication, Technology, and Cultural Change|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-0761956529}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Bill|author-link= |year=2006|title=The Martial Arts Cinema of the Chinese Diaspora|publisher=Hong Kong University Press|isbn=978-9622097837}}</ref>

===India===
{{Main|Indian martial arts}}
{{see also|Dhanurveda|Kalaripayattu}}

====Antiquity====

Classical [[Sanskrit epics]] contain the earliest written accounts of combat in India.<ref>Shamya Dasgupta (June–September 2004). "An Inheritance from the British: The Indian Boxing Story", ''Routledge'' '''21''' (3), p. 433-451.</ref> Stories describing [[Krishna]] report that he sometimes engaged in wrestling matches where he used knee strikes to the chest, punches to the head, hair pulling, and strangleholds.<ref name=Svinth/> Another unarmed battle in the ''Mahabharata'' describes two fighters [[boxing]] with [[Punch (strike)|clenched fists]] and fighting with [[kick]]s, finger strikes, [[knee strike]]s and [[headbutt]]s.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04013.htm Section XIII: ''Samayapalana Parva''], Book 4: ''Virata Parva'', ''[[Mahabharata]]''.</ref> Krishna Maharaja, who single-handedly overcame an [[elephant]] according to the Mahabharata, is credited with developing the sixteen principles of armed combat.

[[Kalaripayattu]], the most ancient and important form of India, was practiced in Kerala.  Its origins date back to the 12th century.  [[Unniyarcha]], [[Aromal Chekavar]] and others were Thiyya warriors of [[Chekavar]] lineage.  It was during their period that kalaripayattu spread widely in southern [[Kerala]].<ref name="23ff">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My8DEAAAQBAJ&q=Chekavan&pg=PT42|title = Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus|isbn = 9780190992071|last1 = Nisha|first1 = P. R.|date = 12 June 2020| publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref><ref name="mm2nn">{{Cite book|last=Menon|first=A. Sreedhara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wnAjqjhc1VcC&q=Aromal+chekavar|title=Kerala History and its Makers|publisher=D C Books|date=4 March 2011|isbn=978-81-264-3782-5|pages=81|language=en|access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>

Many of the popular sports mentioned in the [[Vedas]] and the epics have their origins in military training, such as boxing ([[musti-yuddha]]), wrestling (''malladwandwa''), chariot-racing (''rathachalan''), horse-riding (''aswarohana'') and archery (''dhanurvidya'').<ref>{{cite book |title=The Timechart History of India |year=2005 |publisher=Robert Frederick Ltd. |isbn=0-7554-5162-7}}</ref> Competitions were held not just as a contest of the players' prowess but also as a means of finding a bridegroom.

Ten fighting styles of northern India were said to have been created in different areas based on animals and gods, and designed for the particular geography of their origin. Tradition ascribes their convergence to the 6th-century in the Buddhist university of [[Takshashila]], located in today's Punjab region.

====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.

===Japan===
{{Main|Japanese martial arts|Okinawan martial arts}}
The historical origin of Japanese martial arts can be found in the warrior traditions of the [[samurai]] and the caste system that restricted the use of weapons by members of the non-warrior classes. Originally, samurai were expected to be proficient in many weapons, as well as unarmed combat, and attain the highest possible mastery of combat skills, for the purpose of glorifying either themselves or their liege.  A large number of schools evolved to teach these skills with those existing before the [[Meiji Restoration]] classed as {{Nihongo|[[Koryū]]|古流}} or old stream.  Over time there was a trend away from the traditional purpose to a philosophy of coupling spiritual goals with the striving to perfect their martial skills.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

The Japanese [[The Book of Five Rings|Book of Five Rings]] dates to 1664.

===Korea===
{{Main|Korean martial arts}}
[[Taekkyeon|Taekkyon]] is the traditional martial art of [[Korea]]. Taekkyon came into existence sometime before the [[Silla]] dynasty united the peninsula. It is believed Taekkyon was known as Subak at that time. Taekkyon focuses on up-right fighting: footwork, kicks, strikes, blocks, throws and rhythm.

[[Ssireum]] is the traditional wrestling art of Korea. Gakjeochong (각저총:角抵塚) murals show that wrestling in Korea dates back as early as the pre-Three Kingdom era.  The Book of Later Han, a Chinese document that was written either before or early in the history of the Three Kingdoms also has records of Korean wrestling.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}  Ssireum first gained widespread popularity during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). 
  
Two Korean martial arts manuals [[Muyejebo]] and [[Muyedobotongji]] date from 1598 and 1790, respectively.

===Sri Lanka===
{{Main|Angampora}}
Angampora is an ancient Sri Lankan martial art that combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and meditation. According to apocryphal Sinhalese folklore, Angampora's history stretches to as far back as 3,000 years, with the Yaksha tribe (one of the four "hela" - the ancient tribes that inhabited the island) being identified as originators. With the advent of colonialism over the entirety of the island in 1815, Angampora fell into disuse and was very nearly lost as a part of the country's heritage. The British administration prohibited its practice due to the dangers posed by a civilian populace versed in a martial art, burning down any ''angan madu'' (practice huts devoted to the martial art) found: flouting of the law was punished by a gunshot to the knee, effectively crippling practitioners; Angampora nevertheless survived within a few families, allowing it to emerge into mainstream Sri Lankan culture post-independence.

===Persia (Iran)===
The traditional [[Culture of Iran|Persian]] style of [[grappling]] was known as [[Wrestling in Iran|koshti]], with the physical exercise and schooled sport known as [[varzesh-e bastani]]. It is said<ref name="pahlavani_mohammad">Nekoogar, Farzad (<!--September-->1996). [http://www.pahlavani.com/ ''Traditional Iranian Martial Arts (Varzesh-e Pahlavani)'']. pahlvani.com: Menlo Park. Accessed: 2007-02-08</ref> to be traceable back to [[Arsacid Empire|Arsacid Parthian]] times (132 BCE - 226 CE), and is still widely practiced today in the region. Following the development of [[Sufism|Sufi Islam]] in the 8th century CE, varzesh-e pahlavani absorbed philosophical and spiritual components from that religion.

'''Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals''' is also an ancient martial art and the name inscribed by [[UNESCO]] for '''varzesh-e pahlavāni''' ({{langx|fa|آیین پهلوانی و زورخانه‌ای}}, "heroic sport")<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.izsf.net/en|title=International Zurkhaneh Sports Federation|website=www.izsf.net}}</ref> or '''varzesh-e bāstāni''' ({{lang|fa|ورزش باستانی}}; ''varzeš-e bāstānī'', "ancient sport"), a traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in [[Iran]] ([[Name of Iran|Persia]]), and first appearing under this name and form in the Safavid era, with similarities to systems in adjacent lands under other names.<ref>{{iranica|zur-kana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/pahlevani-and-zoorkhanei-rituals-00378|title=UNESCO - Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals|website=ich.unesco.org}}</ref>

===Turkic===
Other historical grappling styles from the region include [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] forms such as [[kurash]], [[köräş]] and [[yağlı güreş]].

===Arab===
{{further|Furusiyya}}
The north Arabian tradition of horsemanship quickly became an integral part of warfare throughout the [[Arab world]] and much of the [[West Asia]]. The Middle Ages saw the flourishing of the [[furusiyya]] culture, combining the ancient Bedouin concept of honour (''muru'ah'') with the Islamic ideals of chivalry. A ''{{transl|ar|fārys}}'' (meaning knight or horseman) would first hone his skills in wrestling and armed combat on the ground before learning to fight while mounted. Furusiyya literature from the 9th to 15th century deal with equestrianism, archery, military strategy, duelling and [[joust|charging with the lance]]. Armed fighting included the use of the sword (''sayf''), spear, lance, javelin, dagger (''jambiya''), staff, axe (''tabar''), warhammer, and curved bow.  There is also ''Tahtib'' (التحطيب) which was practiced in ancient Egypt and is still performed in celebrations{{fact|date=March 2017}}.

==Europe==
{{Main|Historical European martial arts}}
{{Further|History of fencing|Ancient Greek Boxing}}

===Antiquity===
[[File:Pankratiast in fighting stance.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Pankratiast in fighting stance, Ancient Greek red-figure amphora, 440 BC.]]
{{Further|Ancient warfare}}
European martial arts become tangible in Greek antiquity with [[pankration]] and other martially oriented disciplines of the [[ancient Olympic Games]]. Boxing became [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] in Greece as early as 688 BCE. Detailed depictions of wrestling techniques are preserved in vase paintings of the [[Classical Greece|Classical period]]. [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'' has a number of detailed descriptions of [[single combat]] with spear, sword and shield.

[[Gladiatorial combat]] appears to have Etruscan roots, and is documented in Rome from the [[260s BCE]].

The papyrus fragment known as [[P.Oxy. III 466]] dating from the 2nd century gives the earliest surviving description in writing of wrestling techniques.

In [[Sardinia]], a [[Mediterranean]] island, a fighting style which has been called ''istrumpa'' was practised in the [[Bronze Age]], as demonstrated by the finding of a little bronze statue (known as "''Bronzetto dei lottatori''" or "bronze of the fighting men"), which shows two fighters struggling with each other on the ground.

===Middle Ages===
{{Further|Medieval warfare|Viking Age arms and armour|Holmgang|Trial by combat}}
[[File:Ms I33 fol 04v.jpg|thumb|200px|Fol. 4v of the I.33]]
Pictorial sources of medieval combat include the [[Bayeux tapestry]] (11th century), the [[Morgan Bible]] (13th century).

The [[Icelandic sagas]] contain many realistic descriptions of [[Viking Age]] combat.

The earliest extant dedicated [[martial arts manual]] is the [[MS I.33]] (c. 1300), detailing [[sword]] and [[buckler]] combat, compiled in a [[Franconia]]n monastery. The manuscript consists of 64 images with Latin commentary, interspersed with technical vocabulary in [[Middle High German|German]]. While there are earlier manuals of wrestling techniques, I.33 is the earliest known manual dedicated to teaching armed single combat.

[[Wrestling]] throughout the Middle Ages was practiced by all social strata. [[Jousting]] and the [[medieval tournament|tournament]] were popular martial arts practiced by nobility throughout the High and Late Middle Ages.

The [[Late Middle Ages]] see the appearance of elaborate fencing systems, such as the [[German school of fencing|German]] or [[Italian school of fencing|Italian]] schools. Fencing schools (''[[Fechtschule]]n'') for the new bourgeois class become popular, increasing the demand for professional instructors (fencing masters, ''Fechtmeister''). The martial arts techniques taught in this period is preserved in a number of 15th-century ''[[Fechtbücher]]''.

===Renaissance to Early Modern period===
{{Further|Early modern warfare}}
The late medieval German school survives into the [[German Renaissance]], and there are a number of printed 16th-century manuals (notably the one by [[Joachim Meyer]], 1570). But by the 17th century, the German school declines in favour of the Italian [[Dardi school]], reflecting the transition to [[rapier fencing]] in the upper classes. Wrestling comes to be seen as an ignoble pursuit proper for the lower classes and until its 19th-century revival as a modern sport becomes restricted to [[folk wrestling]].

In the [[Baroque]] period, fashion shifts from Italian to Spanish masters, and their elaborate systems of [[Destreza]]. In the mid-18th century, in keeping with the general [[Rococo]] fashion, French masters rise to international prominence, introducing the [[foil (fencing)|foil]], and much of the [[Fencing terms|terminology]] still current in modern sports fencing.

There are also a number of Early Modern fencing masters of note in England, such as [[George Silver]] and [[Joseph Swetnam]].

[[Academic fencing]] takes its origin in the Middle Ages, and is subject to the changes of fencing fashion throughout the Early Modern period. It establishes itself as the separate style of [[Mensur fencing]] in the 18th

==Modern history (1800 to present)==

The Western interest in East Asian martial arts dates back to the late 19th century, due to the increase in trade between the West with [[China]] and [[Japan]]. [[European martial arts]] before that time was focused on the [[duelling sword]] among the upper classes on one hand, and various styles of [[folk wrestling]] among the lower classes on the other.

[[Savate]] appears in the early 19th century in [[France]], as a mix between [[English boxing]]  and French folk kicking techniques. At that time, in France, it existed in gyms called ''salles d'armes'' where [[savate]], English boxing, [[fencing]], [[canne de combat]] and sometimes even  [[wrestling]] was practiced.

[[Edward William Barton-Wright]], a British railway engineer who had studied [[jiu-jitsu]] while working in Japan between 1894 and 1897, was the first man known to have taught Asian martial arts in Europe. He also founded an eclectic martial arts style named [[Bartitsu]] which combined jujutsu, judo, wrestling, boxing, savate and [[stick fighting]]. Also during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, [[catch wrestling]] contests became immensely popular in [[Europe]].

In the early 1900s<ref>{{cite book |last=Bowman |first=Paul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p-MJEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22edith+garrud%22+1909&pg=PA50|title=The Invention of Martial Arts: Popular Culture Between Asia and America|pages=50|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2020|isbn=9780197540336}}</ref> [[Edith Garrud]] became the first British female teacher of [[jiu-jitsu]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Brousse |first=Michel |editor1=Christensen, Karen |editor2=Guttman, Allen|editor3=Pfister, Gertrud |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILVpuAAACAAJ|title=International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports|pages=614|publisher=Macmillan Reference USA|year=2001|isbn=978-0-02-864954-2}}</ref> and one of the first female martial arts instructors in the Western world.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gagne|first=Tammy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9NniDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT2|title=Trends in Martial Arts|publisher=eBooks2go Incorporated|pages=42|year=2020|isbn=978-1-5457-5146-6|series=Dance and Fitness Trends}}</ref>'

The development of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] from the early 20th century is a good example of the worldwide cross-pollination and syncretism of martial arts traditions.

Martial arts at the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] in modern times include [[judo]], [[karate]], and [[taekwondo]]. [[Judo]] was first included in the Olympics at the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Games]] in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/700745-history-of-jiu-jitsu-judo-grows-into-an-olympic-sport|title=History of Jiu Jitsu: Judo Grows Into An Olympic Sport|first=T.P.|last=Grant|website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref> After not being included in 1968,<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-oct-20-1963-p-19/ Japan Shocked By IOC], ''Pacific Stars And Stripes'', October 20, 1963, p. 19.</ref> judo has been an [[Olympic sport]] in each Olympiad since then. Only male [[judoka]] participated until the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], when women's judo was organized as a [[demonstration sport]]. Women judoka were first awarded medals at the [[1992 Summer Olympics]]. In August 2016, the [[International Olympic Committee]] approved [[Karate at the Summer Olympics|karate as an Olympic sport]] beginning at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title= IOC approves five new sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020|publisher= [[IOC]]|url= https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|access-date= 4 August 2016|archive-date= 3 June 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200603050656/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Olympics: Baseball/softball, sport climbing, surfing, karate, skateboarding at Tokyo 2020|work= [[BBC]]|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36968070|access-date= 4 August 2016|archive-date= 5 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210605011857/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36968070|url-status= live}}</ref> However, karate was not included in the [[2024 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Motorsport, cricket and karate among nine sports on shortlist for Los Angeles 2028 inclusion |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126540/cricket-los-angeles-2028 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819172617/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126540/cricket-los-angeles-2028 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |publisher=Inside the Games}}</ref> Since 2000, [[taekwondo]] has been in the Olympics. It started as a demonstration event at the 1988 games in Seoul, a year after becoming a medal event at the [[Taekwondo at the Pan American Games|Pan Am Games]], and became an official medal event at the 2000 games in Sydney.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Taekwondo set to join 2018 Commonwealth Games after 'category two' classification
| first = Bob
| last = Williams
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/taekwondo/7849693/Taekwondo-set-to-join-2018-Commonwealth-Games-after-category-two-classification.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101016025701/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/taekwondo/7849693/Taekwondo-set-to-join-2018-Commonwealth-Games-after-category-two-classification.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 16 October 2010
| newspaper = The Telegraph
| date = 23 June 2010
| access-date = 21 November 2010
}}</ref>

In November 1972, following a letter campaign against the rule prohibiting women from being promoted to higher than 5th [[Dan (rank)|dan]], [[Keiko Fukuda]] and her [[Senpai and kōhai|senpai]] Masako Noritomi (1913–1982) became the first women promoted to 6th dan by the [[Kodokan Judo Institute]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120720203348/https://wp.usjudo.org/Files/Internal_Files/eLetter/2011/20110801fukudaarticle.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20111026015359/http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/98-year-old-woman-becomes-first-woman-ever-to-earn-judos-highest-degree-black-belt-2523297/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>Johnson, G. (1974): "A single reed that bends gracefully in the wind." Black Belt, 12(6):28–33.</ref><ref name=Goshinho2012>{{cite journal |author=De Crée, Carl, Jones, Llyr C |title=Kōdōkan jūdō's inauspicious ninth kata: The Joshi goshinhō — "Self-defense methods for females" (Part 1) |journal=Archives of Budo |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=OF139-158 |year=2011 |url=http://www.archbudo.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=1057807 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Walsh2009">Walsh, D. (2009): [http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1594299 Martial arts heroines]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (May 8, 2009). Retrieved on April 25, 2010.</ref>

The later 1970s and 1980s witnessed an increased media interest in the martial arts, thanks in part to Asian and Hollywood martial arts movies and very popular television shows like "[[Kung Fu (1972 TV series)|Kung Fu]]", "[[Martial Law (TV series)|Martial Law]]" and "[[The Green Hornet#Television|The Green Hornet]]" that incorporated martial arts moments or themes. Following [[Bruce Lee]], both [[Jackie Chan]] and [[Jet Li]] are prominent movie figures who have been responsible for promoting Chinese martial arts in recent years.

In 1980 the first women's world championships in [[judo]] were held, in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ijf.org/history/womens-judo/2292|title=History / IJF.org|website=www.ijf.org}}</ref>

In 1994 [[Keiko Fukuda]] was the first woman to be awarded a rare [[Red belt (martial arts)|red belt]] (at the time for women still marking the 8th [[Dan (rank)|dan]] rank) in judo by the [[Kodokan Judo Institute]].<ref name=Goshinho2012 /> In 2006 the Kodokan Judo Institute awarded her the 9th degree black belt (9th [[Dan (rank)|dan]]), making her the first woman to hold this rank from any recognized judo organization.<ref name="NWMAF">[https://archive.today/20130415140217/http://www.nwmaf.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=79460 National Women's Martial Arts Federation: Keiko Fukuda] Retrieved on April 25, 2010.</ref> In 2011 she became the first woman promoted to a 10th degree black belt in judo.<ref name="May2011">{{Cite news |last=May |first=Meredith |date=August 6, 2011 |title=Judo Master Makes 10th Degree Black Belt |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Judo-master-makes-10th-degree-black-belt-2336278.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref>

===Combined Olympic medal table===
Martial arts have been a part of the modern Olympic games since 1896. The following table is correct up to and including the [[2024 Summer Olympics]]. Cells are shaded if the total includes a gold medal. France and Italy are the only two countries to achieve gold in every discipline.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Country
!rowspan="2"|[[File:Fencing_pictogram.svg|20px]]<br />Fencing
!colspan="2"|[[File:Wrestling_pictogram.svg|20px]] Wrestling
!rowspan="2"|[[File:Boxing_pictogram.svg|20px]]<br />Boxing
!rowspan="2"|[[File:Judo_pictogram.svg|20px]]<br />Judo
!rowspan="2"|[[File:Taekwondo_pictogram.svg|20px]]<br />Taekwondo
!rowspan="2"|[[File:Karate_pictogram.svg|20px]]<br />Karate
!rowspan="2"|Total
|-
!Greco-Roman
!Freestyle
|-
|{{flagicon|AFG}} Afghanistan||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|ALB}} Albania||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|ALG}} Algeria||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|7||2||0||0||9
|-
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Argentina||1||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|24||style="background:#FFD700"|2||style="background:#FFD700"|1||0||28
|-
|{{flagicon|ARM}} Armenia||0||style="background:#FFD700"|10||1||2||0||0||0||13
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Australasia||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Australia||0||0||3||7||2||style="background:#FFD700"|2||0||14
|-
|{{flagicon|AUT}} Austria||style="background:#FFD700"|7||1||1||0||style="background:#FFD700"|8||0||1||18
|-
|{{flagicon|AZE}} Azerbaijan||0||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|20||10||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|4||2||51
|-
|{{flagicon|BHR}} Bahrain||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|1||0||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|BLR}} Belarus||0||7||7||2||style="background:#FFD700"|2||0||0||18
|-
|{{flagicon|BEL}} Belgium||style="background:#FFD700"|10||0||3||style="background:#FFD700"|4||style="background:#FFD700"|14||1||0||32
|-
|{{flagicon|BMU}} Bermuda||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|BOH}} Bohemia||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|BRA}} Brazil||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|28||3||0||40
|-
|{{flagicon|BUL}} Bulgaria||0||style="background:#FFD700"|33||style="background:#FFD700"|40||style="background:#FFD700"|20||3||1||style="background:#FFD700"|1||98
|-
|{{flagicon|CMR}} Cameroon||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|CAN}} Canada||1||0||style="background:#FFD700"|17||style="background:#FFD700"|18||style="background:#FFD700"|8||3||0||47
|-
|{{flagicon|CPV}} Cape Verdi||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|CHI}} Chile||0||1||0||3||0||0||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} China||style="background:#FFD700"|15||8||style="background:#FFD700"|12||style="background:#FFD700"|19||style="background:#FFD700"|23||style="background:#FFD700"|13||2||92
|-
|{{flagicon|TPE}} Chinese Taipei||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||1||style="background:#FFD700"|9||1||15
|-
|{{flagicon|COL}} Colombia||0||0||3||5||2||1||0||11
|-
|{{flagicon|CRO}} Croatia||0||0||0||1||style="background:#FFD700"|1||style="background:#FFD700"|6||0||8
|-
|{{flagicon|CUB}} Cuba||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|19||style="background:#FFD700"|13||style="background:#FFD700"|80||style="background:#FFD700"|37||style="background:#FFD700"|7||0||166
|-
|{{flagicon|CZE}} Czech Republic||2||1||0||1||style="background:#FFD700"|2||0||0||6
|-
|{{flagicon|CSK}} Czechoslovakia||0||style="background:#FFD700"|11||4||style="background:#FFD700"|6||1||0||0||22
|-
|{{flagicon|DEN}} Denmark||style="background:#FFD700"|6||10||0||style="background:#FFD700"|12||0||1||0||29
|-
|{{flagicon|DOM}} Dominican Republic||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||2||0||6
|-
|{{flagicon|GDR}} East Germany||1||style="background:#FFD700"|4||3||style="background:#FFD700"|13||style="background:#FFD700"|9||0||0||30
|-
|{{flagicon|ECU}} Ecuador||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|EGY}} Egypt||2||style="background:#FFD700"|8||0||4||2||4||style="background:#FFD700"|2||22
|-
|{{flagicon|EST}} Estonia||style="background:#FFD700"|2||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|3||1||3||0||0||17
|-
|{{flagicon|FIN}} Finland||0||style="background:#FFD700"|58||style="background:#FFD700"|25||style="background:#FFD700"|16||0||0||0||99
|-
|{{flagicon|FRA}} France||style="background:#FFD700"|130||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|28||style="background:#FFD700"|67||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|1||254
|-
|{{flagicon|GAB}} Gabon||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|GEO}} Georgia||0||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|13||2||style="background:#FFD700"|15||0||0||38
|-
|{{flagicon|GER}} Germany||style="background:#FFD700"|21||style="background:#FFD700"|22||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|24||style="background:#FFD700"|22||2||0||98
|-
|{{flagicon|GHA}} Ghana||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|GBR}} Great Britain||style="background:#FFD700"|9||0||style="background:#FFD700"|17||style="background:#FFD700"|63||20||style="background:#FFD700"|10||0||119
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Greece||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|9||3||0||style="background:#FFD700"|3||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||24
|-
|{{flagicon|GUY}} Guyana||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|HKG}} Hong Kong||style="background:#FFD700"|3||0||0||0||0||0||1||4
|-
|{{flagicon|HUN}} Hungary||style="background:#FFD700"|93||style="background:#FFD700"|41||style="background:#FFD700"|15||style="background:#FFD700"|20||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|1||1||181
|-
|{{flagicon|ISL}} Iceland||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|IND}} India||0||0||8||3||0||0||0||11
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} Iran||0||style="background:#FFD700"|13||style="background:#FFD700"|42||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|1||66
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE}} Ireland||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|19||0||0||0||19
|-
|{{flagicon|ISR}} Israel||0||0||0||0||9||1||0||10
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy||style="background:#FFD700"|135||style="background:#FFD700"|19||style="background:#FFD700"|3||style="background:#FFD700"|48||style="background:#FFD700"|18||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|2||230
|-
|{{flagicon|CIV}} Ivory Coast||0||0||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} Japan||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|17||style="background:#FFD700"|70||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|104||1||style="background:#FFD700"|3||202
|-
|{{flagicon|JOR}} Jordan||0||0||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|3||1||4
|-
|{{flagicon|KAZ}} Kazakhstan||0||style="background:#FFD700"|6||12||style="background:#FFD700"|26||style="background:#FFD700"|6||1||2||53
|-
|{{flagicon|KEN}} Kenya||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|7||0||0||0||7
|-
|{{flagicon|KOS}} Kosovo||0||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|5||0||0||5
|-
|{{flagicon|KGZ}} Kyrgyzstan||0||6||5||1||1||0||0||13
|-
|{{flagicon|LAT}} Latvia||0||1||0||0||1||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|LBN}} Lebanon||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||3
|-
|{{flagicon|LIT}} Lithuania||0||2||0||1||0||0||0||3
|-
|{{flagicon|MUS}} Mauritius||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|MEX}} Mexico||1||1||0||style="background:#FFD700"|14||1||style="background:#FFD700"|7||0||24
|-
|{{flagicon|MDA}} Moldova||0||1||1||2||2||0||0||6
|-
|{{flagicon|MNG}} Mongolia||0||0||10||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|12||0||0||29
|-
|{{flagicon|MAR}} Morocco||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|EUN}} Mixed team||style="background:#FFD700"|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|NED}} Netherlands||5||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|24||0||0||37
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} New Zealand||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||0||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|NIG}} Niger||0||0||0||1||0||1||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|NGR}} Nigeria||0||0||1||6||0||1||0||8
|-
|{{flagicon|NKO}} North Korea||0||2||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|8||0||0||29
|-
|{{flagicon|MKD}} North Macedonia||0||0||1||0||0||1||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|NOR}} Norway||1||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|4||style="background:#FFD700"|5||0||2||0||17
|-
|{{flagicon|PAK}} Pakistan||0||0||1||1||0||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|PAN}} Panama||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|PHI}} Philippines||0||0||0||10||0||0||0||10
|-
|{{flagicon|POL}} Poland||style="background:#FFD700"|23||style="background:#FFD700"|21||6||style="background:#FFD700"|44||style="background:#FFD700"|8||0||0||102
|-
|{{flagicon|POR}} Portugal||1||0||0||0||4||0||0||5
|-
|{{flagicon|PRI}} Puerto Rico||0||0||2||6||0||0||0||8
|-
|{{flagicon|ROC}} ROC||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|3||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|6||3||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||29
|-
|{{flagicon|ROU}} Romania||style="background:#FFD700"|17||style="background:#FFD700"|27||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|25||style="background:#FFD700"|6||0||0||82
|-
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Russia||style="background:#FFD700"|26||style="background:#FFD700"|22||style="background:#FFD700"|34||style="background:#FFD700"|30||style="background:#FFD700"|16||4||0||132
|-
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Russian Empire||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||3
|-
|{{flagicon|SMR}} San Marino||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|SAU}} Saudi Arabia||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||1
|-
|{{flagicon|SER}} Serbia||0||style="background:#FFD700"|2||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|1||8
|-
|{{flagicon|SVK}} Slovakia||0||0||1||0||1||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|SVN}} Slovenia||0||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|7||0||0||7
|-
|{{flagicon|ZA}} South Africa||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|19||0||0||0||19
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} South Korea||style="background:#FFD700"|19||style="background:#FFD700"|16||style="background:#FFD700"|20||style="background:#FFD700"|21||style="background:#FFD700"|51||style="background:#FFD700"|25||0||152
|-
|{{flagicon|URS}} Soviet Union||style="background:#FFD700"|49||style="background:#FFD700"|60||style="background:#FFD700"|56||style="background:#FFD700"|51||style="background:#FFD700"|23||0||0||239
|-
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Spain||1||0||1||6||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|2||24
|-
|{{flagicon|SWE}} Sweden||style="background:#FFD700"|7||style="background:#FFD700"|58||style="background:#FFD700"|28||11||1||0||0||105
|-
|{{flagicon|SUI}} Switzerland||style="background:#FFD700"|8||1||style="background:#FFD700"|14||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||0||27
|-
|{{flagicon|SYR}} Syria||0||0||1||1||0||0||0||2
|-
|{{flagicon|TJK}} Tajikistan||0||0||1||2||3||0||0||6
|-
|{{flagicon|THA}} Thailand||0||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|16||0||style="background:#FFD700"|7||0||23
|-
|{{flagicon|TON}} Tonga||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|TUN}} Tunisia||2||0||1||2||0||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||9
|-
|{{flagicon|TUR}} Turkey||0||style="background:#FFD700"|25||style="background:#FFD700"|43||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|2||style="background:#FFD700"|10||4||94
|-
|{{flagicon|UGA}} Uganda||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||4
|-
|{{flagicon|UKR}} Ukraine||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|12||style="background:#FFD700"|16||4||0||2||52
|-
|{{flagicon|EUN}} Unified Team||style="background:#FFD700"|5||style="background:#FFD700"|9||style="background:#FFD700"|7||2||style="background:#FFD700"|4||0||0||27
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} UAE||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States||style="background:#FFD700"|37||style="background:#FFD700"|15||style="background:#FFD700"|130||style="background:#FFD700"|118||style="background:#FFD700"|14||style="background:#FFD700"|11||1||326
|-
|{{flagicon|EUA}} United Team of Germany||style="background:#FFD700"|4||7||style="background:#FFD700"|2||style="background:#FFD700"|6||2||0||0||21
|-
|{{flagicon|URY}} Uruguay||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|UZB}} Uzbekistan||0||style="background:#FFD700"|2||style="background:#FFD700"|8||style="background:#FFD700"|20||style="background:#FFD700"|10||style="background:#FFD700"|3||0||43
|-
|{{flagicon|VEN}} Venezuela||style="background:#FFD700"|1||0||0||style="background:#FFD700"|6||0||2||0||9
|-
|{{flagicon|VIE}} Vietnam||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||1
|-
|{{flagicon|FRG}} West Germany||style="background:#FFD700"|16||style="background:#FFD700"|5||4||style="background:#FFD700"|6||style="background:#FFD700"|8||0||0||39
|-
|{{flagicon|YUG}} Yugoslavia||0||style="background:#FFD700"|12||style="background:#FFD700"|4||style="background:#FFD700"|11||2||0||0||29
|-
|{{flagicon|ZMB}} Zambia||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1
|- class="static-row-header"
!Totals!!704!!649!!779!!1048!!667!!208!!32!!4087
|}

==Rise of mixed martial arts (MMA)==
The 20th century saw the rise of cross-discipline contests, culminating with the creation of dedicated leagues for [[mixed martial arts]], such as [[Shooto]] and the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]].

==Reconstruction==
The reconstruction of a martial art as practiced in a specific period is distinct from the practice of a traditional fighting system handed down by way of master-student transmission. The largest movement of martial arts reconstruction is the [[Historical European Martial Arts revival]] (HEMA), gaining momentum since the late 1990s. To a limited extent, there are also attempts to reconstruct other styles, such as [[Korean swordsmanship]] and Persian armed combat called ''razmafzar''.

The Japanese term [[Koryū]] refers to "old schools" of martial arts which predate 1868; it does not imply that historical styles are actively reconstructed, just that the school's tradition goes back 150 years or more.

A reconstructed martial art necessarily rests on historical records, either [[combat manual]]s or pictorial representations. Martial arts reconstruction specifically does not claim an unbroken tradition of some historical martial arts. On the contrary, the premise is that in an unbroken tradition, styles significantly evolve over time. It is not necessary for the tradition to have been interrupted in order to reconstruct an earlier style; a case in point is [[classical fencing]] which reconstructs the sport fencing of the 19th century before it evolved into current [[Olympic fencing]], or historical German ''[[ringen]]'' which over time developed into contemporary styles of [[folk wrestling]]. Claims of ancient martial arts which survive unchanged by unbroken tradition (e.g. as suggested by [[Yehoshua Sofer]]), do not fall under reconstruction and are by their nature unverifiable, even to the person making the claim.

Certain [[modern schools of Ninjutsu]] may fall under the category of martial arts reconstruction; the [[Bujinkan]] organization claims to base their teaching on a manuscript documenting a historical school, known as [[Togakure-ryū]], dated to the 12th century. But as this manuscript is supposedly in the private possession of [[Masaaki Hatsumi]], its authenticity, or indeed existence, cannot be verified by independent parties.<ref>{{citation  |title=Bugei Ryuha Daijiten |author=Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi |year=1963 |page=293 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Martial arts timeline]]
*[[History of sport]]
*[[History of archery]]
*[[History of warfare]]
*[[History of wrestling]]
*[[History of physical training and fitness]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*Michael B. Poliakoff, ''Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture'' Sports and History Series, [[Yale University Press]] (1987).
*Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth (eds.), ''Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation'', 2010, two volumes: vol. 1: 'Regions and Individual Arts', {{ISBN|9781598842449}}; vol. 2: 'Themes', {{ISBN|9781598842432}}.

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{{martial arts}}
{{History of sports}}

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[[Category:Martial arts]]
[[Category:Historical martial arts|*]]
[[Category:History of sports by sport|Martial arts]]