which is the oldest form of martial arts known to man?

Answer 1

karate

Answer 2

Interesting question. There is an Egyptian martial art known as Sebekah (named for an Egyprian rived deity in the form of a crocodile) which dates back to the time of the Pharaohs over three thousand years. There are martial arts in Inda that are said to have come from a fighting system even older than that. The fact of the matter is that every few years or so someone uncovers some carving or ancient document that moves the date back and into yet another country. That being the case, I don't know if anyone will ever know what the oldes is, at least as far as organized fighting systems. Most likely the first actual fighting techniques were little more than flailing about with hands, grabbing, scratching, probably smacking someone with a rock, or animal bone, and lets not forget the primitive spears which werre little more than sticks with the ends rubbed against a rock until ther had a rudimentary edge.

I know that doesn't really answer the question, but then the question doen't really have an answer.

Answer 3

What do you mean as martial arts? Do you just mean a fight system/self defense method, or do you mean a formalized system that has ranking like belts and so forth. Every culture has a fighting style / self defense system but not all people organized it like the Asians did. If you just mean a fighting style then since all human life began in Africa then it would safe to say one of the fighting styles of the tribal Africans would be the first. If you mean a formalize system then probably one of the styles from India or China would be first. I think it would be extremely difficult to find the true first martial art system.

Answer 4

Martial Art drawing date way back in Egype and Africa and they are still finding more that pre dates anything that we know today. It is hard to say which one is the oldest for the poor documentation of the history of each art that exsist, is not written. I hope we have a historian who can answer this question.

Answer 5

"kicking, hitting, and gouging" is descriptive of Kino mutai not Jujutsu, so its not Jujutsu.

With that being said, I would have to say boxing. History confirms that boxing was an official fighting art as early as 688 bc. It was an official sport of the olympics and there was organized boxing fight clubs long before Jujutsu made its way to brazil or Bodhidharma brought kungfu to the shaolin temple.

Here is the history of boxing (its not chronological):


Archaeological evidence suggests boxing existed in North Africa as early as 4000 BC and had also developed in the Mediterranean by 1500 BC.

Around 900 BC a mythical Greek ruler named Theseus allegedly invented a form of boxing in which two men, seated face to face, would beat each other with their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the boxers began to fight while standing and wear gloves (not padded) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, although otherwise they competed naked. First accepted as an Olympic sport (the ancient Greeks called it Pygme/ Pygmachia) in 688 BC, participants trained on punching bags (called a korykos). Fighters wore leather straps (called himantes) over their hands, wrists, and sometimes lower arms, to protect them from injury. The straps left their fingers free.

In Ancient Rome, fighters were usually criminals and slaves who hoped to become champions and gain their freedom; however, free men also fought. Eventually, fist fighting became so popular that even aristocrats started fighting, but the practice was eventually banned by the ruler Augustus. In 500 A.D., the sport was banned altogether by Theodoric the Great. (BBC. The origins of Boxing, BBC History)

Answer 6

It is called Thump The Guy In The Head With The Nearest And Heaviest Available Object and is still in use in many parts of the world.

Answer 7

There have been hieroglyphics found in Egypt depicting a weaponless training system.
I do not know if it was ever named.
I believe this is the earliest recorded history of "martial arts".

Answer 8

Yoga is recorded as going back to the last ice age; althoufgh not though of as a fighting system the methods of movement, correct diet and conduct stem from the need to keep soldiers & citizens healthy.

Answer 9

Some also say pankration is the oldest, but perhaps the egyptian arts are older?

Answer 10

Ju Jitsu is ancient martial art.

Answer 11

Kalari pyte from India.