Martial arts of the [[Indian Sub-continent]] are very diverse and have origins of different times from various different ethnic groups of former countries and kingdoms prior to the formation of [[India]] by the British. The epic fights fought by warriors, practitioners of mainly the [[Vajra Mushti|Vajra Mukti]] (diamond fist) and [[Malla-yuddha]] styles of wrestling, were abundant in the ancient epics of ''[[Ramayana]]'' and ''[[Mahabharata]]''. A number of ancient and sophisticated [[Dravidian|Dravidian]] martial arts were developed in [[South India]] and Northeastern Sri Lanka (formerly known as [[tamilakam|Thamizhakkam]]), including [[Kuttu Varisai]] (empty hand combat), [[Varma Kalai]] (the art of vital points) and [[Adithada]] (kickboxing) in [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Kalarippayattu|Kalari Payattu]] (way of the arena) in [[Kerala]]. [[Dravidian|Dravidian]] martial arts was influential in various [[Indianized kingdom| "Indianized" kingdoms]] of [[Southeast Asia]]. Some scholars claim that martial arts of the Indian sub-continent was also influential in China and Japan (see [[Bodhidharma]], [[Shaolin kung fu#The legend of Bodhidharma|Shaolin kung fu: The legend of Bodhidharma]], and [[Disputed history of Kalarippayattu]]).
[[Ancient India]] is widely considered to be the origin of [[martial arts]], several Indian martial practices and traditions, like the martial forms of [[Yoga]], [[Malla-yuddha]] (more commonly known as ''Mallayuddha'') and the [[Kshatriya]] systems of organised armed and unarmed combat as described in the [[Rigveda]] predate other ancient traditions such as the [[Greek]] martial art of [[Pankration]], which was introduced in the Olympics around [[648 BC]] and Egyptian martial arts.
Various forms of [[Yoga]] emphasise on the knowledge of [[pressure points]] and manipulation of these points to achive desired results, accounts of these arts being used by the Indian monks (both [[hindu and [[buddhist]]) for self defence in events of violent assault during long journeys are abundant in both the ancient texts and inscriptions. Images of a meditating yogi from the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] are thought to be 6 to 7 thousand years old. The earliest written accounts of yoga appear in the [[Rig Veda]].
Given below is an abridged list of various traditional and relatively recent Indian Martial Arts.
The fighting systems belonging to the [[Kshatriya]] caste of [[hinduism]] are some of the oldest descriptions of organised martial arts documented in the [[Rigveda]], these fighting systems include armed and unarmed fighting and other aspects such as conditioning, horse riding etc.
Mythological figures in the [[Ramayana]] are known to practice several martial arts, lord [[Rama]] and his brother [[Lakshman]] have trained in archery and Lord [[Hanuman]] is revered as a fierce wrestler, still worshipped by the Indian practitioners of [[Pehlwani]]. The Ramayana was written down in 5th century BC and the events of the epic have also been dated to as early as 6000 BCE by adherents of [[archaeoastronomy]].<ref> Goldman, Robert P., ''The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India'' p. 14</ref>
The other Indian martial art system to gain prominence as one of the oldest martial arts in history is the [[Malla-yuddha]] (more commonly known as ''Mallayuddha''), which is described in the Indian epics as the fighting style of warriors such as [[Bhima]]. The art is supposed to have gained maximum prominence in [[Ancient India]] at the time when the oral tradition of the [[Mahabharata]] epic was concieved, the [[Mahabharata]] was compiled in textual form during the 5th century BC, the epic's setting has a historical precedent in [[Vedic India]], where the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] kingdom was the center of political power in the late [[2nd millennium BC|2nd]] and early [[1st millennium BC|1st]] millennia BCE. It is believed that mallayuddha was regarded as a prominent martial art in that era.
Martial arts of the [[India]] are very diverse and have origins of different times from various different ethnic groups of former countries and kingdoms. A number of ancient and sophisticated [[Dravidian|Dravidian]] martial arts were developed in [[South India]] including [[Kuttu Varisai]] (empty hand combat), [[Varma Kalai]] (the art of vital points) and [[Adithada]] (kickboxing) in [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Kalarippayattu|Kalari Payattu]] (way of the arena) in [[Kerala]]. [[Dravidian|Dravidian]] martial arts was influential in various [[Indianized kingdom| "Indianized" kingdoms]] of [[Southeast Asia]]. Some scholars claim that martial arts of the Indian sub-continent was also influential in China and Japan (see [[Bodhidharma]], [[Shaolin kung fu#The legend of Bodhidharma|Shaolin kung fu: The legend of Bodhidharma]], and [[Disputed history of Kalarippayattu]]).
==The recnet decline of martial practices==
The occupation of India by the [[British]] was instrumental in the decline of Indian martial arts. The british supressed several Indian martial arts to obscurity during the [[British Raj]]. The rule of the british saw Indian economy turn from the wealthiest in the world to the poorest, leading to widespread poverty, illitracy, overpopulation and the ultimate breakup of [[undivided India]] into many smaller countries.
During the recent years, Indian martial arts have been pushed to the brink of onbscurity, with many martial arts almost extinct and many others practiced on a microscopic scale.
Ancient India is widely considered to be the origin of martial arts, several Indian martial practices and traditions, like the martial forms of Yoga, Malla-yuddha (more commonly known as Mallayuddha) and the Kshatriya systems of organised armed and unarmed combat as described in the Rigveda predate other ancient traditions such as the Greek martial art of Pankration, which was introduced in the Olympics around 648 BC and Egyptian martial arts.
Various forms of Yoga emphasise on the knowledge of pressure points and manipulation of these points to achive desired results, accounts of these arts being used by the Indian monks (both [[hindu and buddhist) for self defence in events of violent assault during long journeys are abundant in both the ancient texts and inscriptions. Images of a meditating yogi from the Indus Valley Civilization are thought to be 6 to 7 thousand years old. The earliest written accounts of yoga appear in the Rig Veda.
The fighting systems belonging to the Kshatriya caste of hinduism are some of the oldest descriptions of organised martial arts documented in the Rigveda, these fighting systems include armed and unarmed fighting and other aspects such as conditioning, horse riding etc.
Mythological figures in the Ramayana are known to practice several martial arts, lord Rama and his brother Lakshman have trained in archery and Lord Hanuman is revered as a fierce wrestler, still worshipped by the Indian practitioners of Pehlwani. The Ramayana was written down in 5th century BC and the events of the epic have also been dated to as early as 6000 BCE by adherents of archaeoastronomy.[1]
The other Indian martial art system to gain prominence as one of the oldest martial arts in history is the Malla-yuddha (more commonly known as Mallayuddha), which is described in the Indian epics as the fighting style of warriors such as Bhima. The art is supposed to have gained maximum prominence in Ancient India at the time when the oral tradition of the Mahabharata epic was concieved, the Mahabharata was compiled in textual form during the 5th century BC, the epic's setting has a historical precedent in Vedic India, where the Kuru kingdom was the center of political power in the late 2nd and early 1st millennia BCE. It is believed that mallayuddha was regarded as a prominent martial art in that era.
The occupation of India by the British was instrumental in the decline of Indian martial arts. The british supressed several Indian martial arts to obscurity during the British Raj. The rule of the british saw Indian economy turn from the wealthiest in the world to the poorest, leading to widespread poverty, illitracy, overpopulation and the ultimate breakup of undivided India into many smaller countries.
During the recent years, Indian martial arts have been pushed to the brink of onbscurity, with many martial arts almost extinct and many others practiced on a microscopic scale.
