Ancient Traditions to Modern Arenas: A History of East Asian Combat

Justin Hagen, M. Ed
15 hours ago
4 min read

The full history of martial arts in East Asia remains shrouded in mystery and speculation. Early records are scarce, alluding to the development of hand-to-hand combat only at sporadic intervals throughout history. The oldest Asian records referencing martial arts are found in the Dhanurveda, Hindu Veda religious texts dating between 1700 BC and 1100 BC. These texts, along with various ancient paintings, depict a rich tradition of both armed and unarmed combat.

The Vedic Influence

By the 3rd century BC, yoga practices began to develop meditation techniques and specific finger positions (mudras) that would later form the foundation of martial arts throughout Asia. Research suggests these concepts potentially influenced the earliest Korean hand-to-hand arts, known as Taekkyon/Subak, around 50 BC. They also significantly impacted the development of Southeast Asian arts like Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Lethwai.

The Chinese Legacy: Shaolin and Beyond

In China, the earliest records can be traced to the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC – 255 BC), where historical accounts describe nobles practicing archery, fencing, and wrestling. It is widely believed that Indian martial arts concepts spread to China alongside the introduction of Buddhism.

477 AD: The first Shaolin monastery was established by the abbot Buddhabadra, who arrived from India in 464 AD to translate Buddhist texts.
550 AD: The Indian monk Bodhidharma arrived to teach Chan Buddhism (the precursor to Japanese Zen). Legends credit him with creating qigong and Shaolin Fist, which would become the cornerstone of Chinese martial arts.

The Japanese Evolution: Independence or Influence?

While early records in Japan are sparse, concrete evidence of martial practice emerges during the Nara Period (710–794 AD) with the development of Jujutsu—a combination of sumo and battlefield techniques. Designed for use alongside swordplay, Jujutsu allowed a warrior to disarm opponents or defend themselves when unarmed. Over centuries, this art branched into various schools, including Daito-Ryu Aiki-jujutsu (780–1200 AD) and Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu (1447).

A long-standing debate questions if Japanese arts were directly influenced by Chinese Kempo, specifically via the monk Chin Gempin in the 15th and 16th centuries. However, this has largely been disregarded because Jujutsu predates his arrival. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, argued in 1888 that the art is Japanese in origin:

"The Chinese kempo and the Japanese Jujutsu differ materially in their methods... In ancient times teachers of the different branches of military arts... seem to have practiced this art to some extent. In support of this position we remark first that Jujutsu, as practiced in Japan, is not known in China."

While striking arts may have been introduced from China, Japanese grappling arts appear to have developed independently. Over time, these styles merged to form the basis of modern Japanese disciplines.

The Tokugawa Peace and the Rise of the Dojo

During the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600–1868 AD), Japan entered an era of relative peace. The culture shifted from pure warfare to a balance of literary and martial pursuits (bunbu ryodo). Education for the warrior class expanded to include:

Fencing, Archery, and Spearmanship
Jujutsu and Military Tactics
Calligraphy, Ethics, and Literature

This holistic approach integrated the training of both body and mind. Epic figures like Miyamoto Musashi illustrated this era’s transition. In his Book of Five Rings, he famously advised:

“You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well... These are things you must learn thoroughly.”

As the need for battlefield survival dissipated, martial schools specialized in individual weapons and formalized their training. Practice became a test of skill rather than a struggle to the death. Following the abolition of the samurai class in the Meiji period, these schools opened to everyday citizens.

Today, these "dojos" thrive as centers for personal development, moving forever away from their original purpose as mere tools of war.

*This article was written by Justin Hagen and abridged, edited and restructured with Open AI. The original article can be found in its entirety within Justin Hagen's book Shodai-Soke: 101 Quotes, Anecdotes & Precepts From the Founders of Modern Japanese Martial Arts available on Amazon HERE

About the Author

Justin Hagen is a martial artist, educator, and Japanese ukiyo-e–inspired woodburn artist who has dedicated his life to the intersection of combat tradition, history, and visual art. A martial arts practitioner since 1994, Justin also holds a B.A. in History (East Asian Studies) and an M.Ed. from DeSales University, where his graduate research focused on the impact of martial arts on student behavior.

Currently a Pennsylvania public school educator and an instructor of Kyokushin Karate, Taekwondo, and Kickboxing in Hatfield, PA, Justin is also a contributor to Black Belt Magazine. He is the author of several works, including Intent: The Path of the Warrior and Shodai-Soke: 101 Quotes, Anecdotes & Precepts From the Founders of Modern Japanese Martial Arts. Through his writing and art, he continues to explore the timeless discipline, ethics, and personal development found within the warrior’s path.