Who Is The Father Of Martial Arts?

           Your question is too wide ranging to guarantee an accurate answer. There are many different forms of martial arts that have developed in different parts of the world over the centuries. These include taekwondo, kung-fu, karate, savate, judo, jujitsu, kalaripayattu, boxing, wrestling, and a whole lot of other such martial arts systems.

       These systems grew disparately in different parts of the world and were localized combat regimens in their places of origin. It has only been in the time of recent history that these self-defense systems have spread to other parts of the world.

     Many believe kung-fu to be the basis from which different other martial arts forms developed in Asia. Popular belief has it that kung-fu was taken to China by Bodhi Dharma, a Buddhist monk who practiced the Zen form of Buddhism, from India sometime in the 5th century B.C.

     In that sense, Bodhi Dharma would be aptly called the father of martial arts. However, this is only speculation, and hence it would be improper to make an assumption like that. What we do know is that at least in karate, there is a recognized founding father. The renowned karate master, Sensei Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), is considered the father of karate.

Martial arts means all those methods of fighting that have evolved over time. Martial as in military. Wrestling, judo, boxing, savate, karate, hsing yi, and bagua are just a few of what is called martial arts. Every nation has it's own form. So who's the father?