According to an article I've just found in an old newspaper (previously used for one of those newspapery jobs):
"Perhaps the first true marital art form was Kalaripayattu. Originating in Kerala, southern India, in the third century BC, it includes strikes, kicks, grappling and weaponry, as well as more peaceful stretching, yoga moves and healing techniques."
AJ
it includes strikes, kicks, grappling and weaponry
Good moves to survive a marriage.
Oh, did you mean martial arts? :P
did you mean martial arts?
Spoilsport.
It was too good a misprint not to report. And it shows that national newspapers can make that typo as well as SOL authors.
AJ
There are martial arts hieroglyphics in Egyptian tombs dating back to 3,400 BCE. There are much older archeological findings of bodies with wounds that are consistent with various strikes, grapples, and other damage from a variety of martial arts. The Egyptian hieroglyphics are the oldest surviving recorded history. That does not preclude them from before recorded history.
Just guesswork, but formalized martial arts are probably at least as old as concept of professional warrior is. And professional warrior is at least as old as there's need for a temple guard, or even camp/willage/community gate guard. Or bar bouncer, for that matter.
I think AJ's point was the initial misspelling in the original article. Typo, I am sure, but funny none the less.
ETA Marriage is an honorable institution. It takes commitment.
And it's hard to get out of an institution. Especially once you've been committed.
I forget the comic I got that from, but I love it.