Welcome to the History of Fighting 

Welcome to the History of Fighting, an on-going project that attempts to learn as much as possible about the history of the martial arts, combat sports, the military and anything related to the art of fighting. Periodically, new articles will be added that discuss some of the most interesting styles, masters and cultural aspects of the subject matter that have been handed down to us through the annals of the history of fighting.

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Talk the Talk

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term Martial Arts as a 'self defence system that originated in East Asian countries'.

However the History of Fighting acknowledges that most cultures have some form of civil fighting system that has been refined to the point of becoming an art form.

Suggested Articles

Walk the Walk

Most countries throughout the word have developed both civil and military systems of fighting that extend far beyond the concept of inflicting damage on an opponent.

The History of Fighting seeks to root out not only the techniques, weapons technology and training methods behind these systems, but also the philosophical and theological principles that guide them.

Recent Articles

The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic era spanned nearly five hundred years from around 509 – 31 BCE and was a time of great expansion and innovation. The foundation of Roman law was laid, infrastructure was greatly improved, the Roman army went from being a local militia to one of the most formidable professional armies the world had ever seen and the territories of ancient Rome grew exponentially.....Read Article
Joe Louis

Joe Louis (aka The Brown Bomber) was an American boxer and widely considered to be one of the greatest world heavyweight champions of all time. He reigned from 1937 to 1949 and became an American hero when he defeated the German Max Schmeling and later through his work promoting the war effort. However, later in his career he would face massive debts due to unfair treatment by the taxman.....Read More
The History of Archery in Korea 

The history of archery in Korea stretches back to pre-history and has been used in warfare there since at least the fifth century BCE. Elite archery experts helped unify the country and later would be instrumental in helping the country gain independence from China and today, South Korea are leading the way in world archery.....Read Article
The Five Main Styles of Aikido 

Developed in the first half of the twentieth century by Morihei Ueshiba, aikido is a way of fighting designed to help build moral fibre in its participants. Today, there are five main stiles of the art practiced, all of which vary in training methods, techniques used and on how much emphasis is put on the ideologies taught within aikido…..Read Article
The Period of Kings in Ancient Rome 

A look at the early history of ancient Rome, commonly known as the Period of Kings. While much of this period in Rome’s history is steeped in myth and legend, it is clear that it began to expand soon after its conception. Its population and territories grew under a series of kings who worked in tandem with an elected senate.....Read Article
Kenwa Mabuni – Founder of Shito-Ryu Karate 

Kenwa Mabuni started life as a sickly child but transformed himself into a strong warrior through the practice of karate. By studying with a number of great masters, he was able to combine what he learned and develop one of the most popular styles of karate today, Shito-Ryu…..Read Article
The History of Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi utilises internal energy, known as Chi, along with physical movements, breathing techniques and meditations. It can be practiced as a martial art or purely for the health benefits it promotes, which include strength, balance, agility, flexibility and stamina along with improved concentration, relaxation and lowered stress levels.....Read Article
The Muromachi Period 

The Muromachi Period was a time of turmoil in Japan that can be spilt into two separate eras. At the beginning of the period, the government was divided into two separate entities sparking the Northern and Southern Courts Era. Then, after a brief period of relative stability, the Warring States Era began.....Read Article
The History of the Sword

A look at the long history of the sword and its usage across the world. First developed in the Bronze Age and then further developed in the Iron Age, the sword has held great significance in most societies as both a weapon of war, an aid to self-defence and even as a status symbol.....Read Article
The History of the Roman Army

A look at the weapons, tactics and organisation of the armies of ancient Rome and how they evolved from a small civil militia in the seventh century BCE in to the most formidable fighting force in the known world by the first century BCE and eventually saw the fall of the Roman Empire by the fifth century CE......Read Article
The History of Medieval Knights

A brief look at the life and culture of the medieval knight. Taught to be brave, courteous and gallant, knights were also bloodthirsty warring men who were sworn to fight for their lord and king and even to be ready to die for them when necessary......Read Article
The History of Kendo

A look at how the sword skills of the samurai, collectively known as kenjutsu, evolved into the modern-day sport of kendo. From the rise of martial arts schools in the Edo period to their decline after the Meiji Restoration and then the rise of sword fighting practiced for sport and as a way to engender personal growth.....Read Article
The History of Judo

A look at how and why Jigoro Kano developed the art of judo. In the late nineteenth century, martial arts in Japan were in decline so in a bid to save the knowledge that had been passed down for over a thousand years, Kano developed judo from jiu-jitsu as a sport while preserving the deadlier moves within judo kata…..Read Article
The History of BJJ

A look at the development of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After being taught judo by the great Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie and later his younger brother Helio innovated new techniques and built a competition system that saw Maeda’s judo evolve into a whole new system, commonly known today as BJJ.....Read Article

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