The History of Fighting

A mural painting from a wall in the Shaolin Temple in the Chinese province of Henan, (c.early 1800s).

A diagram from Agrippa's Treatise - See more

Camillo Agrippa is a legend of fencing who is widely considered to be one of the greatest fencing theorists of all time. He invented the four positions of fencing, (prime, seconde, tierce, and quarte) and suggested that the sword should be held in front of the body rather than behind. Through the use of common sense and geometric theory, Agrippa’s work, Treatise on the Science of Arms with Philosophical Dialogue (1553), changed the art of fencing profoundly in ways that are still relevant to this day.

More Legends of Fencing

Meikyo (Bright/Polished Mirror) was renamed by Gichin Funakoshi (above) from its original name, Rohai meaning ‘Vision of a Crane’ (though many styles still use the old name). The kata comes from the Tomari-te school where it was a set of three, Rohai Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan.

These kata were probably invented by Sensei Anko Itosu, with the techniques being derived from a much longer version of Rohai which was possibly invented by Kosaku Matsumora, suggested by the fact that it was known as Matsumora Rohai. Although all three of Itosu’s Rohai are still taught in some styles, in Shotokan kata, Meikyo is the only one and may have been invented as a combination of all three, but who exactly put them together to invent the kata is a mystery.

More Kata History

Picture: Bokuden's No sword school
Date:  Unknown
Artist:  Unknown
Info:  The painting depicts a tale about the legendary samurai warrior Tsukahara Bokuden,
and how he defeated a young warrior with guile alone. He agreed to fight on an island then
abandoned the warrior there, telling him; “Here is my No Sword School!”

Sensei Gichin Funakoshi demonstrating some basic karate moves.

Major Nam Tae Hi with some of his students from the Vietnamese Army in the early 1960's

Nam Tae Hi is a modern day Taekwondo Legend who was instrumental in the formation of the art in its current form. Born in Seoul, Korea in 1929 he began his martial arts training as a school boy. After demonstrating the art to the President of South Korea (Syngman Rhee) in 1954, it was introduced to the military and five years later, Nam and a team took Taekwondo oversees for the first time when they demonstrated in Vietnam and Taiwan. Nam Tae Hi went on to teach the Vietnam army and became known as the ‘Father of Taekwondo’ in that country.

More legendary masters from martial arts history

Arrows Keys to move
k = jump
j = fire
Change guns using: N,M,L,F,S keys

Arthur Bento dos Santos & Manduca da Praia, taken in the 1940s (?)