The various forms of self-defense are as old as mankind itself. Being as such, it is almost impossible to trace the different forms we know today back to their true beginnings. As all animals have some means of self-defense, whether it be tooth, claw or poison gland, so too did man have to learn to utilize his bare hands for self-defense.

A myriad of vague generalizations and legends regarding the origins of empty-hand fighting have been circulated to the extent that legend has often been accepted as the truth. Of all the forms of hand and foot fighting, the Asian forms are known to be the most effective. In tracing its formation we have to be careful, lest we make the common mistake of confusing fact with fiction.

There are some authorities who believe that a renown Buddhist monk, Daruma Daesa, journeyed from India to China via the Himalayas to instruct the Liang Dynasty monarch on the tenants of Buddhism. Upon his arrival in China, Daruma was to have gone to a monastery called Shaolin Szu to begin his teachings of Buddhism to the Chinese monks. The monks soon became physically exhausted from the severe discipline and intense pace that was set by Daruma. To train the monks to accept the harshness of the discipline, Daruma introduced a method of physical and mental discipline, as outlined in the I-Ching Sutra, to free the monks from all conscious control in order to attain enlightenment. The monks worked hard at this discipline and from it they evolved into the most formidable fighters in China.

Although this theory is quite beautiful, there is little historical fact to substantiate it. Instead, writings have shown that Daruma traveled to China during the Yang Dynasty in the sixth century while the country was under the reign of King Myong Je. It was also shown that Daruma arrived by sea and not by land. Daruma initially attempted to teach Buddhism to King Moo Je at Kwang Joo, but was refused by the King. Daruma then traveled to a small country in the north of China called Ui, where he was invited to teach Buddhism by King Myong Je. Daruma, for some unexplained reason, refused the offer and remained at Ko San So Rim Temple in meditation and devotion until his death nine years later.

There are many other equally beautiful theories, some more highly glossed than others. But the argument still continues to rage about the origin of Asian empty-hand fighting. Some experts insist the art is of Japanese origin, some say that it came from Okinawa and others say that it began in China and spread from there. The Chinese theory is usually the most readily accepted theory, because China is thought of as the Cradle of Asian Culture, but this does not necessarily mean that the martial arts had their beginnings there as well.

Part 1     Part 2