Martial arts are part of every culture on earth and originally serve to defend territory or personal and/or communal boundaries. These boundaries are culturally defined and respected by a group according to common agreements about what behaviors or precepts are acceptable within that group. Groups have codes that they live by and are willing to die for if necessary. The martial arts are used when the boundaries of these codes are crossed and conflicts can no longer be resolved verbally or diplomatically. There are numerous questions to be asked here, about justice, self-defense and whether fighting is the right means, among other things. Each community has its own conviction, belief and science in this.
However, in the context of martial arts, which is what warriorcode.com is about, the opponent is not an enemy, but a human being whom you respect for their acquired martial skills. Bowing before the fight is therefore a sign of respect for the other person. Martial arts also have their own code in their sports practice, which we call the "warrior code", which is about the essential core of martial arts: about discipline, respect, the practitioner(s), about the way of the warrior. We believe in a peaceful society, where the practice of martial arts and its philosophy can aid people in their personal development. (Read more about us).
While martial arts are now primarily practiced as combat sports, this was not always the case. Survival, protection, and territorial defense were essential universal needs for the survival of communities. These needs led to the development of specialized individuals – warriors – trained in the art of fighting. These warriors, who often fought for life and death, played a crucial role in the protection and continuity of their groups.
Although these early forms of martial arts may not have been systematized and studied in the same way as later Eastern martial arts, such as Kung Fu or Karate, they form the roots of what would become modern martial arts. Principles such as discipline, (self)respect, and techniques for attack and defense were key aspects in these early warrior societies.
Through archaeological and anthropological research methods, a fairly good picture of these warrior civilizations has emerged. Many of these civilizations were also rich in culture, belief, spirituality, religion and science. We limit ourselves in this series of articles to a brief chronological overview of the origins of 10 known warrior civilizations.
