What is the most ancient martial art still in practice today?

Question

And what would be considered the most ancient martial art of all, whether still practiced or not?

Answer 1

Two things:

Pankration is technically the oldest martial art. However, what we do in modern day is not even close to the original art. Most Pankration of today is a mix of various styles including Karate, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, grappling (Probably Greco-Roman), and what little techniques were taken from paintings, scriptures, and the like of Ancient Greece. So while we can consider this true, Pankration would still be in the same boat as Kalaripayattu. lol

Shuai Jiao is a modern term, but the remnants of it came before pankration, but not enough to be an actual martial art. It depends how you look at it.

There really aren't many arts that have stayed to their traditional ways any longer than at the most 1000 years ago. Asia is where you'd have to look though.

Answer 2

Pankration.Kalarippaayattu would be the oldest if it still existed.in a way it does but we know it as karate or gung fu.

Answer 3

I believe it's Muay Thai. In Thailand.  Kung Fu is probably the oldest but, it's no longer practiced as it once was by Shoalin Priests in China.

Answer 4

Pankration.

Answer 5

I believe Hammy's right: Pankration is the oldest still practiced, but the hard thing is determining if it's still in the original forms.

Even ancient forms change based on transmission, historical events (war, peace, plague, famine, etc.), and political climates. The Kung Fu practiced today is not the same Kung Fu practiced before the Communists. Even the martial arts of Japan changed drastically during the Meiji Reform.

As for the most ancient martial art of all, I'm not sure. The "martial arts" are methods of training developed and codified during times of peace. I'm certain the Babylonians had some form of martial art the predates the Greeks.

The one thing I know is that from the time man became "civilized", war has been an industry in one form or another, and the practices of war had to be kept up during whatever brief periods of peace were enjoyed.

Answer 6

The oldest of all time would be the Phalanx method of group combat from the Sumerians. The oldest individual would probably be Pankration.

edit-

Apparantly somebody doesn't want to learn the real history of the world... So would that be cloak and dagger is the oldest martial art?

BUSHIDO have you seen those guys giving the "oldest Kalarippaayattu" lessons? There's this fat guy that's self proclaimed and teaches, very funny, looks horrible. I saw a demonstration once and just felt bad for the students.

Answer 7

that depends on what you consider still in practice. Is it still used by a millitary organazation (martial means it is related to war) or just used in geneal. I beleive the oldest martial art may be Egyptian (although the name escapes me at the moment). I think the oldest martial art still used by an army may be Twa-Kwan-Do by the Koreans.

Answer 8

Shuai Jiao is supposed to be 5000 years old.

Answer 9

Kalarippaayattu is the most ancient martial art of all. it orginated in Kerala State, India in the 5th century A.D. and became well practiced in China.

Answer 10

Here's what I know.   Any Japanese Martial Arts systems established before 1877 are called Koryo Bujutsu.   There's an Kenjutsu system called Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu which was founded in 1450 by Choisai Iienao (sp?).  

This Japanese art form is still practiced today.  Here's a list of schools courtesy by wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshin_Sh%...

Sumo could  be considered the oldest arts in existence today, However the origin of sumo came about as sports entermaint art as opposed to Martial Arts.  

Hope this helps a bit !

Answer 11

any shoulin kungfu like tiger dragon mantis white crane is still in practis today I know becase I do it.p.s.3000years old tie kwon do 700years maey tai 2300years and judo 1300 karate 450 and tie chi 1900 years old. sorry for spelling.