Overview
The Martial Arts, for centuries, has had an air of mystery that has kept many people uninformed as to the real reason for it's inception.
Martial Arts are not about violence, but rather a method of instilling peace, self-esteem, confidence, and success in people by diligently studying how to defend and control oneself and applying these concepts to all aspects of ones life. Originally the theory was that if all could fight, why fight? This theory not only worked but also provided for the real benefits of study of the Martial Arts. It's practitioners became more confident, self assured, less stressed, calm, able to handle challenges, and more. Thousands of years ago it became evident that there were many benefits to the study of Martial Arts.
To be a Martial Artist not only meant that you would learn to protect your self but you were also taught art, literature, science, mathematics, social skills, religion, etc. Many of the greatest people in ancient history were Martial Artists.
Due to the cultural differences in the world, Martial Arts styles developed differently in each country. In some countries, Martial Arts styles developed regionally different due to differences in cultural conceptions. But all styles strive for the same outcome, the betterment of the practitioner in all aspects of their life as well as the ability to provide yourself and loved ones with protection if necessary.