Is boxing the oldest *living* tradition of martial art?

I find it hard to believe that boxing predates some of the ancient Asian forms of martial arts but given that I am not an expert on the subject I can’t say for sure. Then again, I believe boxing ( or some form of it ) goes back as far as Ancient Greece. Hard to say. One thing that I think we can all agree on is that hand to hand combat has been around since the birth of man kind. Cave men used to kill each other with their bare hands I’m sure even their primitive brains had specific techniques

 

I don't know what the oldest tradition is, but Indians were often very early in many cultural achievements.
Thus, I checked out Kalaripayattu (or Kalari)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaripayattu

According to a German source that I found it's even 6000 years old:

https://kampfsportarten-abc.de/kampfsportarten-liste/kalarippayat/

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Boxing and wrestling (Real wrestling) goes all the way back to Homer. So it even predates the likes of Figg.

 

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A video on boxing in ancient Greece.

 

I am going to be real here, but the Greek "Boxing" was more for a war tactic. For a "Freindly" sport, it had to be tone down. You did not want Foreman vs Fraizer and the fight to go on until Frazier is killed. Even the sport of Wrestling was used in case a soldier lost their weapon. You can punch and kick in Greek wrestling, even choke or break a arm if you got a good hold.

 

This far back at least:-

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Foreman_vs._Joe_Frazier_II#/media/File:Foreman_vs_Frazier_II.jpg

Aurelius you ask? Yes, very really-ous.

 

I think Sumo is also older than boxing, or at least it's close.

 

' living tradition "" is not requiring documentation

yes so it is difficult to know factual from legend

 

daito ryu aki jujitsu was created by the Seiwa Minamoto clan and handed down generation to generation with its first compiled teachings being dated to the 11th century, so actually probably more like the 10th century with it being developed over the course of the wars that the clan was involved in

as time went on certain techniques were refined or emphasized by the various masters and this is eventually where more modern forms of jujitsu such as judo, aikido, and hapkido came from

so basically judo and more modern forms of jujitsu can trace back to around the 10th century

 

Primitive wrestling/grappling is the oldest art on Earth. It predates humans. You can see chimps, gorillas, cats, bears, even monitor lizards somehow having a rudimentary understanding of leverage, submission holds, side control, pinning, clinching, suplexes, etc. I've even seen baby versions of theses animals displaying an understanding of these things without any instruction from their parents. Grappling and wrestling might be a primordial, instinctive martial art.

 

yes
& kung fu might be older than English boxing. passed down many centuries. but no one documented in writing.

 

Wrestling is older for sure.

Read the story of how an MMA guy beat a fully armoured Macedonian champion in full battle gear in a duel, while being naked himself and carrying nothing more than a piece of wood:

In the course of the drinking a curious event occurred which is worth mention. Among the king's companions there was a Macedonian named Coragus, strong in body, who had distinguished himself many times in battle. His temper was sharpened by the drink, and he challenged to single combat Dioxippus the Athenian, an athlete who had won a crown in the foremost games.note

[17.100.3] As you would expect, the guests at the banquet egged them on and Dioxippus accepted. The king set a day for the contest, and when the time came, many myriads of men gathered to see the spectacle.

(continues)

https://www.livius.org/sources/content/diodorus/dioxippus-and-coragus/