Ancient Martial Arts

[Watchman]

...although it primarly discusses the Middle Ages and later, also helpfully goes over the reasons striking techniques aren't a dreadfully useful thing for a warrior expecting to do battle armed to spend too much effort on. Long story short, grappling fills most of the same needs as well and is much better suited for emergency battlefield use against armed opponents, and is easier to dafely train in too.

And everbody knows about Pankration, not that it had much in the way of rpactical military application far as I know. Indeed, didn't some critics diss it specifically because it took fit mens' time and attention away from worthier pursuits, such as training in combat skills useful for defending the polis ?

[Geoffrey S]

Thing to remember is that martial arts aren't all spinning kicks or the like. They're just as easily techniques which could be taught for use in a battle-line, and I'd be rather surprised if they didn't exist - it'd be far more dangerous if you couldn't predict how your neighbour was going to use his weapon.