Japan

    

  Although the origin of maria arts is unclear many believe it originated in Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Martial arts was developed as a form of self defense among the Japanese Farmers. They did this because the strict government would not allow them to own any sort of weapon. Once the government found out about their secret techniques they were forced to teach the Japenese army. To keep there secrets they gave the army a watered down version. During WWII American troops occupying Okinawa were just as intrigued by the Martial arts and asked the Japanese troops to teach them, and although they taught the Americans they watered down the forms even further. It is increasingly difficult to understand the forms now because the correct tools were not handed down. Today there are over 400 recognized forms of martial arts. The popular Kung Fu form has over 1,000 different variations.