Bodhidharma was appalled to find the monks fat, and without the ability to even stay awake during his lectures. In addition, the monks were unarmed and easy pray to bandits when they attempted to go out into the world to teach. So they decided to stay in the safety of the monastery. This explained one reason that Buddhism was no longer as widespread as it had been.While he was there he taught a number of Zen principles and yogic martial-art exercises to strengthen the weak and sickly monks who, after years of static meditation , lacked physical strength and vigour.When in China he started what became known as the Zen school of Buddhism.

Bodhidharma created an exercise program for the monks which involved physical techniques that were efficient, strengthened the body, and eventually, could be used practically in self-defense. When Bodhidharma instituted these practices, his primary concern was to make the monks physically strong enough to withstand both their isolated lifestyle and the deceptively demanding training that meditation requires. It turned out that the techniques served a dual purpose as a very efficient fighting system, which evolved into a marital arts style.

His system involved dynamic tension exercises. These movements found their way into print as early as 550 A.D. as the Yi Gin Ching, or Changing Muscle/Tendon Classic. We know this system today as the Lohan (Priest-Scholar) 18 Hand Movements, which serves as the basis of Chinese Temple Boxing and the Shaolin Arts. Many of the basic moves of both Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu can be seen in the scenes recorded on the walls of the temple.

These skills helped the monks to defend themselves against invading warlords and bandits. Bodhidharma taught that martial arts should be used for self-defense, and never to hurt or injure needlessly. In fact, it is one of the oldest Shaolin axioms that "one who engages in combat has already lost the battle." Bodhidharma also taught medicine to the monks and arranged for Chinese doctors to come to share their knowledge with the Shaolin. In three years the monks became so skilled in both the martial arts and medicine that they start to be feared and respected by the bandits. This went a long way toward continuing the spread of Buddhism and Zen thoughout China and the rest of Asia.

Even the death of Bodhidharma is shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that he was poisoned by one of his followers disappointed at not being selected as the successor. Regardless of the reason, Bodhidharma died in 539 A.D. at the Shaolin Temple at age 57. They laid him to rest in a tomb there.

The strangest legend regarding Bodhidharma is that three years later he was met on the road by a government official, walking out of China towards the Himalayas with his staff in his hand and one of his sandals hanging from it. Having dined with Bodhidharma on many occasions, the official was certain it was him. When the official arrived at the monastery and recounted his experience, the monks opened the tomb only to find it contain just a single sandal.

The forms created and taught to these monks are generally believed to be the root of the martial arts in China. While there is evidence that portions of these movements existed prior to the arrival of Bodhidharma, he was the one who codified and recorded them and from there they have gone to spread throughout the world.
Bodhidharma was later credited, somewhat contentiously, with writing the Chinese classics Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing. These books were effectively the first “qi-gong” manuals and are thought to form the basis of modern Shaolin kung fu.

INDIAS VARIED LANDSCAPES is pocketed with mountains,vast plains, jungles, and deserts has also had a major influence on the country's martial-arts scene.Various cultures evolved in isolation and the martial arts that grew within them were influenced by the terrain, the religious beliefs, and the philosophical practices of each region resulting in unique and indigenous martial arts—such as Aki Kiti and Mukna—have evolved over the centuries.

A WEALTHY PAST
Although the country now suffers from high levels of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition, India was a wealthy nation for much of its history and one that was home to vast empires lured to the area by historic trade routes.The vibrant commercial scene would have brought new religious ideas, weapons, and fighting techniques to the region from different sources. For example wrestling was a popular sport in India even before the advent of Buddhism and is proof that the region came into contact with people from the outside world - such as the ancient Greeks, Persians, and Roman - several centuries ago. Doubtless, many similar cross-cultural exchanges would have taken place over the years.

RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
Man of the martial arts popular in India today have strong connections with religious movements. Gatka, for example is a martial art associated with the Sikh religion and is commonly practised in the Punjab. It was originally used to train Sikh warriors to protect their communities and, although it is now largely only practised as a sport and demonstration art at festivals and public gatherings to the accompaniment of music, like many of the region's other religion-based martial traditions, it has strong connections with its battlefield origins.

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