Legends, rituals and myths of the martial arts

Martial arts love their founding stories. We tell them here the way they are told in the dojo, the salle or the roda, in comic-style panels. Then we switch on the light: what do the documents actually show? Legend and history are always kept in separate boxes.

Bodhidharma and ShaolinDid an Indian monk teach kung fu to the monks of Shaolin? The most famous origin story in the martial arts, and what the sources say. The Five Elders of ShaolinA burning temple, a traitor and five survivors who scattered kung fu across southern China: the legend behind dozens of styles. Ng Mui and the birth of Wing ChunA nun, a young woman threatened with a forced marriage, a crane and a snake: the story every Wing Chun student hears. Musashi and the duel at GanryūjimaAn oar carved into a sword, a late arrival and one blow on a beach: the most famous duel in Japan, and how much of it we can actually know. The tengu who taught YoshitsuneOn Mount Kurama, a boy sent to a monastery learns the sword from the king of the mountain goblins. Japan’s favourite “secret teacher” story. The bow: rituals of the dojoWhy do we bow when entering the mat, to the front wall and to each other? A ritual, not a legend — but with its own myths. Parashurama, Hanuman and the origins of KalaripayattuA warrior-god who raised Kerala from the sea, 108 training grounds and a monkey god famed for his leaps: the sacred stories of India’s oldest-looking martial art. Wai Khru Ram Muay: the dance before the fightBefore a Thai boxing bout, each fighter circles the ring, kneels and dances to honour the teacher. A ritual, and the legend of the captive boxer Nai Khanom Tom. The roda and the berimbau of capoeiraA circle of people, a one-string bow that gives the orders and a song about the police coming: legends and facts of the capoeira roda.

Images: public-domain or CC0 works credited under each picture, or original WABUKAN ink illustrations. Panels: the story told in numbered comic boxes.