About 1500 B.C. Near the ford at Jabbok, the Hebrew patriarch Jacob wrestles
with a spirit being, thereby earning the title of “Israel,” or
“wrestler with God.” There is some controversy about Jacob’s
winning technique. The Christian Bible, for example, credits Ja-
cob’s victory to his refusing to give in even after his opponent
grabbed him by the genitals (“the sinew which shrank, which is
upon the hollow of the thigh” [Genesis 32:32, King James
Bible]). The Jewish tradition, however, has Jacob continuing de-
spite an injury to his sciatic nerve, which in turn explains why
the sciatic nerve is discarded during kosher preparation of
meat. The nature of Jacob’s opponent is also debated. For ex-
ample, Christian theologians typically say it was an apparition
of God. Jews, on the other hand, say that it was the guardian
angel of Jacob’s brother Esau, and that the victory symbolizes
Jacob’s spiritual victory over Esau.
About 1450 B.C. Swords (that is, metal blades that are more than twice as long
as their handles and equally usable for cutting, thrusting, and
guarding) are made in the mountains of Austria and Hungary.
About 1424 B.C. According to the Bhagavad-Gita(Sanskrit; Lord’s Song), the
god-man Krishna and the warrior-king Arjuna discuss the
meaning of life. Their decision is that a warrior should have a
code of ethics and fight in defense of it. They also decide that it
is inappropriate for a warrior to avoid battle by choosing to
live as a merchant or a priest, as he would then be untrue to his
obligations.
About 1250 B.C. According to the Hellenic story of Jason and the Argonauts, a
Lakedaimonian (Spartan) boxer named Polydeukes defeats a
foreign bully named Amykos.
About 1193 B.C. According to Homer’s Iliad, funeral games (agon gymnikos)
played by the Homeric warriors during their siege of Troy in-
clude chariot races, boxing, wrestling, foot races, discus throw-
ing, and archery events.
About 1160 B.C. A frieze at Medinet Habu celebrating the accession of Pharaoh
Ramses III shows ten pairs of wrestlers and stickfighters in an
arena surrounded by grandstands. The matches were probably
fixed, as the art shows that Egyptians always won, and the
Libyans, Sudanese, and Syrians always lost.
1123 B.C. According to tradition, King Wan and his son, Dan, the Duke
of Zhou, patronize the publication of the Yijing (I Ching; Book
of Changes). King Wan is also credited with increasing the
number of the linear diagrams shown in the Yijing from their
original eight to their modern sixty-four.
About 1015 B.C. According to 1 Samuel 17:21–58, a Hebrew shepherd named
David uses five stones and a sling to slay a Philistine named
Goliath.
About 890 B.C. The Athenian king Theseus is entertained by the spectacle of
men hitting each other in the head with leather-laced fists.
Eighth century According to the Ramayanaepic, the Indian kingdom of
B.C. Kosala conquers Sri Lanka. The hero of the conquest is Lord
Rama, whose best friend is the monkey-god Hanuman. As long
as Hanuman remains celibate and loyal to his Lord Rama, he is
blessed with great wisdom, windlike speed and strength, and788 Chronological History of the Martial Arts