Edward William Barton-Wright, a railway engineer who had studied jujutsu while working in japan between 1894 and 1897, was the first man known to have taught Asian martial arts in Europe. The oldest martial arts recorded is Kalaripayattu. Warrior clan believed that fighting for sake of their country was a great honour and practiced the arts as their birth right. Intimidated by these freedom fighters, the British banned the martial art during their rule in India. Those who wished to preserve the art had to practice Kalaripayattu in secret. The western interests in East Asian martial arts dates back to late 19th century around the time when there was an increase in trade between America, China and Japan. Very few westerners practiced the arts initially, they saw it as more of a dramatic performance.
Kickboxing.
Kickboxing is a japanese hybrid martial art basically comprising of elements of punching and kicking. It was developed by adapting fighting techniques from Karate, Western boxing, and Muay Thai. It originated in 1960s in Japan and gained the practitioners in America during the next 10 years.
Karate.
Karate evolved in East Asia over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons. It was important in Japan around in the 1920s. Several schools and systems developed, each favouring somewhat different techniques and training methods.
Kung Fu
The development of Kung Fu started during the feudal society 221 BC - 1911. After the Emperor Qin Shihuang 210 - 259 BC unified the central plain of China, the fighting skills among the soldiers gradually developed into Guanzhong Boxing which was called Hong Fist.