The reverence certainly seems much higher in Asian cultures for their martial arts. It is strange how many of the Western arts did seem to lose their prestige with time. Arts such as wrestling should have thrived in Europe, but somehow dwindled, as evident by current numbers of practitioners.

Boxing has its roots in Egypt and Sumer, but certainly in England as well. Although I love your theory, Europe has not been devoid of weaponless arts. There's Frances Savate, and the events of the Highland games are certainly based in a history of weaponless combat.

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