The Kshatriya
The Kshatriya was a warrior class in ancient India. Members of this level of society, known as Kshatriyas, were skilled martial artists who were believed to have originated from the arms of God. The other levels of society were borne from the other parts of God. The Kshatriya ruled a society with their strength and power, and are believed to have existed thousands of years ago, well before common era (even before the existence of Buddhism).
Kshatriyas were capable of defending themselves and their people against enemies, intruders, etc., by barehanded fighting techniques, as well as with the use of some weapons. Essentially, their style was similar to boxing, or pugilism. While some of the names of the style of martial art practiced by Kshatriyas are unknown, they are known to have also practiced other martial arts, such as vajramushti and kalaripayat. Both, amongst other styles of martial arts, were commonly practiced by all levels of society, including Buddhist monks.
Vajramushti
Vajramushti is a martial art that focuses on grappling and striking. It can be considered an ancient style of wrestling. Practitioners may also use deer horns attached to their knuckles to fatally strike opponents. Today, it is still taught in some countries around the world, though it is not popular in North America.
Kalaripayat
Kalaripayat is another style of martial art that utilizes weaponry. It is commonly believed that the Indian monk, Bodhidharma, introduced China to martial arts, and it was Kalaripayat that he taught the Chinese people. However, historically, this may have been inaccurate. It was most likely Vajramushti.