India has many ancient sports, such as chess, playing cards and martial arts. Chess originated in ancient India and was known as Chatur-Anga - meaning four limbs. The popular game of cards originated in ancient India and was known as Krida-patram. It was one of the favorite pastimes of Indians in ancient times.

Ancient India claims to have been the origin of judo and karate. Kalaripayate, a martial art form in India, is similar to karate. Those who practice it have to develop acrobatic capabilities, when using swords or knives to attack their adversaries, and even an unarmed exponent who can be a force to reckon with. The violent nature of Kalaripayate is evident from the daggers and knives that were used. Unlike Kalaripayate, judo and karate do not allow the use of lethal weapons. Early martial arts find mention in Vedic literature and in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Mahabhata, Arjun and Karan had a battle between each other using fists, bows and swords. Boxing fights are also described in Ramayana.

With the advent of Buddhism, this art form was spread to the Far East by the monks. Such a technique of self-defense would have been necessary for Buddhist monks as they traveled individually or in small groups in foreign lands during which they were exposed to dangers from bandits and fanatics from other religions. Buddhist monks seem to have tempered the originally violent character of this art.

The aim of a Karate practitioner is mainly to disarm and disable his opponent without mortally wounding him. This can be looked upon as a reflection of the Buddhist attitude towards life. Further both judo and karate are deeply interwoven with meditation unlike other martial arts like boxing, wrestling, and fencing. The concentration aspect in judo and karate perhaps stems from this. Both Judo and Karate are sought to be kept as arts to be used only for purposes of protection of the weak