History of Karate began over a thousand years ago, possibly as early as the fifth century BC when Bodhidharma arrived in China (Henan Province, Songshan Mountain) from India; He sat in silent meditation and practiced a series of physical movements for nine years. Bodhidharma passed on his physical training techniques (Sutras) to the monks at Shaolin, who integrated them into their spiritual training. These teachings eventually became the mind and body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the basis for the majority of Martial Arts. In order for knowledge to grow it must find new territory. Thus, in the search for spiritual enlightenment, the Martial Arts were born.