Roman Martial Arts?

[Tarbicus]

I'm not honestly convinced that Roman aristocracy went around with their faces smashed in from boxing matches. I can see where you're coming from, but manly virtue you speak of was the province of the battlefield I think, and not the sporting arena. Or even the gladiatorial arena, where a Roman aristocrat would have disdain to appear in (well unless he was a loony emperor, of course!). ...
...It may not be the case, but I do think that virtus was more war than sports. But I could be wrong, of course - it might be both. I mean, in the modern era, many fella's practice boxing, but not everyone is walking around looking like Floyd Mayweather will be after his suicide attempt against Ricky Hatton!

Virtus wasn't just an agricultural and battlefield concept, but one that every Roman man was supposed to follow in life - the root of the word is 'vir', meaning 'man'. It's part of the embodiment of 'manliness' and was shown in public life as well as military. How many accounts can you think of where a man breaks down in tears in public? These were hard and tough men, especially in the Republic. They were raised to fight - it was the only way they could gain public office. As such, it was nigh impossible for any man in public office, or even most male citizens, to be completely separated from the military in some form or another. Caesar's own request for Senators to train some men he wanted (gladiators it seems) is indicative of that.

As for men of high blood fighting in the arena, we know that some actually volunteered for it, and it was a means in extremis to gain enough money to pay off debts, while some did it for the thrill. It was unseemly and rare, and they were likely regarded as scum afterwards, but it was a recognised solution to penury.

On the Field of Mars you could find men training and exercising, which again is linked to exercitus. Not only did they run, but they also practiced javelin throwing, etc.

Read this: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/VIRTUS.HTM
"Unlike the Greek value areté, which means "being the best one can be," virtus stresses strength, toughness, simplicity, and bearing up under adversity...
...Therefore, virtus , which originally applied to an agricultural or martial culture, can be adapted to any situation or station in life a Roman finds himself or herself in."