Appears in the Yuan-dynasty zaju 《伍员吹箫》 by 李寿卿: 我便拳撞脚踢，也不怕他不死 - 'I will punch and kick, not caring if he dies.' The phrase has meant 'physical beating' ever since.
usage
Literal, describes actual physical violence, not metaphorical attacks. Compare with the more figurative 大打出手 (launch an all-out attack), which can be verbal.
