Introduction I am interested in the frequent, seemingly unconscious, way in which the word “traditional” is appended to the name “martial arts” in modern speech and writing. One does not simply study “Japanese wrestling” or “Chinese... Continue Reading →
Wonder Woman with a Dadao In China the realm of social violence, and the martial arts in particular, has been male dominated. That does not mean that women never became a part of such activities. After all, they... Continue Reading →
Introduction Greetings from the road! I am currently wrapping up my trip to the 2016 Martial Arts Studies Conference at Cardiff University and am on my way back to the London. Given my limited time and internet access we... Continue Reading →
Captain America Thwarted I spotted a flash of red, white and blue as I looked up from the electronic display mounted on the top of the treadmill. It was telling me a depressing story of miles left to go. ... Continue Reading →
Conference Report: Martial Arts Studies - Gender Issues in Theory and Practice Brighton University (UK), 5th February 2016 Introduction On February 5th Brighton University sponsored the first in a series of specialized conferences and meetings funded by the... Continue Reading →
Introduction Stories of skilled female warriors have a long history in China. The legend of the Maiden of Yue illustrates these ancient roots. Yet it was during the final decades of the Qing dynasty that the female martial artist... Continue Reading →
Question: Why did you choose kickboxing instead of some other sport? “Apparently it is a sport that we Moroccans like…We Moroccans need one or another outlet for our aggressions.” P. 40 Question: Why do you come to this school (far... Continue Reading →
Introduction: What do historical documents reveal? Students of martial arts studies often investigate the various “discourses” which surround these fighting systems. Such discussions turn to the media (movies, TV programs, video games, internet postings, wuxia... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Is the Gendering of Practice Inevitable? In the early 1990s I became a practitioner of a discipline that requires years of careful study and practice to master. It has its major schools, famous instructors... Continue Reading →
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