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Full Product Details

Author:   J.A. Mangan ,  George Jennings
Publisher:   Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Imprint:   Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Edition:   New edition
Volume:   3
Weight:   0.441kg
ISBN:  

9781433182938

ISBN 10:   1433182939
Pages:   222
Publication Date:   30 December 2022
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Preface - Acknowledgments - List of Abbreviations - Introduction: Conceptualising the Martial Arts in Contemporary Society - Chinese Martial Arts as Art Forms - Martial Arts as the Basis for Mixed Movement Systems - Martial Arts as the Social Structure for Self- Help - The Restructuring of Martial Arts as Therapy - Regulating the Martial Arts Industry: The McDojo Critique - The Revival and Protection of Martial Arts as Heritage - Teachers, Networks and Relationships in the Martial Arts - Investing into the Martial Arts and Related Practices - My Martial Arts Journey: An Autoethnography - Conclusions and Future Directions - Index.

Reviews

Most martial arts celebrate their long historical traditions, ancient roots and aim to inculcate their learners with respect for expert practitioners and their values. Those that originated in East and South East Asia spread across the rest of the world in the twentieth century, and now flourish in societies very different from those where they originated. Alongside the globalised martial arts an academic field of research-martial arts studies-has grown up. Its focus is not only on those Eastern and South-east Asian martial arts and combat sports, but also on those from Africa and the Americas (such as Capoeira and Xilam), and those claiming European origins such as Savate, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) or Breton wrestling. Some of these are self-conscious recreations; others are evolved varieties of earlier activities. One important theme in martial arts studies is studying how different forms of combat change and develop; a second research area is focused on how practitioners can benefit physically and mentally from participation. George Jennings has, in this book, drawn together several of the key themes in martial arts studies which became highly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on ethnographic work done before, during, and since the height of the pandemic in Europe, key themes in martial arts studies are explored. Jennings has worked intensively on three martial arts (Taijiquan, HEMA and Wing Chun), and also draws on the research about other activities such as Venezuelan Stick fighting, Savate and Xilam. The text addresses core themes in martial arts studies while blending the standpoints of the practitioner, the teacher, and the researcher. -Sara Delamont, Reader Emeritus, Cardiff University, United Kingdom George Jennings tackles the western reinvention of traditional martial arts in terms of McDonaldization, heritage studies, and sport science to discuss emerging forms of virtual community, therapy and self-help. Through evocative auto-ethnography Jennings demonstrates the advantage of training in swords while taking notes. The result is a highly readable academic account of colorful vignettes and vivid insights shared from a lifetime in martial arts and scholarship. -DS Farrer, University of Exeter, United Kingdom The author presents the situation of selected martial arts traditions of China and Europe in today's social contexts. At the same time, he shows both social sensitivity and broad erudition. His research on Mexican traditions brings a fresh perspective to the analysis of cultural influences and theoretical reflection on the heritage of martial arts. Also, the qualitative methodology used here is most appropriate for an in-depth description of the attitudes of martial artists. It includes, but is not limited to, autoethnography. I highly recommend this book to researchers and enthusiasts of martial arts / fighting arts. -Professor Dr Wojciech J. Cynarski, 10th dan of Idokan This book offers a fascinating exploration of multiple overlooked aspects of the living and breathing richness and diversity of martial arts as lived practices, often intertwined with different livelihoods, issues and aspects of health and wellbeing, and ways of growing. Jennings speaks fluently in a range of voices, allowing different levels and kinds of focus and attention, from large perspectives to attention to less obvious areas of life and practice. This work will be of particular value to ethnography, anthropology and social science students and researchers of martial arts, culture and society. -Professor Paul Bowman, Cardiff University, United Kingdom; Author of The Invention of Martial Arts (2021) Dr. Jennings' Reinventing Martial Arts in the 21st Century is a fresh, extremely current piece. Written in a clear, precise and simple language, it addresses many of the topics inspiring contemporary social research on martial arts-their hybridization with other movements systems, their consideration as self-help or therapy practices, or their protection, revival or reinvention as intangible cultural heritage, to name a few. It is solidly structured and developed, presenting findings on all these fields, based on the author's original research and knowledge as veteran martial artist. No doubt this book is a brilliant contribution to the field of study of martial arts and combat sports. -Carlos Gutierrez Garcia, Associate Professor, Department of Physical and Sport Education, Universidad de Leon, Spain; Editor-in-Chief of Revista de Artes Marciales Asiaticas

“The author presents the situation of selected martial arts traditions of China and Europe in today’s social contexts. At the same time, he shows both social sensitivity and broad erudition. His research on Mexican traditions brings a fresh perspective to the analysis of cultural influences and theoretical reflection on the heritage of martial arts. Also, the qualitative methodology used here is most appropriate for an in-depth description of the attitudes of martial artists. It includes, but is not limited to, autoethnography. I highly recommend this book to researchers and enthusiasts of martial arts/fighting arts.” —Professor Dr Wojciech J. Cynarski, 10th dan of Idokan “George Jennings tackles the western reinvention of traditional martial arts in terms of McDonaldization, heritage studies, and sport science to discuss emerging forms of virtual community, therapy and self-help. Through evocative auto-ethnography Jennings demonstrates the advantage of training in swords while taking notes. The result is a highly readable academic account of colorful vignettes and vivid insights shared from a lifetime in martial arts and scholarship.” —DS Farrer, University of Exeter, United Kingdom “Most martial arts celebrate their long historical traditions, ancient roots and aim to inculcate their learners with respect for expert practitioners and their values. Those that originated in East and South East Asia spread across the rest of the world in the twentieth century, and now flourish in societies very different from those where they originated. Alongside the globalised martial arts an academic field of research—martial arts studies—has grown up. Its focus is not only on those Eastern and South-east Asian martial arts and combat sports, but also on those from Africa and the Americas (such as Capoeira and Xilam), and those claiming European origins such as Savate, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) or Breton wrestling. Some of these are self-conscious recreations; others are evolved varieties of earlier activities. One important theme in martial arts studies is studying how different forms of combat change and develop; a second research area is focused on how practitioners can benefit physically and mentally from participation. George Jennings has, in this book, drawn together several of the key themes in martial arts studies which became highly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on ethnographic work done before, during, and since the height of the pandemic in Europe, key themes in martial arts studies are explored. Jennings has worked intensively on three martial arts (Taijiquan, HEMA and Wing Chun), and also draws on the research about other activities such as Venezuelan Stick fighting, Savate and Xilam. The text addresses core themes in martial arts studies while blending the standpoints of the practitioner, the teacher, and the researcher.” —Sara Delamont, Reader Emeritus, Cardiff University, United Kingdom “This book offers a fascinating exploration of multiple overlooked aspects of the living and breathing richness and diversity of martial arts as lived practices, often intertwined with different livelihoods, issues and aspects of health and wellbeing, and ways of growing. Jennings speaks fluently in a range of voices, allowing different levels and kinds of focus and attention, from large perspectives to attention to less obvious areas of life and practice. This work will be of particular value to ethnography, anthropology and social science students and researchers of martial arts, culture and society.” —Professor Paul Bowman, Cardiff University, United Kingdom; Author of The Invention of Martial Arts (2021) “Dr. Jennings’ Reinventing Martial Arts in the 21st Century is a fresh, extremely current piece. Written in a clear, precise and simple language, it addresses many of the topics inspiring contemporary social research on martial arts—their hybridization with other movements systems, their consideration as self-help or therapy practices, or their protection, revival or reinvention as intangible cultural heritage, to name a few. It is solidly structured and developed, presenting findings on all these fields, based on the author’s original research and knowledge as a veteran martial artist. No doubt this book is a brilliant contribution to the field of study of martial arts and combat sports.” —Carlos Gutiérrez García, Associate Professor, Department of Physical and Sport Education, Universidad de León, Spain; Editor-in-Chief of Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas

Author Information

Dr. George Jennings has been researching the martial arts since his undergraduate dissertation in 2004. He holds a PhD in Sport and Health Sciences from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, and is Senior Lecturer in Sport Sociology at Cardiff Metropolitan University. George has over 40 publications.

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