Martial Arts Studies

Youth Development & Martial Arts: A Conversation with Marc Theeboom

In this conversation, Dr. Marc Theeboom—professor of physical education and physiotherapy at VUB in Brussels—discusses the vast benefits of martial arts for youth development. Importantly, it is not that some martial arts have more benefits for children than do others, but that some pedagogical approaches are more beneficial than others. Theeboom explores the challenges of keeping martial traditions alive while simultaneously making martial arts fun and accessible for modern youth. He also points towards a future for martial arts studies that is holistic, collaborative, and interdisciplinary. 

Wrestling with Ancient Greece: A Conversation with David Larmour, Cory Johnson, and Joshua Kulseth

In this episode, three scholars from the varied disciplines of classics, history, and English come together to discuss the connections between Ancient Greek philosophers and modern-day BJJ and MMA. Foregrounded is the concept of agon, which is often translated as competition, but can perhaps be better conceptualized as striving for excellence. Perhaps most provocatively, this episode asks listeners to consider how the daily training regimes of the Ancient Greeks may have led to the creation of democracy as we know it today. 

Karate as Personal Reinvention: A Conversation with Dr. Noah Johnson

In this episode, Dr. Noah Johnson of Cornell College shares insights from his multi-sited ethnography on karate. His innovative approach to fieldwork took him to dojos in Okinawa as well as many different regions in the U.S. He concludes that the rituals of karate serve as a means for individuals to reinvent themselves. It also provides resources for individuals to protect themselves not just against physical threats, but against the threats of precarity and social uncertainty. 

From Habtius to the Specatularization of Violence: A Conversation with Raúl Sánchez-García

In this episode, Raúl Sánchez-García—researcher at King Juan Carlos University—reflects on the use of the sociological concept of habitus in martial arts studies. Sánchez-García demonstrates the utility of both Elias’s and Bourdieu’s formulation of the concept, and discusses how the martial arts scholar benefits from acquiring a fighter’s habitus. Sánchez-García also discusses his newer work on the spectacularization of violence in MMA as well as in bareknuckle fighting, especially as this pertains to masculinity in the current socio-political climate.

Turning the Page at Martial Arts Studies: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Katz and Dr. Martin Meyer

In this facilitated dialog, Dr. Peter Katz and Dr. Martin Meyer discuss their backgrounds in academics and the martial arts before turning their attention to their interests in joining the editorial team of Martial Arts Studies. From their positions on the uses (and abuses) of artificial intelligence in academic writing to their hopes for how the field will continue to grow, this conversation charts a new course for our association’s flagship journal.

Trojan Horses: A Discussion of How Martial Arts Studies became a Legitimate Academic Field with Dr. Tom Green (Texas A&M University)

In this episode, Dr. Tom Green, professor emeritus of anthropology at Texas A&M University, shares his experiences with the field of Martial Arts Studies. It wasn’t until after establishing himself as a professional anthropologist and folklorist that Green, a lifelong martial arts practitioner, came to realize the potential for studying the martial arts through an academic lens. Green presented the first ever paper on martial arts at the American Folklore Society and thereafter became a leading figure in the anthropology of martial arts. This conversation explores some of the methodological and epistemological approaches to what has become a legitimate, interdisciplinary field.

The Historical and Cultural Development of Brazil’s Martial Arts: A Conversation with Dr Ben Penglase (Loyola University Chicago)

This podcast episode features Dr. Ben Penglase, a cultural anthropologist from Loyola University Chicago. The conversation delves into his background and research, particularly his long-standing fascination with Brazil, Brazilian culture, and social issues.

Conversation with Paul Bowman, by Prof. Lauren Miller (Texas Tech University)

In this podcast episode, Paul Bowman reflects on the origins and community of Martial Arts Studies, discusses the transformative impact of his diverse martial arts practices like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and eskrima which he theorizes through concepts like affect and Deleuze, and details his research into orientalism, the sublime, and the resurgence of traditional strength training practices.

What Comedy Can Teach Us About Self-Defence, by Professor Paul Bowman (Cardiff University)

What Comedy Can Teach Us About Self-Defence, by Professor Paul Bowman (Cardiff University). Presentation given at the conference The Ethics and Ideologies of Self-Defence, Cardiff University, 6th November 2024

On the Self-Defence Scenario, by Dr Francis Dodsworth (Kingston University)

On the Self-Defence Scenario, by Dr Francis Dodsworth (Kingston University). Presentation given at the conference The Ethics and Ideologies of Self-Defence, at Cardiff University on 6th November 2024