In a different thread Samurai Steve mentioned that he’s persuing an academic study of the martial arts. Likewise, I’ve been working on some anthropological/cultural history work.
Basically, I was wondering who on Bullshido is conducting academic research in the martial arts (especially since I’m always looking for people to compare notes with). If you’re doing work, or thinking about it, can you post some info here. That way we might be able to get some cross pollenation going (and possible share research resources).
Good refs. Especially Miguk who is a frickin’ treasure trove of Korean info.
My stuff is primarily falls into two categories: subcultures and cultural bleed in MA and Martial Arts Culture’s role in the rise of Modern Nationalism/National Identity. Still in the fact finding stages in both areas.
A lot of the information that I have dealt with comparison study between Korean history and MA history. Not to mention that working with some people on TKD.net has been a God send. The Glenn Uesegi is a well of information. Plus I have also been lucky to get first hand accounts from my wife’s uncle who was 2nd or 3rd generation underneath the Jidokwan founders.
I really need to talk with you about that. I’ve been interested at looking at Judo, TKD, and Wu Shu and their respective roles in the establishment of their respective nation’s modern nationalist identity and tieing that all into the Olympics.
You might want to check out Andrew Morris’ “Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Culture in Republican China” for the Chinese side. For judo, well, I’m sure you’re already looking into Kano. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the effects of the post-Kano militant nationalism and then WWII, and then the “budo ban.” I wonder if the temporary school ban helped place a larger emphasis on the sport side, maybe eventually making it more acceptable as a sport?
I have Morris’s dissertation on my harddrive. And a few of his articles. Kevin Caffrey at the University of Chicago tipped me off to him.
Right now I’m looking at the influence of the Muscular Christian movement on Kano and the development of Judo. What interests me a bit about Judo is how it became (ignoring Sumo for the moment) the “national art” of Japan (its inclusion in the Olympics is key to me).
I think the school ban had a bit to do with it. I’m a bit curious about the role of USMC “Judo” on its development and how it was handled during the ban.
If your research veers into JMA, then I would think there would be no better person to acquaint with than Prof. Karl Friday of UGeorgia, who is an acknowledged authority on Japanese history, Koryu bujutsu and his own ryuha (he has a teaching certificate from this koryu kenjutsu ryuha). In fact, he has writeen a very engaging book on his ryuha, which most koryu enthusiasts on the both sides of the Pacific recommend highly.
have you read Dakin Burdick’s thesis, “The American Way of Fighting”? The first four chapters might be of interest re. Muscular Christianity, judo, etc.
As an aside, I have a theory that some of the original field testing of Kodokan Judo/Jiudo/Kano-ryu Jiujitsu/etc. as a competitive sport actually happened in England, via the experience of Yukio Tani and Sadekazu Uyenishi as music-hall wrestlers. They had been sent to London to teach at E.W. Barton-Wright’s Bartitsu Club under the auspices of the Kodokan, and their books follow the Kodokan’s reformist agenda of Jiudo as a “manly sport” suitable for inclusion in physical education curricula. This may have one of the events that led to their splitting with Barton-Wright, as he was more interested in street self defense applications than in sport; either way, their success in competition paved the way for the widespread popularity of sport judo in Europe during the 20th century.
You should also talk to EJMAS editor Joe Svinth re. the influence of the Muscular Christian philosophy on Kano’s pedagogy.
I totally agree. I don’t currently know enough about that period, but based on some material that I read in JAMA and mapping it onto my understanding of the history of Muscular Christianty (plus Gymnasitics and other physical culture movements) it makes for a solid story.
Will do. I’ve been promising a prof an article on this for quite a while and need to get my ass in gear on it.
have you read Dakin Burdick’s thesis, “The American Way of Fighting”? The first four chapters might be of interest re. Muscular Christianity, judo, etc.
This didn’t come up on a google scholar seach. Any chance you know where he did his graduate work?
I did a concentration on Asian martial philosophy for my Philo degree, and continue to do research on KMA history (way too much Bullshido…makes finding the good stuff fun and challenging). In fact, I found Bullshido.com through doing research and came across Miguksaram’s posts. Turns out we know people in common, etc…
I lucked out an my advisor at UMBC studied old school Kang Duk Won Kwonbup/TKD directly under it’s old kwanjang back in the day after the Vietnam War, and had much first hand material (in Korean). This, coupled with learning the Korean language, and my own master who is old school Moodukkwan, has opened up a lot of research material and opportunities for me that a lot of KMA researchers just don’t have.
Is there an actual, documentable KMA today with clear connections in techniques to pre-Occupation Korea? I’ve been curious about the claim made by Taekyon, that there is a clear line of transmission from Choson to today.
Part of this ties back to the assumption that a martial art needs to be codafied enough for a direct and recordable transmission line.
KMA’s are always going to be contentious. Taekyon, to my knowledge, has one of the closest things to a “direct” line. My understanding is that Taekyon is also a bit more rough and tumble (read as less codaifed) than what we typically think as a martial art. So because of that it may not necessarily fit our modern model of a martial art.
Beyond that there are lots of claims about unbroken lines and elder monk teachers. To my knowledge none of them can be verified. Now, eventually Miguksaram will get to this and then set us all straight.
Taegyun and Ssireum are two combat sports that pre-date the Occupation. There is an excellent article in JAMA about Taegyun’s development before and during the Occupation.
It is important to understand that both arts are combat sports…민예/minyae/folk art, more akin to Okinawan villagers practicing tode and tegumi than Japanese samurai practicing jujutsu. (Dave Lowry wrote an excellent article on karate as a folk practice rather than an actual martial art). Hoplogically, martial art is defined for use in warfare.
The Mooyaedobotongji delineates Chosun dynasty battlefield arts. It is an outline, rather than a training manual. Any attempt at practicing its contents are reconstruction, rather than actual transmission. There are groups doing this in Korea, much like ARMA does with Western MA manuals. Some of them are good, others are laughable.
Much of the material in the Mooyaedobotongji is CMA, though it does present a few Korean weapons, as well as four ryu of Japanese kenjutsu. There is also one sword form attributed to the Hwarang. However, the Mooyaedobotongji was written centuries after the Shilla Dynasty, so all you can say with certainty is that the form is attributed to the Hwarang.
The empty hand section of the manual is Chinese chuan fa, the Kijikwon. I am currently involved in a project involving several KMA researchers tracing this form. It’s origins lie in a manual written by a Chinese general, and it bears similarities to Taizhu Long Fist and Chen Taiji.
As far as pre-Occupation arts go, there has always been a strong CMA presense in the Korean arts. The Occupation and the rise to dominance of Taekwondo and Hapkido overshadowed these to a large degree, and so little scholarship has been paid attention to them until now. One example are the various schools of Shippalgi, or the 18 Techniques, one branch of which I study.
What kind of material are you looking for? I have old papers, etc, but I don’t know how many of them fit the vibe of the site. My goal is to eventually publish an un-Bullshido history of the Korean karate arts. I have a lot of material on this I could throw together.
No shit, you knew Roye? He’s one of my favorite people- he even got me into martial arts I guess it was 10-12 years ago. I try to stop in every once in awhile and visit, but it’s been a few years since I last saw him.
Yeah! He is a great man and I’m honored that he is my mentor. It was always funny watching him deconstruct students in class whenever they’d put forth illogical arguments. I think he’d get a kick out of this site.
I’m going to see him next week. Shall I give him your regards?