| INTRODUCTION | | | | literally all kinds of people to come together in a |
| This article will seek to highlight the numerous | | | | spirit of trust and respect. Therefore, as |
| academic aspects of the martial arts and sciences | | | | instructors, we must be mindful of this fact: Our |
| and how they might be of serious interest and | | | | field of influence extends way beyond the mat, |
| value as objects of research by various | | | | into the family unit and throughout the community |
| specialists. It will demonstrate their worth to | | | | at large. |
| researchers from other disciplines, providing them | | | | Sociologists with an interest in the historical |
| with a wealth of potential material to examine, | | | | aspects of their science would find much of |
| experiment with and catalogue. Indeed, they are | | | | interest in the martial arts, as wars have always |
| an extremely rich resource that has, for the | | | | played a pivotal role in shaping the society we live |
| most part, been completely neglected, with only a | | | | in. The selection, training and fighting arts of the |
| few brave and/or curious even bothering to | | | | warrior, together with their strict code of ethical |
| explore the possibility. | | | | conduct, have had a heavy influence not only in |
| It will highlight the efforts of the IMAS in striving | | | | the way that wars were fought, but also in how |
| hard to encourage and promote education, | | | | nations eventually evolved and came into being. |
| training, research and qualifications in the martial | | | | Therefore, martial arts can prove to be a rich |
| arts and sciences and, by so doing, gradually | | | | source of both historic and contemporary |
| causing them to become more accepted as an | | | | information to sociologists. |
| academic subject of very real merit and worth. | | | | 4. Theology/Religious Studies |
| ACADEMIC FACETS READILY FOUND WITHIN | | | | The martial arts of every country have always |
| THE MARTIAL ARTS AND SCIENCES | | | | been very heavily influenced by certain religious |
| Researchers in the following disciplines would find | | | | beliefs and philosophies. Even today, it is possible |
| much of worth in the martial arts and sciences: | | | | to see the residue of these influences very clearly |
| 1. Anthropology | | | | in not only the various histories of our arts, but |
| Anthropology is the scientific study of the Human | | | | also the rituals and traditions that are still so much |
| Being, at all times and in all types of societies, | | | | a part of them. If we look into the historical |
| cultures, civilisations and situations. The origin of | | | | origins and of many combative systems, we will |
| anthropology is to be found in both the Natural | | | | find monks, priests and philosophers nurturing |
| Sciences and the Humanities. It asks questions | | | | them and helping them to develop, if not actually |
| such as: What defines a human being? Why do | | | | inventing them altogether. |
| we tend to behave the way we do? And why do | | | | Indeed, if it were not for the warrior monks of |
| we develop particular belief systems? | | | | many cultures and societies, then the martial arts |
| Therefore, it is quite easy to see from the above | | | | we all know, love and learn today might not have |
| that the martial arts and sciences have a great | | | | survived at all. This is especially true when we |
| deal to offer this subject specialism, particularly in | | | | look at such arts as Gatka from India, Shaolin |
| what is called "cultural anthropology" which is a | | | | Kung Fu from china, certain styles of Bersilat |
| sub-division that tends to concentrate upon | | | | from Malaysia and Kyudo from Japan. Each of |
| "ethnology" or the study of certain systematic | | | | these martial arts is inseparably and indelibly linked |
| comparisons between different cultures. For | | | | to a religious belief and philosophy, with each still |
| example: A well known author wrote and | | | | retaining certain undeniable aspects of these within |
| published a definitive work upon the European | | | | their training regime and philosophies. Still other |
| knight. This book was very well received and, a | | | | martial arts, such as Thai-Boxing and Sumo |
| couple of years later, the same person decided to | | | | wrestling, clearly still bear the marks of theology |
| write another work, this time upon the Japanese | | | | upon some of their practices, requiring special |
| Samurai, so drawing comparisons between the | | | | blessings, prayers, rites and rituals as an integral |
| two while also highlighting certain differences in the | | | | part of their competitions. |
| attitudes and behaviour of each. (We can see | | | | 5. Historic |
| from this example one of the many "crossovers" | | | | As already stated above: War and religion are |
| that frequently occur between academic | | | | two of the sharpest tool's employed in the |
| disciplines. This author was writing these works as | | | | shaping of human culture and society. In this |
| an historian, although they could just have well | | | | manner, it could be argued that the martial arts |
| have been presented (with a slight modification in | | | | and sciences have helped to both build and |
| context) as an anthropological text) | | | | destroy entire empires and nations. Fighting and |
| The comparison between the different warrior | | | | the use of weapons are so ancient that they |
| castes and their indigenous martial arts would be a | | | | actually even predate our own species: The great |
| perfectly acceptable study for any cultural | | | | apes have been shown to demonstrate crude |
| anthropologist to embark upon and would no | | | | strategy and tactics, as well as modifying sticks |
| doubt, yield a wealth of interesting data for the | | | | into forms of primitive spear. The most primitive |
| researcher(s). | | | | of weapons would include the stick, stone and |
| 1. Philosophy | | | | bone, and any combination thereof the martial |
| Philosophy deals with the life's really BIG questions | | | | arts we practice now as a healthy pass time |
| such as who are we? And why are we here? | | | | were then, quite literally the tools of the trade. It |
| The meaning of truth and even life itself, Etc. | | | | was upon the battlefield that a great deal of |
| There are many different schools of philosophy, | | | | martial arts and sciences have their roots and |
| as well as diverse areas of study (Epistemology, | | | | continued development, from ancient times up |
| Logic, etc.) But, the areas that would be of special | | | | until the present, with people like Fairbairn and |
| relevance in the martial arts would be both | | | | Styers researching, experimenting and modifying |
| Aesthetics (which concerns itself with art) and | | | | the traditional techniques found in the Japanese |
| Ethics (which concerns itself with morals, duty, | | | | and Chinese systems so that they could be of |
| scruples and generally "doing the right thing for | | | | more efficient use in 20th century conflicts, the |
| the right reasons) | | | | Israeli armed forces developing Krav Maga, and |
| The martial arts would be most relevant to the | | | | the United States Marine Corps with their military |
| oriental schools of philosophy that have their origin | | | | martial arts programmes of today which aid |
| in religions such as Buddhism and Daoism, but | | | | young marines to prepare for and fight battles, |
| certain European schools would also find much of | | | | physically and mentally. These constant |
| interest, in particular Stoicism which concerns itself | | | | modifications are a necessary part of evolution |
| with the control of the emotions, and the | | | | where only the strongest survive. |
| Existentialism of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and | | | | Historians already find much of interest in the |
| Sartre among others, that subscribes to the | | | | martial arts. Hence, you have serious researchers |
| theory that the human being must take full | | | | who delve into the weapons and armour of |
| responsibility for the human condition rather than | | | | bygone eras. In addition, you have very |
| simply blaming it upon "Fate" or "God". | | | | respected institutions such as the Imperial War |
| 2. Psychology | | | | Museum that actually employ martial artists and |
| Psychology is the study of the functions of the | | | | Masters at Arms to demonstrate their abilities, so |
| human mind. It concerns itself with perception, | | | | allowing the general public a rare opportunity to |
| cognition, personality and behaviour, etc. Again, it | | | | witness historical combat "up close and personal". |
| has many schools (Behaviourism, Cognitivism and | | | | Martial arts, then, are actually pieces of "Living |
| Humanism, etc) and specialist areas (such as | | | | History" that allow both historians and the general |
| educational, industrial, etc) However, the martial | | | | public a unique insight into the past. |
| arts would be of most use to psychologists | | | | In addition to the above, there are several other |
| researching the following aspects:o Anger | | | | disciplines that would find much of interest and |
| Managemento Conflict Resolutiono Stress Controlo | | | | worth in the study of martial arts. The very |
| Sports enhancemento Educationo Performance | | | | practice of martial arts techniques themselves |
| coachingo Etc. | | | | contains a wealth of scientific application. |
| There is a lot of interest in the way that martial | | | | Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Mechanics, Kinetics, etc, |
| artists utilise certain mental disciplines or "mindset" | | | | are all a very real part of any training session. |
| if you will. The ability to control their mental and | | | | Health and fitness, Sports Science, Teaching |
| physical abilities to the extent where ordinary | | | | methods and coaching all also have their place. It |
| flesh and bone can be used to break hard objects | | | | is about time that the martial arts and sciences |
| for example. | | | | were acknowledged and accepted as being the |
| The psychology of warfare and the mindset of | | | | rich repository of knowledge they truly are. |
| traditional warrior castes might even be able to | | | | CONCLUSION |
| shed some light upon the causes and treatment | | | | All of the above is already happening (albeit in an |
| of certain mental health issues suffered by | | | | extremely sporadic way.) Research papers have |
| modern soldiers, chiefly, post traumatic stress | | | | been submitted by academics of several |
| disorder (PTSD) which causes such a lot of | | | | disciplines throughout the past few decades. Even |
| misery to so many. So, once again, martial arts | | | | so, there is not enough of this valuable research |
| have a lot to offer from a psychological | | | | for martial arts per se to be taken seriously as a |
| standpoint. | | | | subject worthy of stringent academic examination |
| 3. Sociology | | | | in its own right, with only certain specialised |
| Sociology is the study of human society and | | | | aspects being investigated by researchers from |
| behaviour. It encompasses such things as the | | | | several other specialisms. And, it has to be said, |
| way society and culture influence the individual and | | | | the majority of faculty within the Institute |
| also how individuals manage to find their place in | | | | (myself included) have, of course, all undergone |
| the greater scheme of things and concentrates | | | | their academic training and gained qualifications in |
| upon building up a body of knowledge regarding | | | | various academic disciplines other than that of the |
| the effect that such things as religious and political | | | | martial arts and sciences, simply because the |
| beliefs exert upon the attitudes and behaviour of | | | | opportunity did not exist for us to research the |
| communities and society at large. | | | | arts we all loved to practice and teach. In a way, |
| Up until quite recently, members of local | | | | this has helped to make our faculty both strong |
| communities maintained quite strong, close | | | | and varied. But, the time has now come for the |
| relationships with each other. They went to the | | | | martial arts to "come of age" as an academic |
| same school, relaxed in the same bars or cafes, | | | | subject in its own right. Indeed, this is one of the |
| and worshipped in the same church or temple. | | | | main reasons as to why this institute has come |
| These days, most of that has changed. Parents | | | | into being, and remains one of its primary goals. |
| will actually up-stakes and move to another area | | | | Earlier this year, the Institute of Martial Arts and |
| in order to try and get their child in to the school | | | | Sciences held its first ever conference. It was a |
| of their choosing, because of the improved | | | | small affair but, never the less several very |
| transport system, people tend to travel further | | | | interesting research papers were submitted and |
| afield if they want to go for a night out and not | | | | presented. It is hoped that this research will soon |
| that many people are as devout with their | | | | be published so others might gain access to them |
| religious observances as they were in times gone | | | | and perhaps even be inspired to conduct research |
| by. And, even if they are, it is now possible to | | | | of their own. In addition, members of faculty |
| worship in many different temples and churches, | | | | constantly work hard at establishing strong links |
| with it being possible to change your denomination, | | | | with several other learned institutes and |
| or even your entire religion, almost every week! | | | | universities the world over, and continually |
| Because of this changing social structure, people | | | | publishing books, articles and letters in both |
| are now far more independent rather than | | | | specialist journals and the martial arts press. So it |
| co-dependent. In the UK in particular, our churches | | | | has already started. The face of martial arts have |
| and public houses are shutting down at an | | | | changed irrevocably for the better, thanks to a |
| alarming rate, so this process is continuing and | | | | scant handful of determined academics, |
| might even be speeding up somewhat. | | | | researchers and educators who also happened to |
| In this climate, local martial arts clubs tend to | | | | be very highly ranked martial arts practitioners. It |
| endure as bastions of strength in the community. | | | | is those few who have made it possible at last |
| The vast majority are run by local people for local | | | | for the martial arts to be studied not only on the |
| people, and make a very real and concrete | | | | mat in a martial arts club, in the sporting arena or |
| contribution to their communities: Martial arts | | | | even on the battlefield, but also in classrooms and |
| instructors continue to play an important part in | | | | lecture halls. Martial artists can now also sit |
| keeping their local communities healthier and safer, | | | | academic exams as well as undergo grading |
| and can also exert a tremendous influence upon | | | | examination tests. And they can gain useful |
| the children and young people that come to them | | | | academic, professionally accredited qualifications as |
| for lessons. They take part in important events in | | | | well as belts or sashes, and these qualifications |
| their local area such as putting on displays at | | | | mean just as much outside of the martial arts |
| garden parties and fetes, and engaging in | | | | club as they do within it. Martial arts and those |
| fund-raising activities for charity, etc. In this | | | | who practice them are now beginning to gain the |
| manner, martial arts clubs actually help act as the | | | | status and recognition they so richly deserve. |
| "cement" of their local communities, attracting | | | | |