{"title":"Review of An Insider’s Guide to the Japanese Martial Arts: A New Look at Japan’s Fighting Traditions, by Alexander Bennett","authors":"David Eckford","doi":"10.18002/rama.v18i1.7685","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7685","url":null,"abstract":"This review addresses An Insider’s Guide to the Japanese Martial Arts: A New Look at Japan’s Fighting Traditions by Alexander Bennett, published in 2023 by Tuttle Publishing. The Japanese martial arts and Japan have long attracted practitioners from around the globe travelling to Japan, hoping to further the knowledge of their chosen martial art. Far from being a recent trend, records of such travels have graced the martial arts literature for decades. This volume offers a neatly packaged representation of the Japanese martial arts written in an approachable manner by a bilingual, bicultural, academic, martial arts researcher and high-ranking exponent. Stocked with educational and credible material and delivered in an affable tone, this book provides a thorough coverage of the Japanese martial arts from their early past to the present day. In addition, practical and indispensable information for surviving and making the most out of one’s stay in Japan is presented. Invaluable to the practitioner with their sights set on studying martial arts in Japan, this publication goes way beyond and presents a plethora of information, both historical and contemporary, which will captivate all those studying the arts, regardless of their domicile. This valuable contribution to the martial arts literature is an enjoyable and educational walk through the Japanese martial arts that will benefit the uninitiated, novices, and seasoned veterans alike.\u0000Keywords: Japanese martial arts; Japanese martial history; studying martial arts in Japan; Japanese culture","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"135 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132801660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Traditional martial arts versus martial sports: the philosophical and historical academic discourse","authors":"U. Moenig, Minho Kim, Hyunjeong Choi","doi":"10.18002/rama.v18i1.7604","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7604","url":null,"abstract":"There have been a variety of attempts by scholars to neatly define and categorize Asian martial arts terminology, often in connection with martial arts history, philosophy, and practical training activities. Overall, the English term ‘martial arts’ is typically linked to East Asian fighting activities. In comparison, Western fighting methods, such as boxing and wrestling, are almost never referred to as ‘martial arts’ but mostly labeled ‘sports’ or ‘combat sports.’ This is reflected in the basic split of the broader martial arts community, which is between the so-called traditionalists and the modernists. The former often stress spirituality and mysticism and claim that the primary aim of martial arts is self-defense, while the latter are commonly affiliated with sports training and competitive events. The rift between the two camps is not settled and it represents the main reason of the many conflicting opinions and arguments articulated in the martial arts discourse. The principle method of this study is an extensive literature review with the aim to clarify the confusion by pointing out the many paradoxes present in the historical and philosophical narratives in connection with practical training activities of the martial arts. Besides, this article represents also a critique of the general, academic discourse about the Asian martial arts, which often appears disingenuous and is generally dominated by the traditionalists.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127678360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A process-sociology analysis of religious practices and Japanese martial arts","authors":"Raúl Sánchez García","doi":"10.18002/rama.v18i1.7479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7479","url":null,"abstract":"This paper uses primary and secondary sources to provide a process-sociological analysis of the relationship between religious practices and Japanese martial arts. It problematises the taken for granted role of Zen Buddhism as the sole influence on the development of Japanese martial arts. Such essential connection is inaccurate and anachronistic. Religious and martial practices developed as part of processes of sociogenesis (state formation) and psychogenesis (habitus) during three different key stages: (1) Medieval Japan (1185-1600): during this stage, warriors (bushi) progressively became the predominant rulers across the country, enforcing law by sheer force. Warriors seasoned in combat used esoteric practices (spells, magic rituals) as part of their psychological arsenal for warfare, as practical means of action. The cult of the Buddhist deity Marishiten held special interest for the bushi originating martial traditions (ryu). (2) Tokugawa shogunate (1600-1848): the pacification of the country by the central military court implied a more detached approach to martial arts by samurai. Within this milieu, the samurai acted as a retainer/bureaucrat whose main mission was to keep order in a stratified society and to serve his lord, something that Zen practices helped to incorporate in the samurai ethos. (3) Early Showa period (1926-1945): this stage featured a progressive militarisation of people and the instigation of a strong involvement towards the Japanese nation, considered as the main (symbolic) survival unit. Budo (martial arts) was connected to shinto (functioning as a ‘state religion’) and embodied the imperial bushido message. Zen provided a legitimation of violence for citizen-soldiers with a personality structure that presented self-doubts on killing someone and fear of being killed.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116547130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The relationship between judo specific test performances and physical fitness in prepubescent male judo athletes","authors":"Ömer Faruk Demirci, B. Ceylan, Ş. Balcı","doi":"10.18002/rama.v18i1.7400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7400","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between judo specific test performances and physical fitness of prepubescent judo athletes. Forty male judo athletes aged 10-13 voluntarily participated. Athletes completed special judo fitness test (SJFT), hikisdashi uchi-komi test (HUT), judogi grip strength tests, and performance-related physical fitness components tests (aerobic power, strength, agility, explosive power, body composition). Correlation coefficients were used to analyze the relationship between the judo specific tests and physical fitness performances. Significant correlations were found between total throw numbers during SJFT, HUT performance, isometric and dynamic judogi grip strength test performance and general performance-related physical fitness tests. Also, negative correlations were found between judo specific tests performances and body fat percent. It can be concluded from the study that total throws in SJFT, 20 s HUT and dynamic judogi grip strength tests can be used to monitor performances of prepubescent judo athletes as these tests present large significant correlations with performance related physical fitness tests.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114898811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. C. Bueno, L. V. Andreato, A. Andrade, Miguel Alencar Flores Junior, Ragami C Alves, A. D. C. Smolarek, T. P. de Souza Junior, F. D. Del Vecchio
{"title":"Effects and symptoms of dehydration in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes","authors":"J. C. Bueno, L. V. Andreato, A. Andrade, Miguel Alencar Flores Junior, Ragami C Alves, A. D. C. Smolarek, T. P. de Souza Junior, F. D. Del Vecchio","doi":"10.18002/rama.v18i1.7208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7208","url":null,"abstract":"Objective. To measure rapid weight loss and urinary indicators of hydration status, as well as to assess the effects and symptoms of dehydration in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes at different moments. Methods. 17 male BJJ athletes (aged: 24.4 ± 3.5 years; body mass (BM): 76.8 ± 14.6 kg; body fat: 16.6 ± 6.4%), were evaluated between 8 and 9 am at three different moments: Baseline (10 days pre- competition), measurement of BM and stature, collection of urine samples, and food record of the previous 24 hours; pre-competition, measurement of BM, urine samples, and questionnaire to assess rapid weight loss (RWL), and post-competition (24h after), day after competition, with measurement of BM, and urine samples for analysis of specific gravity. Results. There was a tendency to decrease BM to compete (baseline: 76.8 ± 14.6 kg, pre-competition: 75.4 ± 13.4 kg, post-competition: 77.3 ± 13.7 kg; p < 0.07), with 88.2% of athletes using methods that increase dehydration. The majority of athletes were dehydrated at the three time points of the study (94.1%; USG = 1.021 ± 0.005 Usg at baseline, 88.2%; 1.020 ± 0.007 Usg at pre-competition, 88.2%; 1.022 ± 0.008 Usg on the post-competition day), accompanied by symptoms associated with RWL (82.4% increased heart rate, 52.9% headache, 47.1% hot flashes, 41.2% nausea, 41.2% disorientation, and 29.4% dizziness). Conclusions. Rapid pre-competitive weight loss and symptoms associated with dehydration were observed in the BJJ athletes. It is recommended that educational measures are promoted to inhibit RWL among BJJ athletes, requiring the engagement of health professionals and organizations that govern the sport (federations and confederations).","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"115 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124119271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Pereira, Alexandra Folle, D. Detanico, A. Graça, G. Farias
{"title":"Percurso docente: identificando a construção de conhecimentos para o ensino em disciplinas de lutas","authors":"M. Pereira, Alexandra Folle, D. Detanico, A. Graça, G. Farias","doi":"10.18002/rama.v17i2.7352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v17i2.7352","url":null,"abstract":"O objetivo deste estudo foi averiguar o percurso docente e identificar a construção de conhecimentos de professores universitários para o ensino em disciplinas de lutas. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, no qual participaram do estudo sete professores de ensino superior que lecionam disciplinas com a temática investigada em cursos de licenciatura em Educação Física. Como técnica de coleta de dados foi utilizada a entrevista narrativa. A análise dos dados ocorreu mediante a técnica de análise de conteúdo, com categorias organizadas tanto a priori (percurso formativo e profissional) quanto a posteriori (envolvimento com as lutas e conhecimentos sobre o conteúdo lutas). Os resultados apontaram o envolvimento com modalidades de lutas nas trajetórias, e alguns participantes consideram a experiência pela prática de modalidades de lutas um conhecimento importante para o ensino. Os professores apresentaram como limitações não possuir expertise em lutas, a carência de bibliografia sobre o ensino das lutas, e não ser professor titular da disciplina. Por outro lado, os resultados perspectivaram olhares para além do ensino da técnica, por meio de aspectos históricos, sociais e estratégias voltadas ao jogo. No estudo, foi possível mencionar pautado na teoria da “base de conhecimentos para o ensino” que os professores tendem a considerar os diversos conhecimentos para subsidiar o ensino, porém, ainda carecem refletir sobre sua trajetória e aprimorar e transformar suas bases de conhecimentos, visando um ensino que rompa com as problemáticas apontadas pela literatura e pelos participantes.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"68 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116317474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charalampos Spanias, Christopher Kirk, Karsten Øvretveit
{"title":"Position before submission? Techniques and tactics in competitive no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu","authors":"Charalampos Spanias, Christopher Kirk, Karsten Øvretveit","doi":"10.18002/rama.v17i2.7410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v17i2.7410","url":null,"abstract":"Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based combat sport performed either with a traditional uniform, the gi, or without, known as no-gi. Differences between the two when it comes to gripping, pace, and ruleset can affect match characteristics, which has implications for how athletes approach competition. The present study investigated time-motion and technical-tactical characteristics in matches from official no-gi submission-only BJJ tournaments. The analysis included 26 regional and 26 international athletes from the light-feather to super-heavy weight class. Match characteristics did not differ between competition levels, style (guard or pass player), or weight (p > 0.05). The duration of positional dominance was similar between competition levels and styles (p > 0.05), but significantly different between winners and losers (p < 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.39). Positional dominance also correlated with upper-body submissions (r = 0.50; p < 0.05). Interestingly, positional dominance appeared inconsequential in matches determined by lower-body submissions. In fact, athletes winning by lower-body submissions, in most cases a heel hook, exerted no positional control prior to their victory. The high- to low-intensity ratio was 1:2 and 1:1, for regional and international athletes, respectively. The standing to ground time ratio was 1:2 for both groups. In addition to the novel competition characteristics of competitive no-gi BJJ, these findings indicate that there are strategical discrepancies that precede distinctly different submission holds.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"86 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114053718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of time-of-day on judo-specific performance","authors":"Furkan Öztürk, B. Ceylan, Ş. Balcı","doi":"10.18002/rama.v17i2.7276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v17i2.7276","url":null,"abstract":"In judo tournaments, matches for each weight category are held on the same day and athletes competing at the finals have to compete at different times of the day. This study aimed to investigate the effect of time-of-day on judo specific performance and the changes in physiological load following judo specific performance. Fourteen male judo athletes (age 19.1±1.4 years) voluntarily participated in the study. At the 1st visit, anthropometrical measurements and familiarization procedures were conducted and the athletes’ chronotype was determined. Athletes performed the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) during 2nd and 3rd visits. Athletes randomly performed two consecutive SJFTs with 15 min intervals at 10:00h, which is the official start time of matches, and at 18:00h which is the time when the finals start. During SJFT applications, athletes heart rate (HR), blood lactate (bLA), body temperature and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. The changes in total throw numbers (F1, 13= 1.32, p=0.27) and SJFT index (F1, 13= 0.30, p=0.59) were not different between morning and evening. There were similar changes in bLA (F4, 52=0.66, p=0.63), RPE (F1, 13=1.42, p=0.26) and body temperature (F1.4, 18.0=1.18, p=0.31) which were measured before and after the tests. However, HR measured in the evening were higher compared to morning measurement at all measurement times (F1, 13=10.28, p=0.01), but there was no difference in SJFT throws (F3.8, 48.8=0.49, p=0.74). In conclusion, different times of the day did not affect judo specific performance as well as physiological variables in judo athletes.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130838847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of Anko Itosu. The Man. The Master. The Myth. Biography of a Legend, by Thomas Feldmann","authors":"Eduardo De la Fuente","doi":"10.18002/rama.v17i1.7279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v17i1.7279","url":null,"abstract":"This review considers the book Anko Itosu. The Man. The Master. The Myth. Biography of a Legend, published in 2021 by Thomas Feldmann. The volume is a thorough biographical study of Anko Itosu (1831–1915), Okinawan born and essential figure to interpret initial developments of karate history during the 20th century. Approximately two decades before this indigenous martial art was to be popularized in mainland Japan by Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957) and Mabuni Kenwa (1889–1952), and officially recognized by the Dainippon Butokukai [Greater Japan Martial Arts Virtue Society] (1933), Itosu consolidated important technical and discursive changes for karate. This novel way to practice and describe karate, still molding the perception of the art today, had the intention, among others, to further support its inclusion in the school system of Okinawa. Using a huge amount of written and oral sources, historical documents, and scholarly studies on Okinawa, this text offers a vivid picture of Itosu's life. In a manner unusual among the publications on the topic, the text not only explores the early days of modern karate through the existential vicissitudes of the master, but even more importantly it does so against the background of how the cultural, social, and political life was articulated in Okinawa at the time. Such a remarkable effort bears a value that should not go unnoticed among martial arts researchers and the interested reader alike.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115521636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Boxeo, jiu-jitsu, lucha grecorromana y esgrima de bastón en Barcelona. Sportsmen y clases sociales a principios del siglo XX","authors":"Xavier Torrebadella, C. Gutiérrez-García","doi":"10.18002/rama.v17i1.7257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v17i1.7257","url":null,"abstract":"En la Barcelona de principios del siglo XX la clase burguesa utilizó el deporte para proyectar el ideal de una ciudad moderna, europeizante y civilizada. En este contexto aparecieron actividades físicas de combate como el boxeo, la lucha grecorromana y el jiu-jitsu, que se vieron inmersas en un proceso de institucionalización deportiva. Este proceso se inició con la entrada de estas prácticas de combate (“cuerpo a cuerpo”) en el gimnasio, lugar de culto físico que fue estratégicamente institucionalizado por la burguesía como dispositivo de civilización. A través de fuentes documentales primarias y secundarias, este trabajo analiza cómo estas prácticas de combate fueron asimiladas y normalizadas por la clase burguesa. En un análisis crítico se deconstruyen los sucesos historiados y se sostiene la presencia de una proyección social civilizadora que tuvo por objeto el atenuar la violencia urbana en las calles. El aprovechamiento de la lógica capitalista proyectó en los deportes de combate la comercialización de una violencia civilizada.","PeriodicalId":186541,"journal":{"name":"Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117048308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}