Schedule For Martial Arts Studies Confer

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
19 - 21 July 2016
information &
PROGRAMME
MARTIAL second international CONFERENCE
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE 19-21 July 2016
contents
1 Welcome and introduction
Paul Bowman, Conference Organiser
3 Expectations
Three ground rules for success
4 General information
For delegates, panels and chairs
5 Conference Programme
Daily programme of events
8 Biographies and abstracts

A-Z of speakers and contributors
33 Find a panel
At-a-glance guide to the conference panels
34 Find a speaker
A-Z guide to our speakers, times & venues
38 Films
Competition and screenings
44 Martial Arts Studies

Research Network, Journal and Book Series
The Martial Arts Studies Conference is part of a network
of projects that connect academics, practitioners and
institutions as they contribute to this rapidly expanding ield
of studies.
MARTIAL Open access peer-reviewed

ARTS STUDIES journal published twice
JOURNAL a year to share the latest
research and scholarship in
the ield
martialartsstudies.org
MARTIAL Connecting and

ARTS STUDIES engaging researchers and
RESEARCH NETWORK practitioners to shape the
multidisciplinary ield of
Martial Arts Studies
mastudiesrn.org
MARTIAL An academic book series

ARTS STUDIES of Martial Arts Studies
MONOGRAPHS monographs from Rowman
and Littleield International
goo.gl/F0o3DX
MARTIAL he Annual International

ARTS STUDIES Martial Arts Studies
CONFERENCE Conferences
goo.gl/gRyzf2
19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
WELCOME &
INTRODUCTION
PAUL BOWMAN, CONFERENCE ORGANISER
Welcome to the second international Martial Arts Studies We have also established a book series with one of the
Conference at Cardiff University. The first conference took most exciting academic publishers to have emerged in
place last year, in June 2015, and it sparked and helped to fuel recent years, Rowman & Littlefield International (RLI).
many significant developments in the field of martial arts RLI not only published my own first monograph on the
studies, which has palpably exploded into life and activity in subject of martial arts studies last year, they also provided
the last twelve months. For instance, since last year, we have some funding both for last year’s conference and for this.
established the Martial Arts Studies Research Network in And now they are publishing a book series of hardback,
the UK – an initiative whose obvious promise and potential paperback and electronic books – entitled Martial Arts
helped us to secure valuable funding from the Arts and Studies. The first books in the series will be appearing later
Humanities Research Council (AHRC). We have already held this year.
two successful events – one on gender issues in martial arts
As well as this, new formal and loose connections have
studies at The University of Brighton, and another on martial
sprung up between researchers working in different fields,
arts cinema at Birmingham City University. We are currently
languages and geographical areas. We are seeing increasing
planning future events – the next one being a network event
connections and communications between formerly distinct
on mindfulness and martial arts at Huddersfield University in
and often formerly isolated researchers, who are now
November. And, of course, our AHRC funding has helped to
communicating with each other, reading and debating each
support this current conference too.
other’s research, and even visiting and working together.
In addition, during the last twelve months we have
These are just a few of the great ongoing developments in
established the new journal, Martial Arts Studies, which
and around martial arts studies. I am confident that this
is not only peer reviewed but also online, open access, and
year’s conference – which is even bigger than last year’s
published as an imprint of Cardiff University Press. So far we
and which has attracted an even wider geographical and
have published two extremely important collections that will
disciplinary sweep of participants and visitors – will further
help to shape the directions of research and debate in martial
stimulate important connections, collaborations and
arts studies.
research developments.
International Interdisciplinary Conference 1

Paul Bowman would like to thank everyone in
attendance at the conference and to all at the School
of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC)
at Cardiff University, who are hosting this second
international Martial Arts Studies Conference. Special
thanks are due to JOMEC’s Julie Jewell who has
provided the invaluable administrative support needed
to make the conference possible.
Thanks and acknowledgements go to those who have

provided funding: the Arts and Humanities Research
Council (AHRC); Rowman & Littlefield International,
and Tim Smith of KungFuPodcasts.com who made a
generous personal donation to the conference.
2
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
EXPECTATIONS
THREE GROUND RULES FOR SUCCESS
To help make the Rule #1

conference a success,
we need to set some
Stay on Time
expectations with a few Please try to get into the right rooms at the right times. We have a tight schedule, and there
basic ground rules. Based will often be several sessions running parallel at the same time. These need to start and stop at
on experience, these must the right time. To do your bit to keep things to time, please ensure that your own presentation
be the following: does not overrun the agreed limit (which is 20 minutes, the maximum for most presentations).
Each panel has a chair, who will politely try to keep you to time – with the aid of bells and
whistles, if need be.
Rule #2
Be Respectful
This applies to all things. Be respectful in keeping to time and thereby enabling other people’s
time. Be respectful of academic and social protocols and normal polite conventions. When
you are presenting or asking a question, remember that your time and your voice is not more
important than other people’s time and other people’s voices. Similarly, in the rooms, in the
corridors, during the meals, in the pubs, in the streets, in the halls, and at all times, please be
respectful of other people’s dignity, rights and expectations. I shouldn’t have to say this, and
hopefully all of your minds will boggle when I do say this, but there must be no harassment
or prejudice of any kind, whether sexual, racial, religious, class, nationalistic, macho, male,
female, or anything else. I shouldn’t have to say that, but past experience suggests that for
some people it does need to be said. And let me be clear, if I do hear of anyone who is not
following rule number two by not being respectful, then I reserve the right to withdraw our
hospitality. And hospitality is important. Indeed, it is rule number three.
Rule #3
Be Hospitable
Intellectual hospitality is vital and vitalising in any academic context. So you must be
hospitable to other people’s ideas, approaches, opinions, and voices. Being open to new
ideas, new approaches, and being ready for meeting difference, diversity, eclecticism and
even dissensus should not take anyone by surprise here. We are, after all, working across the
intersections of multiple academic disciplines and discourses, seeking to immerse ourselves in
and advance our knowledge and understanding of myriad aspects of martial arts, even if only
for the next three days.

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
GENERAL INFORMATION
FOR DELEGATES, PANELS AND CHAIRS
WI-FI PANELS AND CHAIRS

Those of you who work in universities may be able to log Panels
into the Eduroam Wi-Fi network. However, for everyone Panels consist of 2-3 presentations, each of which can be no
else, please log into the CU Visitor Wi-Fi with the Martial more than 20 minutes.
Arts Studies Conference ID of ‘MART221’.
Chairs
Each panel has a chair, responsible for keeping the panel to
MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE time.
Some of the panels may involve some (voluntary) movement Timing
activities. No one has to do any of them. But, of course, Presenters are expected to finish within 20 minutes. The chair
space in our lecture and seminar rooms is limited. So we will alert presenters when they have five minutes left, 1 minute
have decided to let you know that there will be some tai chi left, and no time left. Presenters must stop when they have
based activities occurring over the next few mornings, from no time left. You should time your talk in advance and keep
around 08:30 until just before the conference start time of checking a countdown timer.
09:30. If the weather is fine, we will be meeting in the rose
garden out in front of Bute Building. Feel free to come along, Discussion
watch, join in, or propose extra activities and exercises. If the After the two or three 20 minute presentations, panel chairs
weather is not fine, we will set up room 0.52 to enable people should organise a discussion Q&A session. Chairs should
to stretch, or do forms or partner-work at these (and other) try to ensure that anyone who wants to ask a question has
times. Please remember, this is not a sports facility, no one the opportunity, if possible. Sessions should finish at the
is really authorised to ‘teach’ a martial art here, and legally designated time.
we are not set up to allow for any kind of combat training. Computers
But individuals are entitled to engage in more or less gentle Each lecture and seminar room has a networked computer
independent or collaborative activity at their own risk. connected to a data projector. There are facilities for
connecting USB memory sticks, discs, laptops and macs.
FILMING AND INTERVIEWS Printing

We do not have automatic access to printers. Please print
There will be at least two different types of filming taking before you arrive.
place over the next two days. The first is the filming of
our keynote presentations. This will be done by us (the Precautions
conference organisers), and the films will eventually make It is a good idea to save your presentation in more than one file
their way onto our Martial Arts Studies YouTube Channel. format (e.g., PPT and PDF), and on more than one device (e.g.,
The second type of filming that you may be aware of is being USB memory stick and disc), just in case of technical glitches.
carried out by a small team from a new web TV channel Preparation
focusing on martial arts, called Dojo-TV. Dojo-TV will be You should load and test your presentation in the presentation
asking people for interviews and filming some of the bustle room before your session begins. All presentation rooms
of the conference. If you do not want to be captured on will be unlocked from early in the morning and will remain
camera in any way, shape or form, please let our own camera- unlocked between presentations. Everyone should work
operators and the people from Dojo-TV know. to ensure there are no delays caused by trying to load a
presentation during the panel itself.
4 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
PROGRAMME
TUESDAY 19 July
14.00 - 15.00 Conference Registration Bute Foyer
15:00 - 16.30 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

Phillip Zarrilli
16.30 - 17.30 Networking Room 0.52
17.30 onwards Drinks 29 Park Place

Film-screenings
Conference dinner

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
programme
WEDNESDAY 20 July
9.00 - 10.00 Conference Registration Bute Foyer
9.30 - 9.45 Welcome and Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

introduction
9.45 - 10.45 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

Benjamin N. Judkins
10.45 - 11.00 Tea and coffee Bute Café
11.00 - 12.00 Panels 1 Capoeira performance (Room 0.14)

2 Culture and tradition (Room 0.05)
3 Problems and definitions (Room 0.31)
4 Performance (Room 1.20)
12.00 - 12.15 Break
12.15 - 13.00 Special Session Room 0.14

Neil R. Hall
13.00 - 14.00 Buffet lunch Bute Café

Daniel Mroz
15.30 - 16.30 Panels 5 Mindfulness (Room 0.31)

6 Gender (Room 0.14)
7 History (Room 0.05)
8 Violence (Room 1.20)
16.30 - 16.45 Break

Janet O’Shea
6 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
programme
THURSDAY 21 July
9.00 - 9.30 Tea, coffee, fruit Bute Café

Adam D. Frank
11.00 - 12.00 Panels 9 Myths and assumptions (Room 1.20)

10 Motivations 1 (Room 0.05)
11 Film aesthetics (Room 0.14)
12 Pedagogy (Room 0.31)
12.00 - 12.15 Break
12.15 - 13.00 Special Session Room 0.14

Tamiaho
Herangi-Searancke
13.00 - 14.00 Buffet lunch Bute Café

Daniel Jaquet
15.15 - 15.30 Break

Bute Café
15.30 - 16.45 Panels
13 Invention (Room 0.31)
14 Motivations 2 (Room 0.14)
15 Historical excavations (Room 0.05)
16 Teaching (Room 1.20)
17 Cinema

Ben Spatz
19.00 - 22.00 Conference Dinner Aberdare Hall

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
Biographies &
abstracts
A-Z of speakers and contributors
Agar-Hutton, Robert Barrowman, Kyle

The difficulties of presenting Martial Arts Cinema as an Invitation to
Martial Arts to the world Projective Imagination
Problems and definitions Cinema

11.00 Wednesday 15.30 Thursday
Room 0.31 Room 1.27
Are we doomed to have to write about ninjas or a lone killer In the decades since the initial popular explosion of martial
from Sinanju in order to talk to the general public about arts cinema across the globe, debates over realism have
martial arts via the medium of fiction? Are we condemned as appeared in a multitude of critical and theoretical contexts.
erudite ‘professors’ to have to talk to an elite but small circle Yet, as pervasive as realism has been in the work of scholars
of other academics (with a seemingly strange involvement interested in martial arts cinema, the rigorousness with
in martial arts) via books and publications that go largely which it has been dealt has left much to be desired. Building
unread? Is there a way of presenting factual information on previous research into the perplexities of realism, I intend
about martial arts in a way that is both enjoyable and in this presentation to develop Stanley Cavell’s concept of
accessible to most people? ‘projective imagination’ in relation to martial arts cinema.
Through a consideration of previous scholars’ efforts at
Robert Agar-Hutton is a publisher of books and eBooks in many
understanding realism in martial arts cinema, as well as an
different genres. He has published works (of his own and several
explication of my own understanding, I hope to demonstrate
other authors) in the field of academic, general, and fictional
the validity and the viability of projective imagination as a
martial arts titles. He is himself an accomplished martial artist with
conceptual anchor for future efforts in exploring the endlessly
45 years of experience and a graduate (B.Sc. Hons.), as a mature
fascinating relationship between martial arts practice and
student, of the University of Derby (Buxton) Martial Arts degree
martial arts cinema.
course.
Kyle Barrowman is a PhD student at Cardiff University. He has

published widely in the area of martial arts film, and is editorial
assistant and book reviews editor for the journal Martial Arts
Studies.
8 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL Biographies & Abstracts
ARTS STUDIES A-Z of Speakers and Contributors
CONFERENCE
Bowman, Paul interpretations of the medieval techniques. Relying on the

works of Michael Polanyi, I will focus on the question of
Conference Organiser whether technique can be recorded as explicit knowledge.
My aim is thus to mark certain pitfalls and limits of
understanding in HEMA studies and to discard the claim of
Paul Bowman is Professor of Cultural Studies at Cardiff
historical authenticity which is still explicitly or implicitly
University. He is author and editor of numerous books and
linked with the undertaken attempts of modern (re)
collections. In the field of martial arts studies he is author
construction. I will try to argue for this position by first
of Theorizing Bruce Lee (2010), Beyond Bruce Lee (2013),
mapping the communication strategies within the medieval
Martial Arts Studies (2015), and Mythologies of Martial Arts
fight books as a genre of specialised technical literature.
(forthcoming in 2016). He is founding co-editor of the
I will also focus on the epistemological framework and
journal Martial Arts Studies and Director of the Martial Arts
the hermeneutic problems underlying modern attempts
Studies Research Network.
to understand these documents as references to past body
movements. And finally, I will address the problematic
notion of authenticity by drawing parallels to the research
conducted on musical compositions and notation systems of
the Middle Ages which has many features in common with
Burkart, Eric the study of HEMA.
Understanding Historical Records
of Technique: Epistemological and Eric Burkart is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in medieval
Hermeneutic Problems in the Study history at the University of Trier. From 2013 to 2015 he was
research assistant in a DFG-financed project on ritualized
of Lost Martial Arts combat in the Middle Ages (‘Der mittelalterliche Zweikampf
als agonale Praktik zwischen Recht, Ritual und Leibesübung’)
at Technische Universität Dresden. In July 2015 he defended his
Grappling with history
PhD thesis on crusading discourses in late medieval Burgundy
15.30 Wednesday
(‘Kreuzzugsbereitschaft als Selbstbeschreibung. Die Verteidigung des
Room 0.05
Glaubens als Element burgundischer Statuspolitik in den Traktaten
This paper is organised around the notion of embodied des Jean Germain († 1461)’) at Goethe-University Frankfurt.
technique as ‘the transmissible and repeatable knowledge He specialises in cultural history, symbolic communication and
of relatively reliable possibilities afforded by human propaganda in 15th century Burgundy and European martial arts
embodiment’ (Spatz 2015, 16). In his recent contribution, traditions.
Ben Spatz distinguishes between the unique moments of
concrete practice and knowledge in the form of technique
that structures these moments. From a perspective of cultural
history we are yet confronted with the problem that past
practice and technique can only be analysed on the basis of
surviving material traces or records. My point of departure
is the growing scene of Historical European Martial Arts
(HEMA) practitioners who try to reconstruct medieval
body techniques of combat based on their interpretation of
surviving technical literature of the 14th and 15th century.
This modern practice of swordplay is often performed
by what can be called ‘scholarly practitioners’ and there is
currently a trend to formulate distinct methodologies of
reconstruction to get to more reliable and thus ‘authentic’

CONFERENCE
Channon, Alex Davies, Philip

Sexualisation, female fighters Forensic History, ‘Silsilah’ and the Martial
and the UFC: #feminism? Arts of the Dutch-Indonesian Diaspora
Gender Historical excavations

15.30 Wednesday 15.30 Wednesday
Room 0.14 Room 0.14
In the wake of the recent and somewhat sudden emergence The limited but growing scholarly literature on the
of women’s mixed martial arts (WMMA) into the cultural Indonesian and Malay martial arts has frequently highlighted
mainstream, thanks in no small part to the iconic former the notion of ‘silsilah’ in the establishment and propagation
UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, the notion of the martial arts of the region. Glossed essentially as a
of a feminist victory having been scored in the historically historical narrative of a school or system that serves to
male-dominated realm of full-contact combat sports has explain its origin and indicate the authenticity by locating
become widespread. There is no doubt that the growth the art in a wider body of existing practice and precedent,
of WMMA has the potential to inspire change in the way silsilah can also been as fusing the risks intrinsic to any oral
that women are generally positioned in sporting discourse, history with those specific to a self-glorifying mythology.
but history has shown that women’s gains in sport (as This becomes especially acute when considering the
elsewhere) are rarely straightforward or unproblematic. By assortment of arts brought to the West after 1949 by émigré
discussing the ways in which certain fighters are marketed, Dutch-Indonesian Eurasians. A marginal and marginalised
specifically via highlighting the persistent issue of female group to start with, the ‘Indo’ martial arts represent an
athlete sexualisation, this presentation will question how entirely different order of eclecticism long sundered from the
well WMMA stands to meet certain feminist goals. Doing institutional and cultural setting in which the systems took
so will invite unpicking debates between competing visions shape. However, given the often acute concerns amongst
of feminism, as well as attending to the appropriation and Western practitioners about the relative authenticity of
commodification of feminist sentiment by the corporate practices that require the investment of years or decades of
interests driving the current development of WMMA. The study, this paper will examine some of the social research
presentation will conclude by inviting debate over how methods than can, and have been, deployed to investigate the
best to continue the growth of this emergent sport without originary narratives of certain Indo schools and systems and
compromising on the important political ambitions that have the insights into those systems that can result.
begun to be attached to it.
Professor Philip H.J. Davies is Director of the Brunel University

Alex Channon is Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies. Drawing on research
Studies at the University of Brighton. Along with Christopher R. techniques honed on the historical and conceptual investigation
Matthews, he is the editor of Global Perspectives on Women of traditionally secretive national security institutions, he has
in Combat Sport: Women Warriors around the World also contributed a number of academic pieces on the Indonesian
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). Alex’s research interests include sex and Malay martial arts tradition of kuntao in publications such
integration in martial arts, the mediated representation of combat as Journal of Asian Martial Arts (Vol.9 No.2 (February 2000)),
sport athletes, and the value of martial arts as forms of physical Thomas Green and Joseph Svinth’s Martial Arts of the World:
education. an Encyclopedia of History and Innovation (2010) and Michael
DeMarco ed. Asian Martial Arts: Constructive Thoughts and
Practical Applications (2012).
Cole, Soo
Curzon Films
Film screenings
18.00 Tuesday
29 Park Place
10 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Delamont, Sara Ehlen, Martin

Capoeira Bodies, Two Movies and Yin Yang, Five Elements and Rhymed
Everyday ‘Realities’ Formulae: Traditional Chinese Concepts
in the Teaching of Wing Chun’
Capoeira performance
11.00 Wednesday Culture and tradition
Room 0.14 11.00 Wednesday
Two films featuring capoeira offer very different images Room 0.05
of male embodiment to students in the UK. Only the Strong According to Judkins and Nielson, in the post-1949 era Ip
features an improbable plot about American high school Man himself preferred explanations in terms of physics
students, who are capoeira novices seeing-off a Latino drug and basic mechanics over traditional Chinese concepts
gang. Besouro features a mythical hero, with Ninja-like and teaching methods in his teaching of Wing Chun.
qualities, being persecuted by an evil estate foreman, and Nevertheless, some schools and teachers descending from
celebrates the magical powers of the African-Brazilian gods that lineage seem either to have kept these traditions alive
and goddesses (orixas). We explore the male embodiments or even re-introduced them into their curricula. This
offered in these films with our ethnographic data on how presentation aims at exemplifying how the yin yang and five
male capoeira students in the UK experience their capoeira elements theories along with Wing Chun’s rhymed formulae
bodies. serve to support the teaching of Wing Chun in modern
Sara Delamont is Reader in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff times. Due to the presenter’s background the main focus will
University. be on the Gary Lam system of Wing Chun. The first part
of the presentation will concentrate on how the yin yang
theory can be applied to the categorization of Wing Chun’s
basic hand techniques. The second part will examine how the
five elements theory serves to systematize the Wing Chun
fighting method itself as well as the student’s progression
through it. Finally, in the third part an overview over Wing
Chun’s corpus of rhymed formulae and poems will be given
and selected rhymes will be presented in Chinese (Mandarin
and Cantonese) and English and analyzed in regard to the
possibilities of their interpretation and their correlated
functions.
Martin Wolfgang Ehlen was born in 1972 in Bernkastel-Kues/

Germany. He holds a master’s degree in Chinese studies and
cultural anthropology from Trier University where he taught
classes on Chinese cultural studies and Chinese history. From
2000–2001 he studied the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong qigong system at
Beijing Sports University and in 2003 he researched the origins of
the Balintawak eskrima system in the Philippines. Since 1984 he has
been gathering experiences in various eastern and western martial
arts and has been recognized as a sifu of the Gary Lam Wing Chun
system in 2013. His current focus lies on Wing Chun’s rhymed
formulae.

CONFERENCE
Farrer, D.S. Fuller, Carol (with Viki Lloyd)

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as Therapy: Martial Arts: Motivation and Impact
Shifting Subjectivities on Guam on Health and Well-Being
Motivations (2) Motivations (1)

15.30 Thursday 11.00 Thursday
Room 0.14 Room 0.05
Building upon recent work regarding efficacy and Drawing on survey data from 508 people, both in the UK
entertainment, and doing research in martial arts studies, I and across the world, engaged in martial arts, this paper
consider the idea of ‘jiu jitsu as therapy’ that emerged during explores the multiple ways that Martial Arts contributes
my ongoing performance ethnography of BJJ on Guam. to health and well-being. From the beginner to the expert
What type of therapy emerges from a martial discipline martial art teacher, the myriad motivations that lead people
where symbolic death is inflicted via chokeholds and to martial arts; from the instrumental to the very personal,
strangulation upon a willing partner who taps out, thereby are considered. Drawing on sociological theory of symbolic
avoiding death? This paper reflects upon the convergence of interactionalism and ritual theory in reality construction, this
psychotherapy and anthropology towards an interpretation of paper provides an important lens through which to explore
the practice of Brazilian jiu jitsu. perceptions of the impact of martial arts on health and well-
being – across an age range spanning 18–85. In so doing this
paper will offer a significant contribution to the study of
D. S. Farrer is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the martial arts and health and well-being as well as to the field of
University of Guam. He is the author of Shadows of the Prophet: martial arts studies more broadly.
Martial Arts and Sufi Mysticism (2009), and co-editor (with
John Whalen-Bridge) of Martial Arts as Embodied Knowledge:
Asian Traditions in a Transnational World (2011). Farrer’s new Carol Fuller is Associate Professor of Education and sociologist at
edited volume, War Magic: Religion, Sorcery and Performance, the University of Reading with research interests and publications
is due out in September. in identity, gender and social justice. On a more personal level,
Carol began learning Taijiquan in late 2014.
Frank, Adam D.
Understanding Identity Through
Martial Arts - or Not
Keynote
9.30 Thursday
Birt Acres
Adam Frank is Associate Professor of Asian Studies and
Anthropology in the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College,
University of Central Arkansas. He is author of Taijiquan and
the Search for the Little Old Chinese Man: Understanding
Identity through Martial Arts (2006).
12 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Gianni, Tommaso Hall, Neil R.

Historical assumptions about martial arts A Convenient Myth
that still affect training and scholarship
today Special session 1
12.15 Wednesday
Room 0.14
Myths and assumptions
11.00 Thursday This paper looks at how media representation impacts upon
Room 1.20 embodied practice in martial arts, through the stories of
martial arts school owners. In particular, it examines how
Scholars, professional martial artists, and enthusiasts of the martial artist’s need to make a living (or on a smaller
martial arts tend to address some of the same basic cultural scale a class teacher’s need to make the class viable) has a
concepts when training and studying martial arts. For determining effect on what is taught and how it is presented.
example, they often discuss concepts such as ‘qi’ and ‘health’ Drawing on real and easy to grasp examples from present-day
and their relationships to traditional Chinese medicine or martial arts schools, including his own, the author explains
whether to classify martial arts as competitive sports or the financial imperative to engage with potential customers
spiritual practices. Their assumptions and concerns are often who have no martial arts experience, and whose purchasing
based on perspectives promulgated by earlier scholars. This choices are shaped by myth and media representation, and
paper presents the works of three influential British scholars shows how quickly and easily that comes to shape their
who conducted research on Chinese martial arts in the late martial art. Then, drawing on the author’s own experience
19th through mid-20th centuries. Scottish physician John in shaping media messages, the paper goes on to show how
Dudgeon became interested in martial arts during his search today’s financially-driven practice shapes tomorrow’s myths,
for alternative healing treatments in China. He concluded and invites martial arts scholars to see martial artists not
that enhancing qi through the practice of kung fu could only as the subjects of, but also as the painters of, the pictures
improve health. English sinologist and diplomat, Herbert others see of them.
Giles, examined primary Chinese sources describing martial
arts. He determined that Chinese boxing was a very old sport
activity. In clarifying the origins and nature of martial arts, With a diverse background including community work,
another English sinologist, Joseph Needham, concluded they international consultancy, and senior positions in local and
were a form of gymnastics based in Taoist principles. He regional government – including Head of External Relations for
explored the relationship of martial practices to the ‘deadly the Mayor of London – Neil R. Hall worked for many years on
points’. Their perspectives led them to adopt three different the development of London’s Chinatown. It was his longstanding
views. In uncovering their views on Chinese martial arts, relationship with the Chinese Community Centre that brought
this paper reveals that these three men, publishing their about the establishment of LCTKD, a Chinatown martial arts
conclusions in English, disseminated assumptions and school he co-founded in late 2004, and which went on to become
conceptual issues still affecting martial arts training and Chinatown’s largest and longest standing martial arts school. In
scholarship today. 2011 Neil became the Director of the international Institute for
Advanced Integrated Martial Arts. He spends his time between
his responsibilities at LCTKD (including teaching 4 martial arts),
Tommaso Gianni has lectured on comparative martial arts cultures at the Institute, where he is working on an on-line martial arts
at the University of Suwon. He is completing ethnographic work instructor programme, and writing and consulting on martial arts.
on comparative martial art pedagogies and translating into Italian
for the EWTO. Among his works published: ‘Tang Hao e la sua
ricerca sulle origini della tradizione [Tang Hao and his quest for
the origins of a tradition]’ in Gioco, Dramma, Rito nelle Arti
Marziali e negli Sport da Combattimento presented at the first
I.M.A.C.S.S.S. conference in Genova. He has written the preface to
Riccio Global TaiChi and delivered a talk at the University of
Siena-Confucius Institute. He has martial experience including
Escrima and Wing Tsun.

CONFERENCE
Hay, Alexander Herangi-Searancke, Tamiaho

News of the Duels: Restoration Duelling Maori Warrior Epistemology (Triangulation
Culture and the Early Modern Press of Meaning; Body, Mind & Spirit)
Historical excavations Special session 2

Room 0.31 Room 0.14
Duelling’s return to the streets of London in the 1660s was Epistemology is viewed by the Maori Warrior as an ancient
the result of a variety of factors. The Royal Court’s exile in stream of knowledge that continues through (living and
France after the English Civil War meant many royalists dying) like the sacred staff, illuminating insights and wisdoms
were immersed in French manners and habits, not least through lived experiences. Maori epistemology is a spiritual
its rigorously homicidal duelling culture. The Restoration principle that nests itself in a wider and wider space of truth in
itself brought with it a return of a gentlemanly culture deeper and deeper dimensions. The triangulation of meaning;
where duelling was seen as much a part of the rejection of the synergy of Body, Mind & Spirit, then lends itself to the
Cromwell’s rule during the Interregnum as pronounced quantum (authentic) leap into new ways of viewing reality
loyalty to the recently crowned Charles II. Places such as and challenging what is perceived as time, space and knowing
Hyde Park were even soon known as regular venues for these – where the eternal struggle of forms objective, subjective
ritualised fights and the return of the duel, naturally, brought and cultural are in direct collision. Genuine knowledge must
back a return of committed campaigns against it. This then be experienced directly, as it assists in the organisation of
is a significant period in English martial art history, as well triangulation to become the architects of meaning shaping
as a culturally significant one, as evidenced by Samuel Pepys’ spaces yet unseen.
diaries recording several duels throughout the 1660s. One
Tamiaho Herangi-Searancke was born 2 February 1979, beneath
other development, however, was the emergence of the
the sacred rising Sun star of Sirius which signals harvest is in
earliest English language newspapers to be published on the
abundance. He is a Master of all traditional Maori Weaponry
British mainland, superseding the ‘news books’ in the middle
(short and long staff), Sports Athlete, Academic, Culturally
of the 1660s. How did these publications cover duels during
and Spiritually Leader. In other forums of National & Central
this period, and what does their coverage reveal about martial
Government Education, Health and Business, Tamiaho is a
practice of the time?
National Director in Sport Fitness & Health, Traditional Weaponry
Martial Arts, Traditional Game Skills, Traditional Warrior dance
and performance arenas. Tamiaho grew up in the heartland of
Alexander Hay is Lecturer of Digital Journalism at Southampton
Northland New Zealand under the chieftainship of his Grandfather
Solent University, and comes from an eclectic humanities
(renowned World War 2 Commander) and his High Ranking Nana
background, his research covering everything from sea monsters
(Dame Whina Cooper – Paramount Chieftainess of the Northern
to music journalism and reader response theory. His martial
Tribes). The Eldest of 10 children he was thrust into Leadership roles
arts experience is similarly varied, encompassing Tae Kwon Do,
and obligations from an early age, and before he was 10 years old
Wing Chun, Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and he is presently
he had memorized over 5000 years of genealogy and sacred history
studying Boxing, while retaining an ongoing interest in Historical
of his people. He now spends every waking moment passing on this
European Martial Arts. His research interests include the history
rare intelligence to the young people for preservation for generations
of journalism and online media, and how they intersect with a
to come. In his adolescence Tamiaho purposefully moved to live
wide range of other topics and disciplines, such as the martial arts
within the tribal lands of his central Waikato people. At an early
themselves.
age he was inducted fully into the tribes Warrior Class house of
learning skills at arms, to which he would later (currently) hold the
prestigious role of Guardianship, Protectorate and Master in Rituals
to the New Zealand Maori King Tuheitia Paki. At 36 years of age
Tamiaho believes he still has much to learn about life and the values
handed down through the passages of time by his ancestors. As that
journey continues to unfold, he will give everything he has to the
positive development and advancements of potentials of all peoples of
Aotearoa New Zealand and indeed the world in which we live.
14 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Jaquet, Daniel Daniel Jaquet is a medievalist, with a background in literary

studies and interests in history of science and material culture
Lost Embodied Knowledge: in the early modern period. He received his PhD in history at
Experimenting with Historical European the University of Geneva in 2013. He taught at the University of
Geneva and Lausanne (2008-2015) and was a visiting scholar at
Martial Arts out of books the Centre pour l’Histoire des sciences et des techniques (University
of Paris, Pantheon Sorbonne 1, 2011). He is the co-editor of Acta
Keynote Periodica Duellatorum (open access, peer-reviewed journal
14.00 Thursday dedicated to Historical European Martial Arts studies). His
Birt Acres dissertation investigates the praxes of armoured combat at the end
of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, in the
This paper questions whether or not experimentation light of the Fight Books. His teaching and research specialisations
of bodily knowledge based on analysis of documentary are history of warfare, dueling, ludic practices and knowledge
and archaeological evidences can be considered a sound transmission in pragmatic literature at the end of the Middle Ages
scientific method for the study of historical martial arts. and the beginning of the Renaissance. His current research focuses
Every scientific investigation develops methods based on on Historical European Martial Arts studies, with specific interest
the one hand on the sources available and on the other on in bodily knowledge transmission and experimentation.
the disciplinary approach, even for an ‘antidisciplinary’ one
(Bowman 2015). Dissociating itself from re-enactment
and fully aware of the difference between experiencing
and experimenting, this method seek to involve modern-
day subjects in experimental setups to produce useful data
for research into specific historical phenomena, induced
by investigation of documents and objects. Late Medieval
European martial arts are documented by a non-fictional
literature represented by a heterogeneous corpus of sources,
generally technical and/or didactic. However, access to
information relevant for the study of the martial gesture,
its context of application or its associated material culture is
problematic. By defining tacit versus explicit knowledge put
in writing (or in images), the researcher can raise research
questions that cannot be answered by available sources. The
experimentation, carefully set up, can help in reducing the
gaps, but can never be considered a faithful reconstruction.
Therefore, the method proposed seeks either to quantify
or to document martial gestures in order to back scientific
investigation based on documents or objects. Two case
studies will be presented (Jaquet 2016, 2016a), one is about
lost technical lexis, the other about quantification of the
movement limitation imposed by the armour. The benefits
and limits of the cases at hand will be reviewed in order to
open discussion on applicability for other fields of research
related to martial arts studies.

CONFERENCE
Jennings, George Jennings, George (with Anu Vaittinen)

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Warriors: The Sensuous Transformation:
(Re)Invention of a Mesoamerican Warrior The Interconnections between Embodied
Tradition in Xilam Training and Multi-Media Resources
in Wing Chun
Invention
15.30 Thursday Pedagogy
Room 0.05 11.00 Thursday
Xilam is a modern Mexican martial art that is inspired by pre- Room 0.31
Hispanic warrior cultures of ancient Mesoamerica, namely To date, research on martial arts has tended to look at
the Aztecs (Mexica), Maya and Zapotec cultures. It provides subcultural/embodied experience and mediated knowledge
a noteworthy case study of a Latin American fighting system on martial arts as two separate areas of investigation. Within
that has been recently invented, but aspires to rescue, the disruptive, interdisciplinary camp of martial arts studies,
rediscover and relive the warrior philosophies that existed new questions are now being raised. How might martial
before the Spanish Conquest and subsequent movements artists use specific visual and audio media to support their
beginning in 1521. Using the thought-provoking work of learning? How could this influence their transformation as
anthropologist Guillermo Bonfil Batalla, México Profundo, I practitioners, and the continued transmission of the art? In
aim to analyse the Xilam Martial Arts Association through this paper, we examine the multisensory interconnections
the way that they represent themselves in their three main between the embodied practical transmission of skills and
media outlets: The official webpage, the Facebook group and such external resources among two dedicated groups of
the YouTube channel. I argue that their portrayal of the art as Wing Chun exponents in England and in Mexico. The dual
a form of Mesoamerican culture and wisdom for current and aim is to share preliminary ideas/analysis into how regular
future generations of Mexicans is contrasted to contemporary practitioners utilise different resources to support more
Mexico, a Western (Occidental) project that is far removed hands-on training methods, and to consider the role of these
from the foundations of this diverse country. Overall, resources in the development of their evolving identities as
the data suggests that certain elements of Mesoamerican Wing Chun practitioners. We examine the topic through
civilisation may be transmitted to young Mexicans through a theoretical lens guided by sociological phenomenology,
a mind-body discipline, which in turn acts as a form of with an emphasis on the embodied, situated, sensuous and
physical (re)education. As a presentation of an article for the inter-subjective nature of lived-experience. This approach is
recent special edition of the Martial Arts Studies Journal on the particularly pertinent for drawing out these interconnections
invention of martial arts, xilam is posited as both an invented in the everyday lives of the practitioners as beings-in-
tradition (in a technical sense) and a reinvented tradition (in a the world. The discussion in this paper draws from three
cultural sense) that provides lessons on the timeless issues of main sources: 1) the authors’ respective auto-ethnographic
transformation, transmission and transcendence. and auto-phenomenological notes 2) observations of
Wing Chun practice as participant-instructor-researchers
interacting with practitioners over a nine-month period
George Jennings is a qualitative sociologist interested in
3) an analysis of a range of mediated materials on Wing
traditionalist physical cultures. His previous work has examined
Chun and devoted online discussion forums. In short, it
the traditionalist Chinese martial arts such as Wing Chun
is hoped that this contribution offers an in-depth look at
and Taijiquan, and he is currently investigating the dynamic
the relationships between martial arts practice and media
relationships between martial arts, health and society. He is a
through the symbiotic and sensuous issues of transmission
researcher and editor at the Universidad YMCA, Mexico, and an
and transformation.
associate researcher at the Health Advancement Research Team,
University of Lincoln, UK.
16 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Judkins, Benjamin N. Kavoura, Anna

Liminoid Longings and Liminal Belonging: ‘Some Women are Born Fighters’:
Hyper-reality, History and the Search for Female Finnish Judokas’ Discursive
Meaning in the Modern Martial Arts Constructions of a Fighter’s Identity
Keynote Gender
19.30 Wednesday 15.30 Wednesday
Birt Acres Room 0.14
Benjamin N. Judkins is co-editor of the journal Martial Arts This presentation draws on poststructuralist understandings
Studies. With Jon Nielson he is co-author of The Creation of of identity to explore how female Finnish judokas make sense
Wing Chun: A Social History of the Southern Chinese of themselves and their sporting experiences. Based on nine
Martial Arts (SUNY, 2015). He is also author of the long-running semi-structured interviews that were constructed during
martial arts studies blog, Kung Fu Tea: Martial Arts History, ethnographic fieldwork in Finland, we explore how female
Wing Chun and Chinese Martial Studies Finnish judokas negotiate their identities by drawing on the
(www.chinesemartialstudies.com). discursive resources that are available to them. A Foucauldian
approach to discourse analysis revealed that dominant
beliefs about human biology shaped the identity negotiation
of the participants, who constructed fighting as an inner
male quality. Trying to make sense of their experiences in
Karpathyova, Iveta judo, they all constructed a fighter’s identity, differentiating
themselves from ‘ordinary’ women, who were constructed
Film-maker as biologically incapable for competitive judo. This study
reveals that even in the egalitarian culture of Finland,
gender hierarchies and patriarchal ideals persist in martial
Film screenings arts, and women athletes internalize and reproduce their
18.00 Tuesday subordination.
29 Park Place
Anna Kavoura is (MA in Sport and Exercise Psychology) is a

PhD student in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the
University of Jyväskylä, Finland. As a competitive Judo and
Brazilian jiu jitsu athlete herself, her current research interests
encompass issues of gender, culture and equality in the ‘male
domain’ of martial arts. She has also been interested in applied
sport psychology, mental training and imagery for martial art
athletes.

CONFERENCE
Kazakevičiūtė, Evelina Kérchy, Vera

The (Un)translatable Poetry of War: Tai chi and/as Marionette Dance
Hagakure as a Samurai Text in Ghost Dog:
The Way of the Samurai Performance
11.00 Wednesday
Room 1.20
Cinema
15.30 Thursday In his analysis, Aesthetic Formalization: Kleist’s Über das
Room 1.27 Marionettentheater, Paul de Man interprets Kleist’s three
anecdotes as different models of reading. The essay’s
This presentation examines Hagakure as a samurai text in the narrator uses the short stories as illustrations of aesthetic
Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999). gracefulness, but for de Man the battle with the bear
Animating this presentation is the question of whether or allegorizes hermeneutic interpretation, the boy’s scene in
not cultural knowledge can be transmitted via a translated front of the mirror shows the system of mimetic reading and
text as well as the corollary issue of what happens to the the analysis of marionette dance stands for the performative
teaching of a tradition during the processes of translation and textual model. I would like to make sense of the marionette’s
‘deterritorialization’. Furthermore, this presentation explores descriptions (in particular the parts where Kleist uses a lot of
the way a reader’s identity is (trans)formed by their encounter mathematical expressions like ellipsis, parabole, hyperbole)
with a translated text. In the film, Hagakure is referred to by relying on the principles of the yang style tai chi chuan 48
as ‘the poetry of war.’ On the basis of this conception of the form. I think, that the rules of lowering the center of gravity,
text, this presentation interprets Hagakure as (un)translatable balancing the counter movements or the specific state of
poetry and demonstrates from a poststructuralist vantage consciousness (a meditative one in the case of tai chi, and the
point the unavoidable transformation of texts in the process absolute lack of it in the case of the marionettes) connects
of translation. Translation, in other words, is conceptualized the two ways of motion. On the basis of these similarities
as poiesis, as a process which invariably creates new meanings I argue that tai chi chuan can also be seen as an allegory of
and forms new identities. Finally, this presentation considers performative textual model, in other words as a performative
the way the titular character played by Forest Whitaker turns performance. I would also like to analyse some artworks
into an urban samurai through his reading of ‘the poetry which mix the elements of tai chi and marionette theatre,
of war,’ thus becoming a Western warrior with an Eastern especially Yeung Faï’s Hand Stories.
spirituality.
Vera Kérchy is an assistant lecturer at Department of Comparative

Evelina Kazakevičiūtė is a PhD student in the School of Journalism, Literature, University of Szeged, Hungary. Her main research
Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC) at Cardiff University. topics are contemporary theatre theory, intermediality (theatre and
Her thesis is entitled The Poststructuralist Conception of film), theories of performance and performativity. She defended her
Communication as Reflected in Jim Jarmusch’s films. She PhD thesis in 2012. In her dissertation she analysed the differences
holds a BA in English Philology from Vilnius University, Kaunas between postmodern self-reflexive irony and deconstructive
Faculty of Humanities, and an MA degree in Journalism from ‘permanent parabasis’ (Paul de Man’s deconstructive notion of
Vilnius University, Faculty of Communication. Her areas of irony). It was published as a book in 2014. She has been teaching
interest are communication theory, philosophy of communication, compulsory core courses (e.g., Theatricality, performativity;
poststructuralism, and film. Contemporary theatre: postmodern) at the Faculty of Arts of the
University of Szeged since 2006. She has been practising yang style
tai chi chuan since 2009.
18 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Legendre, Alexandre Leow, Johnson

Teaching wushu in Taiwan: Miramax and the Re-scoring of
imparting a ‘sense of the body’ as a keystone Hong Kong Martial Arts Films
Teaching Film aesthetics

Room 0.52 Room 0.14
In popular imagery, Chinese martial arts are associated with In the late 1990s, recognizing the growing American fan
both subtle grace and superior efficiency, notwithstanding base for Hong Kong cinema, American distributor Miramax
the apparent contradiction between their respective developed itself into a dominant player in the distribution of
requirements: harmony and finesse seem indeed to obey an Hong Kong martial arts films in the United States. However,
aesthetic purpose, corresponding to a non-instrumental but as Miramax aimed to reach a wide audience, the films they
expressionistic viewpoint, whereas the search for martial released were often re-edited, re-scored, re-dubbed, and re-
efficacy falls under a raw teleological reason, strictly aimed on titled in such a way as to minimize the ‘foreignness’ and make
the ability to hit the target. Thus, the singularity of Chinese them more appealing to American audiences. These practices,
traditional martial arts seems to consist precisely in the way however, generated much resistance from Hong Kong
they originally articulate those supposedly opposite logics: cinema fans who demanded they be given the option to view
building efficiency through harmony lead them to emphasize the original subtitled version of the film. For many fans, the
a ‘sense of the whole body’ (or, of the body as a whole) from idiosyncratic nature of the original version together with its
whom derive a form understanding (體悟, tiwu, comprehend typical sound effects and music are part of the appeal of Hong
through/from the body) with a way of acting (身法, shenfa, as Kong films. This paper examines the differences between
a ‘way of the body’ understood as a whole). Two observation these versions from the perspective of sound. It investigates
sessions (three months in total) of wushu classes in Taiwan, how the different sound tracks lead to different martial arts
in diversified pedagogical contexts (students from 10 to forty film aesthetics.
years old), specifically focused on the instillation techniques
of this ‘sense of the body’ depending on the age, allowed us to
provide a concrete, tangible content to this very notion. Johnson Leow is a PhD student in ethnomusicology at The Chinese
University of Hong Kong. He received his Masters degree in
cultural musicology from the University of Amsterdam with
Alexandre Legendre is a PhD student and teaching assistant (Paris a research focus on East-West cultural interactions, East-Asian
Descartes University). He focuses on transculturation issues related popular culture, and film sound studies. His current research
to wushu. focuses on the sound aesthetics of post-1990s Hong Kong martial
arts films.

CONFERENCE
Little, William Lloyd, Viki (with Carol Fuller)

Truth in the Martial Arts: Martial Arts: Motivation and Impact on
Aikido, Violence and the Practice of the Self Health and Well-Being
Violence Motivations (1)

Room 1.20 Room 0.05
This paper will address the theme of ‘truth in the martial Drawing on survey data from 508 people, both in the UK
arts’, a phrase from Mitsugi Saotome’s recent reflection and across the world, engaged in martial arts, this paper
on his relationship as Uchi Deshi to Morihei Ueshiba, the explores the multiple ways that Martial Arts contributes
founder of Aikido. I will frame this theme sociologically, to health and well-being. From the beginner to the expert
exploring it as an aspect of the martial arts as contemporary martial art teacher, the myriad motivations that lead people
practices of the self. What is distinct about the practice of the to martial arts; from the instrumental to the very personal,
martial arts in this context is their sustained reflection on are considered. Drawing on sociological theory of symbolic
violence, not simply as violent contest, but as a condition interactionalism and ritual theory in reality construction, this
of irreducible insecurity per se. I would like to propose that paper provides an important lens through which to explore
Aikido (not unlike other martial arts) offers a response to perceptions of the impact of martial arts on health and well-
violence by articulating a form-of-life – ‘a life that can never being - across an age range spanning 18 – 85. In so doing
be separated from its form’ (Giorgio Agamben) – that is this paper will offer a significant contribution to the study of
centred on the understanding that complete martial fluidity martial arts and health and well -being as well as to the field
is immanent to life. The martial arts are therefore very of martial arts studies more broadly.
interesting contemporary practices of the self because their
paths to knowledge address key biopolitical issues of life and
power through a freeing relation to violence. I would also like Viki Lloyd has trained for over 30 years in the traditional Japanese
to propose that the language of transcendental empiricism, martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate. She is a 4th Dan black belt,
which Gilles Deleuze develops to describe the dynamics all her grading examinations have been conducted by Japanese
of affectual as opposed to representational (i.e. mediated) instructors and her qualifications are recognised and registered
experience, is both promising to characterize the form-of- in Japan. She is a member of the Wado International Karate-Do
life of martial fluidity and to expand the self-understanding Federation and the English Karate Federation. Viki has travelled
martial artists themselves. Martial artists are uniquely to Japan for advanced karate training, spent time training in
positioned to decipher Deleuze’s texts because of the deep some of the leading Japanese karate dojos and is a former British
embodied knowledge that emerges through practice. and European Karate champion. Viki has also been training and
learning Taijiquan for over 15 years and has travelled overseas
to attend professional development seminars. She is a registered
William Little is an adjunct professor in sociology at the instructor with Chenjiagou Taijiquan GB, the official branch of
University of Victoria, BC, Canada, and Thomson Rivers the China Chenjiagou School in the UK, a member of the Chinese
University. He has practiced Aikido for the last twelve years. His Internal Arts Association, the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain, and
research interests include contemporary social theory, media and the Wado International Karate Federation.
popular culture, political violence, and the biopolitics of healing
practices. His work on the theme of violence has been published in
New German Critique, the Journal for Cultural and Religious
Theory, and in several edited collections. Loy, Philip
Film-maker
Film screenings
18.00 Tuesday
29 Park Place
20 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Meyer, Martin Minarik, Martin

The Kamehameha issue: Taekwondo as cultural performance:
A phenomenological definition A performance oriented evaluation
of the martial arts of norms and values in the practice of
Taekwondo in South Korea
Problems and definitions
11.00 Wednesday Culture and tradition
Room 0.31 11.00 Wednesday
Contemporary sports typically develop tendencies such as Room 0.05
rationalization, hybridization, aestheticism and extremism. What does Taekwondo teach its practitioners? Surely not
Furthermore, martial arts are influenced by mystification, how to defend oneself, many people would argue. However,
transcendence and decoupling from military purpose. As especially the practice of Taekwondo in South Korea shows
a consequence, nowadays martial arts are idiomatic art us, how this Martial Art with its massive theatrical potential
concepts, which couldn’t make distinctions, either inside (Minarik 2014) serves not primarily as an exercise for self
or outside of the scientific field. Due to this definitional defense but rather as an exercise for social behavior. In other
gap, it is necessary to refer to a phenomenology of martial words, Taekwondo teaches not how to fight, but rather how
arts in order to clarify basic conditions of affiliation to this to improve your character and especially your social behavior.
field. In this regard, social, scientific and legal perspectives This is what the Do is about, and which is so extensively
are chosen to investigate common characteristics of martial pointed out by many Taekwondo instructors. But what
arts through case studies. Among these characteristics are kinds of norms and values does the practice of Taekwondo
aesthetics (e.g., taiji bailong, Shaolin soccer, MMA, capoeira, incorporate? What norms, values and motifs are embodied
show wrestling), history (e.g. ninjitsu, koryu bujutsu, and staged in the practice of Taekwondo in South Korea?
wushu, taekwondo), clothing (e.g. MMA, aikido, iaido, judo, This is basically the research topic of my current dissertation
karate, capoeira), armament (e.g. kobudo, beijing opera) project. At the moment I am in South Korea doing a part of
and ascriptions of meaning. Referring to the (fictional) my field research with anthropological methodology. For the
Kamehameha technique is demonstrated that only the evaluation I mainly want to use methodological structures
theoretical militant value of a motion system can be used as and nomenclature from theatre and performance studies.
a benchmark, whether this motion system is a martial art/ In my talk, I would like to present the findings of my field
combat sport or not. The theoretical militant value itself research and generally, the current state of my project.
is ultimately a subjective, changeable construct of assets
or is conceptualized by the founding figure. Therefore,
the Kamehameha issue solves the definitory opposition of Martin Minarik is a PhD student in the department of Human
martial arts and combat sports. It raises the question of a Movement Science at Hamburg University. His dissertation project
unified concept to designate martial systems. In addition, the deals with the embodiment and staging of norms and values in
Kamehameha issue has a significant influence on the thematic the practice of Taekwondo in South Korea. Besides his academic
and theoretical range of martial science, because it questions interest in Martial Arts in general, and especially in Korean
disciplinary barriers. Martial Arts, he is also a practitioner and teacher of Kukki
Taekwondo. His interest mainly lies in the theatrical and artistic
aspects of Martial Arts both on, and off stage.

CONFERENCE
Mroz, Daniel O’Shea, Janet

Taolu: credibility and decipherability in the Making Play Work: Competition,
practice of Chinese martial movement Spectacle and Intersubjectivity in
Sparring and Sport Fighting
Keynote
14.00 Wednesday Keynote
Birt Acres 16.45 Wednesday
The practice of Taolu (套路), the prearranged movement Birt Acres
patterns of the Chinese martial arts, has been explained in Sparring is a combative activity undertaken for the
fantastically diverse ways spanning a range of interpretations purpose of teaching and learning rather than only to defeat
from the essential and functional to the narrative, theatrical an opponent. As such, it can be understood as play, an
and religious. Rather than trying to find a universal reason action that is intrinsically valuable (Suits 1978, Ackerman
for the practice of taolu, this paper proposes to look at the 1993). Sparring is rooted in a simultaneous desire to win
idea of prearranged movement patterns through the lens and to continue the interaction, aligning it with games.
of credibility and decipherability. These twin concepts, Moreover, sparring is preparation for organized, possibly
borrowed from the Great Reform movement in 20th century institutionalized, and often spectacularized matches,
theatre practice, helpfully embrace both the criteria by rendering it training for a sport. This presentation takes
which the performance of taolu is usually judged and also the these divergent functions of sparring as a starting point,
deficiencies in our contemporary understanding of reasons exploring the multiple connotations of competition within
behind this palimpsestic training method. As conceptual the overlapping spheres of game and sport. Central to this
tools, credibility and decipherability also offer us insight into inquiry are the differences between competitive pleasure
how the practice of prearranged martial movement patterns and competitive spectacle. In line with sports sociologists
is presented and interpreted emically and etically, both as a and historians, I argue that sport emphasizes competitive
consumed representation in the media and as a personal and spectacle and hinges on outcome, winning or losing, rather
phenomenological experience of embodied practice. This than highlighting the pleasure of competition and how
paper hopes to pragmatically present new perspectives from the game is played (Eitzen 2006, Eichberg 2013). I suggest
which the practice of taolu can be understood. that attention to physical, contestatory, and exploratory
interactions between people may offset an over-emphasis on
winning. An intentional reclaiming of amateurism, with its
Daniel Mroz is a theatre director and martial artist. His recent
attention to experimentation (Ackerman 1999, Lewis 2014),
performances have been presented at the Canada Dance Festival
can also play a role as can a reconsideration of the significance
and the Évènement Zones Théâtrales. The Dancing Word,
of failure.
his book on how to use the Chinese martial arts in the practice
contemporary theatre, is published by Brill. He studies martial
arts with Chen Zhonghua and studied acting and directing with Janet O’Shea is author of At Home in the World: Bharata
Richard Fowler. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Natyam on the Global Stage, co-editor of the Routledge Dance
Theatre of the University of Ottawa in Canada where he teaches Studies Reader (second edition), and a member of the editorial
acting and directing. review board for the Routledge Online Encyclopedia of
Modernism. Recipient of a UCLA Transdisciplinary Seed Grant
to study the cognitive benefits of hard-style martial arts training,
she is currently completing an ethnographic memoir entitled Risk,
Failure, Play: What Martial Arts Training Reveals about
Proficiency, Competition, and Cooperation. Her essays have
been published in three languages and six countries. She is Professor
of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA.
22 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Owen, Craig Partikova, Veronika

Masculine identities and the performance A phenomenological study of being a
of ‘awesome moves’ in capoeira classes traditional Chinese martial arts teacher
Capoeira performance Teaching

Room 0.14 Room 0.52
The high-flying, almost gravity defying, acrobatic movements This study will introduce qualitative phenomenological
of capoeira practitioners are increasingly being viewed in research that explores what it is to be a teacher of
movies, advertisements and computer games. Drawing upon traditional Chinese martial arts by examining the structure
four years of ethnographic fieldwork in capoeira classes in of experience. Special attention is given to the essence of
the South West of England, this paper will demonstrate how being the teacher when admitting the martial arts include
capoeira is primarily represented in the mass media, at live certain taught strategies applicable in the fight but also in
demonstrations and through multi-media artefacts through the life outside the gym. Three male teachers from the Czech
the visual spectacle of the capoeirista performing ‘awesome Republic with an average of 15 years experience and teaching
moves’. It will be argued that these representations legitimate in their own martial art school (club) were invited to take
capoeira as a masculine practice and work to attract men to part in this study. A half-structured and narrative method of
class by producing a visual discourse that embraces numerous interviews were used in data collection. All data were further
aspects of orthodox masculinity (Anderson, 2009). The paper analyzed by using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
will then examine how, once in class, in order to acquire The study uncovered four topics: ego, self transformation,
the body techniques needed to perform ‘awesome moves’, guidance and spiritual background. The findings suggested
male beginners must negotiate a series of capoeira practices the teachers understand themselves as a ‘life guide’ on the
that problematize their embodied masculinities. By working path of self transformation and liberation. Moreover, the
through these ‘gender troubles’, male capoeirista undergo study revealed a strong and sometimes restrictive relation
a process of embodied, visual and discursive transition, between the individual and the community. Finally, the style
wherein they demonstrate a shift towards the performance of of leading the students by their teachers was identified as
more inclusive masculinities. ‘guidance non-guidance’ in reference to the Taoist ‘wu wei’
(non-action) principle.
Craig Owen in a Lecturer in Psychology at St. Mary’s University,

Twickenham. He teaches in the areas of Social Psychology, Health Veronika Partikova is a PhD student at the department of Physical
Psychology and Qualitative Methods. His primary research interest Education at the Hong Kong Baptist University. Her research area
focuses on the performance of masculine identities in capoeira and is a connection of sport psychology and traditional wushu. In her
Latin and ballroom dance classes. His PhD provided an in depth Master’s thesis research she conducted a phenomenological research
ethnographic account of how, by learning to dance, young men are exploring traditional wushu teachers in the Czech Republic. She has
able negotiate a range of complex discourses of masculinity and been also practicing martial arts for the last 15 years, now focusing
enact shifting identities. Currently, he is collaborating on a new on the southern Chinese style of Hung Kuen.
research project that explores the negotiation of identities in the
process of becoming a UK citizen.

CONFERENCE
Phillips, Scott Park several world dance traditions, including the Congolese traditions
taught by Malonga Casquelourd and the Kathak (Indian Classical)
Baguazhang: The martial dance of tradition of Chitresh Das. Scott has been teaching children and
an angry baby-god adults for twenty years, including five years at the American
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) and ten years
with the San Francisco-based Performing Arts Workshop.
Performance
11.00 Wednesday
Room 1.20
In this paper I investigate the Chinese internal martial art Phipps, Catherine
baguazhang 八卦掌 in order to expose its theatrical and Transgender, Transphobia, LGBT+,
religious roots. I show how the conventional histories of and Mixed Martial Arts
baguazhang that developed in the aftermath of the Boxer
Rebellion are both unsatisfying and incomplete (Allen, Zhang
2007; Zhang, Shapiro 2008; P. A Cohen 1997). Drawing on Gender
the fictional epic Canonization of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi) I 15.30 Wednesday
explore the idea that baguazhang is an art which developed Room 0.14
to portray the rebellious child-god Nezha 哪吒 as the leader
of the Thunder Gods 雷神 in ritual-theater staged for the Fallon Fox is the first openly transgender athlete in the
invocation of invisible armies of shadow soldiers (yinbing) sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), after transitioning
(Meulenbeld 2015; Shahar 2015). Drawing on my experience from male to female in 2006. Since publically coming out as
as a practitioner of baguazhang, I investigate thematic transgender in 2013, Fox has received media attention and
narratives, baguazhang’s unique weapons, its improvisation transphobic verbal abuse, mainly due to perceptions she has
practice, its stepping, and its signature dragon-twisting an unfair advantage over cisgender female opponents, and
movement. By integrating kinesthetic knowledge with a therefore should not be fighting in women’s divisions within
culturally embedded understanding of history, I propose a MMA. Most notably, opposition has come from Ronda
unifying cosmology that explains the unique characteristics Rousey (former UFC women’s bantamweight champion),
of baguazhang. Linking baguazhang to the god Nezha, opens Dana White (president of the UFC) and Joe Rogan (sports
many new lines of inquiry. The link suggests a synthesis in commentator for the UFC). Drawing on interview and
practice, where Daoist mediumship and the golden elixir questionnaire data from research on LGBT+ inclusion in
(jindan) merge with a Chinese version of the Tibetan tantric sport more widely, this presentation will discuss binary
Buddhist practice of Chöd (Harding 2003; Shahar 2015; models of gender in sport which often create barriers for
Strickmann 2002; Phillips, Mroz 2015). This syncretic transgender people. The presentation will also focus on
possibility conjures images of an angry child returning his the poor reception many transgender athletes receive in
flesh and bones to his parents while walking through mud to sport (particularly male-to-female transgender athletes),
create an indestructible lotus body – a body that parallels the transphobic abuse towards Fallon Fox, and the controversy
creation of the diamond (vajra/dorje/jingang) body in other surrounding her participation in women’s MMA.
Chinese martial arts (Shahar 2012).
Catherine Phipps is a PhD student at the University of Greenwich,

Scott Park Phillips began training in 1977, under Bing Gong – a London, researching LGBT+ inclusion in university-based
senior student of Kuo Lien-Ying, one of the first Chinese internal sport. Her research interests include women’s involvement and
martial artists to teach in the United States. From Bing he learned motivations in a range of combat sports, including boxing, MMA
Northern Shaolin, as well as yiquan and Yang style taijiiquan. and Muay Thai. In 2015 she co-wrote a chapter in the book
Scott is also a long-time student of George Xu (Xu Guoming), Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports: Women
with whom he studied Chen style taijiquan, liuhe xinyiquan, Warriors around the World, edited by Alex Channon and
lanshouquan, and baguazhang. Scott was a member of Orthodox Christopher R. Matthews. As a martial artist, she holds a 4th degree
Daoism in America (ODA) where he studied religious Daoism for black belt in Taekwondo and currently trains and competes in
nine years with Liu Ming. He has also studied and performed in boxing and Muay Thai.
24 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Seabourne, Anna Spatz, Benjamin

Sensei, students and the spoken word: Embodied Research: An Epistemic
Learning and teaching in a Japanese Context for Martial Arts Practice
koryū dōjō
Keynote
Pedagogy 17.00 Thursday
11.00 Thursday Birt Acres
Room 0.31 This talk will place martial arts practice and studies in the
Nostalgia for ‘samurai’ pervades Japanese society in context of an ongoing sea change in the university as a
advertising, television and film, not least in portrayals of social institution. A generation of embodied practitioners
teaching and learning which parody the teacher-student – across the martial, healing, performing, ritual arts and
training relationship. Such comedy sketches work because more – is entering academia. Individually these hybrid
they are based on well-known stereotypes of martial arts scholar-practitioners and artist-researchers are developing
master, student and the mysteries of the martial arts; all of exciting new ways of combining theory and practice, or of
which are familiar to a Japanese audience. The extent to transcending or cutting through that binary altogether. But
which these characterizations reflect current learning and in many cases such innovative methodologies lack historical
teaching practices remains unclear, particularly in the koryū context and are not yet in conversation across disciplines.
bujutsu, which continue to play a role in contemporary Drawing on the framework of social epistemology developed
society, despite being based on pre-modern foundations. in What a Body Can Do (Routledge 2015), this presentation
Developing an awareness of the social aspects of interaction will argue for an understanding of martial arts themselves
in the dōjō is key to understanding the impact of martial arts as active fields of knowledge sustained by a dialectical
practices. This paper takes conventional representations from relationship between training and research. According to
mainstream media as a starting point to examine current this model, martial arts studies is to martial arts practice as
practices of learning and teaching in a koryū bujutsu, with a performance studies is to performing arts and as science
particular focus on the role of kuden (lit. ‘oral transmission’). studies is to scientific research. Once we place martial arts
The primary sources of data are participant observation and practice in this context and examine its interdisciplinary
interviews carried out during fieldwork at a Japanese koryū relationships both to conventional academic disciplines
dōjō. The research provides insights into how actual learning and to neighbouring fields of embodied research, a host of
and teaching compares with the esoteric and archaic forms of new questions arises regarding the ethical, political, and
knowledge transmission frequently portrayed in the Japanese epistemological role of embodied research in the twenty-first
media. century.
Anna Seabourne’s PhD in Japanese Studies at the University of Ben Spatz is Senior Lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance
Manchester uses an ethnographic approach to explore learning and at the University of Huddersfield. He is the author of What
teaching in a koryū bujutsu (Japanese: ‘old flow’ pre-Meiji martial a Body Can Do: Technique as Knowledge, Practice as
systems) with a particular focus on Takenouchi-ryū Bitchūden. Research (Routledge 2015) and numerous articles and essays
She taught in Kyoto from 1995-2007, including at Ritsumeikan published in both scholarly and artistic contexts. Ben holds a
University’s Inter-faculty Institute for Intercultural Studies, and PhD in Theatre from the City University of New York and was
currently works part time at the University of Leeds. She moderates formerly a performer with the Gardzienice Theatre Association
the MARTS Jiscmail list and is an active member of the Martial and a Fulbright Fellow at the Grotowski Institute in Wroclaw. He
Arts Studies Research Network. She has practiced martial arts since was a Movement Research Artist-in-Residence (2010-2012) and
1987. Further details at www.lucubrat.wordpress.com or follow @ has performed and presented work at numerous venues across
lucubrat on Twitter. New York City. Most recently Ben was selected as an Arts and
Humanities Research Council Leadership Fellow (2016-2018) with
the project ‘Judaica: An Embodied Laboratory for Song-Action’.

CONFERENCE
Staller, Mario Staller, Mario

The Effects of Threat on Cognition: The simulated armed confrontation:
Attentional Biases and Risk-Taking in A novel paradigm for studying the
Police Officers and Martial Artists neuropsychology of human defensive
behaviour
Violence
15.30 Wednesday Motivations (1)
Police officers have a higher risk of serious injury in relation Room 0.05
to most other occupations and as a result may develop various The simulated armed confrontation paradigm potentially
cognitive biases due to the exposure to life-threatening provides a novel method to ethically investigate the
situations on a routine basis. Martial artists, which engage in neuropsychology of violent confrontations. Given the
self-defence practice, also try to strengthen their capacities to acknowledged problems with existing laboratory paradigms
defend themselves in potential dangerous situations and as a this may represent a significant step forward. In the
result may develop cognitive biases as well through repetitive current study we investigated the effects of a simulated
practice of self-defence. The current study aims to measure armed confrontation on executive cognitive functioning in
threat-related attentional biases which until now have been police officers. For this purpose, 68 violence-experienced
thought to be a symptom exclusive to anxiety-disorders, and participants (police officers and martial artists) were exposed
risk-taking behaviour. We hypothesize that experience in either to a simulated armed confrontation, that required the
fields where attentional biases may be of adaptive use will establishment of dominance over an aggressor or a control
yield such and that there may also be a greater propensity treatment, where participants were required to exercise
to take risks in roles where risk-taking is common. We for five minutes. Phonemic fluency was measured before
are employing a battery of cognitive tests which examine and after the treatment along with physiological measures.
subliminal and supraliminal attentional processing and Results for both treatments revealed an increase in executive
risk-taking behaviour. The sample consists of Police officers, cognitive functioning, whilst non-executive functioning
martial artists and a control group who have no exposure was not affected. The current results are inconsistent
to threat of any kind. Implications for the understanding of with previous research looking at aggression and violent
attentional biases and their effects on decision making in behaviour in the normal population where executive
the context of potential life-threatening situations will be dysfunction is considered an aetiological factor. These results
discussed. indicate that executive cognitive functioning is enhanced
in simulated armed confrontations, suggesting that it is an
adaptive human defensive response due to the increase in
Mario Staller is a German police officer working more than ten
cardiovascular functioning.
years as a police use of force, self-defence, and firearms instructor.
His main areas of research are psychological aspects of conflict
management in police contexts, skill development and pedagogical
practice in police use of force and self-defence training.
26 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Stetkevych, Qays Stewart, Alex

The grappling techniques of the Embodying the fight game:
fornaldarsögur and Íslendingasögur The social construction of desire among
English professional boxers
Grappling with history
15.30 Wednesday Motivations (2)
Both the fornaldarsögur and Íslendingasögur (legendary Room 0.14
and Icelandic sagas of Iceland) are replete with grappling This paper draws on the findings of ethnographic research
sequences, techniques, and manoeuvres. These sequences and conducted over a five year period among amateur and
manoeuvres, however, have all too often been overlooked professional boxers based in and around London, England,
by the academic community. Through the passing of time, to outline reasons why boxers willingly risk harming their
changing of cultural interests, and poor translations, much of body in pursuit of the often brutal athletic practice of
the once-understood sequences and techniques that are found professional boxing. The strategic rationale for conducting
in the sagas are lost upon the modern reader. Furthermore, this ethnography was from the outset premised upon my
what little scholarly attention has been directed towards ability to adopt an ‘insider’ research role having garnered
these specific grappling passages has often had underlying many years’ experiences as a reasonably successful amateur
motives whose goals are not to understand and accurately boxer. I was thus able to gain a professional boxers licence to
represent the manoeuvres and techniques to the modern investigate, and endeavour to make sense of, the relationships
reader, but rather to promote modern glíma (traditional between wider (popular) cultural and social forces and
Icelandic wrestling). This paper aims to clarify, expand upon, the embodied practices and interactional nuances through
and describe specific grappling techniques and sequences that which boxing-practitioners constructed patterns of meaning
are chronicled in the fornaldarsögur and Íslendingasögur to the informing their worldviews, values and actions. This ‘insider’
modern reader in a way that is accurate, accessible, and easily ethnographic journey entailed a necessarily introspective
understood. In conjunction with this, I will touch upon the journey through which I reflexively grappled with the realities
accuracy, detail, vocabulary, and realism of these grappling I upheld as a male and heterosexual ‘boxer’, of Anglo-Greek
sequences, and promote the idea that medieval Icelanders heritage, with fieldwork experiences grounded in complex
(both the scribes and their contemporary audiences) were social and cultural factors related to the sport ethic, media
well-versed in grappling and understood these passages to be representation and commercialization, gender ideology and
accurate portrayals of realistic wrestling as opposed to solely ideas about masculinity, and the cultural dynamics of social
sensationalized fiction. class in England. This paper seeks to inspire an open forum
of discussion on the significance of sensuous, aesthetic and
symbolically creative dimensions through which desire, and
Qays Stetkevych is currently studying Icelandic at The University
understandings of violence, are socially constructed by boxers
of Iceland, where he also holds a Masters degree in Viking and
in and through their sporting experiences.
Medieval Norse Studies, with a thesis on the topic of grappling
in the Icelandic and Legendary sagas. He also has a Bachelors
degree in History from Emory University. His areas of academic Having conducted a five-year ethnographic study of amateur and
concentration are in the sagas of Icelanders, medieval combat, and professional boxers in England, Alex Stewart’s central research
grappling and wrestling in medieval literature. Along with these interests now lie in the examination of cultural and social aspects
academic interests he has been active and competing in wrestling of the sporting experience. Reciprocally his academic interests
and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over 15 years, as well as training and and teaching competences take in the following related areas: the
competing in Mixed Martial Arts for the last 10 years. socialisation process into and through sport; embodiment and
identity formation; sport violence; sporting subcultures; and sport
development in relation to aspects of inclusion/exclusion; athlete
welfare; youth development; crime reduction and education. In a
previous life Alex spent his time split between boxing competitively
as an amateur and briefly a professional boxer and backpacking and
working his way around the globe.

CONFERENCE
Tran, Lan (with Nancy Watterson) the efficacy of taking responsibility for their own learning;
and connecting their mind and body so they can literally feel
Mindfulness, Metacognition, and Martial their own transformations.
Arts: I Liq Chuan and Arts of Awareness
Lan Tran is a level 3 I Liq Chuan student, who co-teaches with
Mindfulness Nancy Watterson two full-credit academic courses that revolve
15.30 Wednesday around I Liq Chuan, one at the undergraduate level at Cabrini
Room 0.31 College and one graduate-level at the University of Pennsylvania.
Higher education today longs for pedagogies that embrace
diverse learning styles, multiple intelligences, and
differentiated instruction that will empower learners in
the classroom, influence life-long learning, and prepare
Vaittinen, Anu (with George Jennings)
students to become ever more globally aware. How, though, Sensuous Transformation:
to introduce such innovative practices intentionally? The Interconnections between Embodied
Some educational contexts use experiential, community-
based, and service learning approaches while others turn Training and Multi-Media Resources in
to contemplative education and mindfulness studies to Wing Chun
influence mindsets, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors
that may assist students in negotiating the complexities of
living in a pluralistic world. For our part, in this session, Pedagogy
we 4 presenters propose an interactive (roundtable) session 11.00 Thursday
that foregrounds how we have used the integrative, meta- Room 0.31
cognitive practices that comprise I Liq Chuan: The Martial Art
To date, research on martial arts has tended to look at
of Awareness as an interdisciplinary, integrative, academic
subcultural/embodied experience and mediated knowledge
approach that connects well with contemporary research
on martial arts as two separate areas of investigation. Within
into teaching and learning; namely, helping students to
the disruptive, interdisciplinary camp of martial arts studies,
understand how we learn, how we move, and how to use this
new questions are now being raised. How might martial
processual knowledge and heightened awareness in everyday
artists use specific visual and audio media to support their
life. In this session the 4 presenters, all ILC educator-
learning? How could this influence their transformation as
practitioners, will introduce preliminary insights (and most
practitioners, and the continued transmission of the art? In
apt research literature) about the benefits of integrating ILC
this paper, we examine the multisensory interconnections
skills into academic settings and the rubrics we have piloted
between the embodied practical transmission of skills and
for examining concrete observables (about the processes of
such external resources among two dedicated groups of
training to learn about learning). The balance of the session
Wing Chun exponents in England and in Mexico. The dual
will lead participants through some of the basic exercises we
aim is to share preliminary ideas/analysis into how regular
have incorporated into our courses use that offer students
practitioners utilise different resources to support more
concepts, principles tools for integrating awareness into their
hands-on training methods, and to consider the role of these
daily lives. I Liq Chuan (ILC) cultivates skills that clarify
resources in the development of their evolving identities as
attention and sharpen all the senses, including listening
Wing Chun practitioners. We examine the topic through
through touch, working collaboratively with partners.
a theoretical lens guided by sociological phenomenology,
Participants in this sessions will get a taste of the curriculum
with an emphasis on the embodied, situated, sensuous and
through which students train to recognize their own
inter-subjective nature of lived-experience. This approach is
alignment, balance, and conditions in the moment – thus
particularly pertinent for drawing out these interconnections
starting the process of shifting their mindsets; recognizing
28 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
in the everyday lives of the practitioners as beings-in- that foregrounds how we have used the integrative, meta-
the world. The discussion in this paper draws from three cognitive practices that comprise I Liq Chuan: The Martial Art
main sources: 1) the authors’ respective auto-ethnographic of Awareness as an interdisciplinary, integrative, academic
and auto-phenomenological notes 2) observations of approach that connects well with contemporary research
Wing Chun practice as participant-instructor-researchers into teaching and learning; namely, helping students to
interacting with practitioners over a nine-month period understand how we learn, how we move, and how to use this
3) an analysis of a range of mediated materials on Wing processual knowledge and heightened awareness in everyday
Chun and devoted online discussion forums. In short, it life. In this session the 4 presenters, all ILC educator-
is hoped that this contribution offers an in-depth look at practitioners, will introduce preliminary insights (and most
the relationships between martial arts practice and media apt research literature) about the benefits of integrating ILC
through the symbiotic and sensuous issues of transmission skills into academic settings and the rubrics we have piloted
and transformation. for examining concrete observables (about the processes of
training to learn about learning). The balance of the session
will lead participants through some of the basic exercises we
Anu Vaittinen is a qualitative sociologist and a health researcher have incorporated into our courses use that offer students
based at the Institute of Health & Society at Newcastle University, concepts, principles tools for integrating awareness into their
interested in sociological Phenomenology and development of daily lives. I Liq Chuan (ILC) cultivates skills that clarify
socially situated, sensuous embodied ways of knowing within attention and sharpen all the senses, including listening
physical cultures and health. Anu is a recreational MMA and Wing through touch, working collaboratively with partners.
Chun practitioner and novice triathlete. Participants in this sessions will get a taste of the curriculum
through which students train to recognize their own
alignment, balance, and conditions in the moment – thus
starting the process of shifting their mindsets; recognizing
Watterson, Nancy (with Lan Tran) the efficacy of taking responsibility for their own learning;
Mindfulness, Metacognition, and Martial and connecting their mind and body so they can literally feel
their own transformations.
Arts: I Liq Chuan and Arts of Awareness
Nancy Watterson is a level 3 I Liq Chuan student, who co-teaches
Mindfulness with Lan Tran two full-credit academic courses that revolve around
15.30 Wednesday I Liq Chuan, one at the undergraduate level at Cabrini College and
Room 0.31 one graduate-level at the University of Pennsylvania.
Higher education today longs for pedagogies that embrace
diverse learning styles, multiple intelligences, and
differentiated instruction that will empower learners in
the classroom, influence life-long learning, and prepare
students to become ever more globally aware. How, though,
to introduce such innovative practices intentionally?
Some educational contexts use experiential, community-
based, and service learning approaches while others turn
to contemplative education and mindfulness studies to
influence mindsets, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors
that may assist students in negotiating the complexities of
living in a pluralistic world. For our part, in this session,
we 4 presenters propose an interactive (roundtable) session

CONFERENCE
Wetzler, Sixt Wong,Wayne

Straight Lines and Magic Circles: From the Martial to the Art:
The martial arts myth of geometry Slow Aesthetics in Transnational
Martial Art-house Cinema
Myths and assumptions
11.00 Thursday Film aesthetics
Martial arts have a tendency to justify their techniques Room 0.14
and practices by mythic narratives, as has been discussed This paper will argue that there is a paradigmatic shift of
before. One of the most persistent forms of such myths is cinematic martial arts from fast-paced ‘chopsocky’ actions
that of the geometrical foundation. It claims that combative of the 1970s and 80s to aesthetic marital art-house cinema
movements based on abstract geometrical principals are in emphasizing slowness and stillness. Martial arts has always
line with the physical foundations of the world itself, and been considered a frivolous genre with little affiliation
thus superior to other combat methods, or even invincible. to ‘slow aesthetics’ of European art cinema. From King
This presentation seeks to trace this myth back in time, Hu’s bamboo forest in the 1960s, Bruce Lee’s flying kicks
from internet discussion boards of the 21st century, via the in the early 70s, to Tsui Hark’s new wave ‘wire-fu’ and
writings of Bruce Lee, to the fight books of early modern ‘undercranking’ in the early 90s, speed has been accentuated
Europe. The idea of the straight line as the perfect method of as a signifier of martial arts skills, training, and power.
attack is the myth’s incarnation to be discussed, for which a However, the transnationalization of Hong Kong cinema
clear historic transmission can be shown. The development in the past two decades has gradually transformed the
of the geometrical myth seems to be connected to a learned popular genre from the martial to the artistic, the bodily to
book culture, and its depiction in medieval fight books is one the spiritual, and the external to the internal. Rather than
of the foremost examples for the connection of embodied accentuating what David Bordwell calls ‘the glimpse’ and
practice and media representation highlighted by this year’s the ‘burst-pause-burst’ pattern reminiscent of the Chinese
conference. Furthermore, it shall be demonstrated that the operatic traditions, cinematic martial art-house films such
geometrical myth exists in various shapes in martial arts as Zhang Yimou’s Hero, Wong Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster,
all over the world. The question will be raised if we are and Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassins feature extended long
encountering independent parallel developments, or if there takes, lengthy pauses, and sparse narrative, which aim not
are historic connections between these different examples. to highlight, in Leon Hunt’s terms, the (archival, cinematic
If the latter is the case, the consequences for our images of and corporeal) ‘authenticity’ of martial arts performance, but
regionalized vs. globalized martial arts culture(s), and for the an abstract embodiment of yijing (idea-image) through slow
distinction between Eastern and Western martial arts will aesthetics created by an uncanny synthesis of mechanical
have to be discussed. mediation (wirework) and digital reproduction (computer
generated imageries). More intriguingly, this accentuation
of slowness emerges not only from the fantastical world of
Sixt Wetzler studied religious studies, Scandinavian literature, and
wuxia, but also from the kung fu genre with much emphasis
medieval history at the universities of Tübingen, Reykjavík, and
on realism and violence. In addition to being a critique of
Freiburg. He is currently finishing his PhD on ‘The Martial Arts
and an alternative to fast-paced Hollywood action spectacles,
of Medieval Iceland: Literary representation and historical form’.
this new paradigm is an exit strategy for a disappearing genre
Wetzler is a member of the board of spokesmen of the commission
with aging talents and discontinuing lineage.
Kampfkunst und Kampfsport (Martial Arts and Combat Sports)
in the dvs (German Association for Sports Sciences). He works as
curator for Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) in Wayne Wong is a joint PhD researcher at the Department of
Solingen, with a focus on the European fencing tradition and other Comparative Literature at The University of Hong Kong and
blade fighting systems, and is among the highest ranked European the Film Studies Department at King’s College London. He has
practitioners of Pekiti Tirsia Kali, a Filipino martial art. published in Martial Arts Studies and is interested in Hong Kong
martial arts action cinema, digital effects, and game studies. His
current research focuses on martial arts action cinema and its
digital reproduction.
30 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Zadoff, Itamar Zarrilli, Philip

Shinto, Martial Arts and Nation Building in Embodied Enquiry: reflecting on
Early-Meiji Japan embodied practices as ‘dynamic events’
Invention Keynote
15.300 Thursday 15.00 Tuesday
Room 0.05 Birt Acres
In his influential Imagined communities, reflections on the origin In this talk I explore the territory between embodied practices
and spread of nationalism, Benedict Anderson suggested of martial arts, meditation, somatic work, and performance.
that modern Japanese nationalism was created by direct After raising the sociologically intriguing issue of the overt
government guidance from above. Japanese nationalism, he performative ‘spectacularization’ of some martial arts such as
argued, was the product of official ideology that had been kalarippayattu that emphasize overt ‘outer’ display for public
propagated by state institutions. Hence, Anderson dubbed it consumption, drawing on phenomenology and dynamic
‘official nationalism’. My paper re-evaluates Anderson’s thesis systems theory, I focus on the subtler dimensions of ‘inner’
by three case studies that draw upon the martial arts world: experience and embodied consciousness – what it is possible
1) The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, among the most influential to ‘know’ and how we come to ‘know’ through an embodied
organizations in shaping the modern martial arts (particularly practice. I give particular attention to how one learns ‘to be
Kendo and Kyudo); 2) Sumo, Japan’s national sport; and 3) sentient’ and ‘to open up’ to the potential experiential world
Judo, the first modern martial art and Japan’s contribution available in/through embodied practices, interrogating the
to the Olympic Games. The paper demonstrates their role central role that studio/dojo/kalari-based discourses play in
in the creation of modern Japanese nationalism, no less than the process of embodied sensitization.
their inherent relation to the national Shinto religion. The
three case studies reveal different facets of Japanese nation-
building: Sumo emphasizes the power of the emperor and Phillip Zarrilli is internationally known for training actors in
the Meiji government in shaping Japanese national character psychophysical process through Asian martial/meditation arts,
through the martial arts; Butokukai demonstrates the power and as a director/performer. He runs a private studio (Tyn-y-
of the individual and the common masses; and Kano’s parc C.V.N. Kalari/Studio) in Wales, and conducts workshops
Judo indicates that Japanese nationalism is not necessarily throughout the world – including workshops or long-term
emperor-related. residences at many institutions including the Grotowski Institute
(Poland), as part of the BEYOND project with Emio Greco and Co
(Amsterdam), Helsinki Academy of the Arts, Seoul International
Itamar Zadoff is a graduate student in the Department of East Asia Theatre Festival, National Theatre of Greece, Tainan-Jen Theatre
studies of Tel Aviv University, working under the guidance of Prof. Company (Taiwan), TTRP (Singapore), Gardzienice Theatre
Meir Shahar and Prof. Irit Averbuch. He is a teaching assistant of Association, and many university actor training programmes
Prof. Liora Safati in the ‘Introduction to Japan’ course. His research such as Trinity College (Dublin) and Indiana University (USA).
focuses on the early-twentieth-century Japanese martial arts. He Zarrilli is the first Westerner to seriously study kalarippayattu.
studied Aikido under Shimamoto Katsuyuki Shihan (8th Dan), and He began his training in 1976 under the guidance of Gurukkal
Koryu En-shin Ryu under Soke Tanaka Fumon in Osaka, Japan. Govindankutty Nayar of the CVN Kalari, Thiruvananthapuram.
He is the Head of Wadokan Dojo, Pardes Hanna. Between 1976 and 1993 he lived in Kerala for a total of seven
years – each trip devoted to undergoing intensive training in
kalarippayattu. In 1988 he was gifted the traditional pitham
(stool) representing mastery by Gurukkal Govindankutty Nayar.
When the new CVN Kalari Sangham was founded in 2004, the

CONFERENCE
Tyn-y-parc CVN Kalari in Llanarth, Ceredigion, Wales (UK) Zhang, Gehao

was certified as an official kalari of the Sangham under Zarrilli’s
guidance as gurukkal. Inaugurated in 2000, the Tyn-y-arc CVN From Red Spear to bayonet drill:
Kalari is the first traditional earthen-floor kalari operating a media archaeology of marital
outside of Kerala. In addition to his primary long-term training
under Gurukkal Govindankutty Nayar, Zarrilli also studied
arts weapons in China
under C. Mohammed Sherif (Kerala Kalarippayattu Academy,
Kannur) and Raju Asan (adi-murai). Zarrilli authored the first Historical excavations
authoritative study of kalarippayattu, When the Body Becomes
All Eyes: paradigms and practices of power in kalarippayattu, 15.30 Thursday
published by Oxford University Press (1998/2000). A new edition of Room 0.31
the book is in planning stages to be published with a DVD-Video of The spear has been one of the martial arts weapons with
kalarippayattu practice. Zarrilli also received beginning training a history from remotest antiquity and the widest impact
in kathakali dance-drama in 1976-77 under the guidance of M.P. on almost all cultures. In Chinese martial arts, it has been
Sankaran Namboodiri at the Kerala Kalamandalam. It was his considered ‘the king of all weapons’. It is also one of the
study of kathakali preliminary training processes that led Zarrilli marital arts weapons to keep its popularity among secret
to kalarippayattu – the source of kathakali’s preliminary training societies and through the communist revolutionary during
exercises and massage. In addition to his professional artistic work, 20th century. This research is based on remaining fragments
Zarrilli maintains a relationship with the Drama Department at of historical evidence to provide a media archaeology of
Exeter University (UK) where he taught between 2000-2010. His the intertexture of the application of spears and bayonets
numerous books include (editor) Acting (Re)Considered (2nd ed from early modern military drills until the Chinese People’s
2002), When the Body Becomes All Eyes (1998), Kathakali Dance- Liberation Army’s training. The paper will discuss the
Drama: Where Gods and Demons Comes to Play (2000), and interaction between the materiality of martial arts weapons
(editor) Martial Arts in Actor Training (1993), Psychophysical and body techniques in the shadow of the invented
Acting: an intercultural approach after Stanislavski, Zarrilli’s revolutionary tradition of bayonet fighting techniques in the
long-awaited book on the process of training actors through a Chinese PLA as well as the ideological naming of the red-
psychophysical approach based on Asian martial arts and yoga was tasseled spear.
published in 2009 by Routledge Press (London). The book includes
a DVD-ROM by Peter Hulton. It was awarded the ATHE 2010
Outstanding Book of the Year Award at the ATHE convention in Gehao Zhang, assistant professor in Macau University of Science
Los Angeles. and Technology. He got his PhD in Loughborough University
with an ethnography on British Tai Chi Practitioners, his recent
research includes martial arts studies, media archaeology, digital
anthropology and qualitative data analysis.
32 19 - 21 July 2016
FIND A PANEL
AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE TO THE THEMES, VENUES AND SPEAKERS
WEDNESDAY 11.00 - 12.00

Panel 1 Panel 2 Panel 3 Panel 4
Capoeira Performance Culture and tradition Problems and definitions Performance
Room 0.14 Room 0.05 Room 0.31 Room 1.20
Sara Delamont Martin Ehlen Robert Agar-Hutton Vera Kerchy

Craig Owen Martin Minarik Martin Meyer Scott Park Phillips
Neil Stephens
WEDNESDAY 15.30 - 16.30

Mindfulness Gender Grappling with history Violence
Lan Tran Alex Channon Eric Bukart William Little

Nancy Watterson Anna Kavoura Qays Stetkevych Mario Staller
Catherine Phipps
THURSDAY 11.00 - 12.00

Myths and assumptions Motivations (1) Film aesthetics Pedagogy
Tommaso Gianni Carol Fuller Johnson Leow George Jennings

Sixt Wetzler Viki Lloyd Wayne Wong Anna Seabourne
Mario Staller Anu Vaittinen
THURSDAY 15.30 - 16.45

Invention Motivations (2) Historical excavations Teaching
George Jennings D.S. Farrer Philip Davies Alexandre Legendre

Itamar Zadoff Alex Stewart Alexander Hay Veronika Partikova
Gehao Zhang
Panel 17
Cinema
Room 1.27
Kyle Barrowman
Evalina Kazakevičiūtė

FIND A SPEAKER
A-Z GUIDE TO OUR SPEAKERS, TIMES & VENUES
Agar-Hutton, Robert The difficulties of presenting Problems & definitions Wednesday 0.31
Martial Arts to the world 11.00-12.00
Barrowman, Kyle Martial Arts Cinema as an Cinema Thursday 1.27

Invitation to Projective Imagination 15.30-16.45
Burkart, Eric Understanding Historical Records Grappling with history Wednesday 0.05
of Technique: Epistemological and 15.30-16.30
Hermeneutic Problems in the Study
of Lost Martial Arts
Channon, Alex Sexualisation, female fighters, and Gender Wednesday 0.14

the UFC: #feminism? 15.30-16.30
Cole, Soo Film screenings Tuesday 29 Park Pl.

17.30-
Davies, Philip Forensic History, ‘Silsilah’ and Historical excavations Thursday 0.31
the Martial Arts of the Dutch- 15.30-16.45
Indonesian Diaspora
Delamont, Sara Capoeira Bodies, Two Movies and Capoeira performance Wednesday 0.14
Everyday ‘Realities’ 11.00-12.00
Ehlen, Martin Yin Yang, Five Elements and Culture and tradition Wednesday 0.05
Rhymed Formulae: Traditional 11.00-12.00
Chinese Concepts in the Teaching
of Wing Chun
Farrer, DS Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is Therapy: Motivations (2) Thursday 0.14

Shifting Subjectivities on Guam 15.30-16.45
Frank, Adam D. Understanding Identity through the Keynote Thursday Birt Acres
Martial Arts – or Not 09.30-10.45
Fuller, Carol Martial Arts: Motivation and Motivations (1) Thursday 0.05
Impact on Health and Well-Being 11.00-12.00
Gianni, Tommaso Historical assumptions about Myths and assumptions Thursday 1.20
martial arts that still affect training 11.00-12.00
and scholarship today
Hall, Neil R. A Convenient Myth Special Session 1 Wednesday 0.14

12.15-13.00
Hay, Alexander News of the Duels – Restoration Historical excavations Thursday 0.31
Duelling Culture and the Early 15.30-16.45
Modern Press
34 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL Find a Speaker
ARTS STUDIES A-Z Guide to our Speakers, Times and Venues
CONFERENCE
Jaquet, Daniel Lost Embodied Knowledge: Keynote Thursday Birt Acres

Experimenting with Historical 14.00-15.15
European Martial Arts out of books
Jennings, George Sensuous Transformation: Invention Thursday 0.31

The Interconnections between 11.00-12.00
Embodied Training and Multi-
Media Resources in Wing Chun
Jennings, George Ancient Wisdom, Modern Pedagogy Thursday 0.05

Warriors: The (Re)Invention of a 15.30-16.45
Mesoamerican Warrior Tradition
in Xilam
Judkins, Benjamin Liminoid Longings and Liminal Keynote Wednesday Birt Acres
Belonging: 9.30-10.45
Karpathyova, Iveta Film screening Tuesday 29 Park Pl.

17.30 -
Kavoura, Anna ‘Some Women are Born Fighters’: Gender Wednesday 0.14
Female Finnish Judokas’ Discursive 15.30-16.30
Constructions of a Fighter’s Identity
Kazakeviciute, Evelina The (Un)translatable Poetry of Cinema Thursday 1.27

War: Hagakure as a Samurai Text 15.30-16.45
in Ghost Dog: The Way of the
Samurai
Kerchy, Vera Tai chi and/as Marionette Dance Performance Wednesday 1.20
11.00-12.00
Legendre, Alexandre Teaching wushu in Taiwan: Teaching Thursday 0.52

imparting a ‘sense of the body’ as a 15.30-16.45
keystone
Leow, Johnson Miramax and the Re-scoring of Film Aesthetics Thursday 0.14
Hong Kong Martial Arts Films 11.00-12.00
Little, William Truth in the Martial Arts: Aikido, Violence Wednesday 1.20
Violence and the Practice of the Self 15.30-16.30
Lloyd, Viki Martial Arts: Motivation and Motivations (1) Thursday 0.05
Impact on Health and Well-Being 11.00-12.00

CONFERENCE
Loy, Philip Film screenings Tuesday 29 Park Pl.

17.30 -
Meyer, Martin The Kamehameha issue: A Problems & definitions Wednesday 0.31
phenomenological definition of the 11.00-12.00
martial arts
Minarik, Martin Taekwondo as cultural Culture and tradition Wednesday 0.05

performance: A performance 11.00-12.00
oriented evaluation of norms and
values in the practice of Taekwondo
in South Korea
Mroz, Daniel Taolu: credibility and Keynote Wednesday Birt Acres

decipherability in the practice of 14.00-15.15
Chinese martial movement
O’Shea, Janet Keynote Wednesday Birt Acres
Making Play Work: Competition, 16.45-18.00
Spectacle and Intersubjectivity in
Sparring and Sport Fighting
Owen, Craig Capoeira performance Wednesday 0.14
Masculine identities and the 11.00-12.00
performance of ‘awesome moves’ in
capoeira classes
Partikova, Veronika Teaching Thursday 0.52
A phenomenological study of being 15.30-16.45
a traditional Chinese martial arts
teacher
Phillips, Scott Park Performance Wednesday 1.20
Baguazhang: The martial dance of 11.00-12.00
an angry baby-god
Phipps, Catherine Gender Wednesday 0.14
Transgender, Transphobia & 15.30-16.30
LGBT+ in Mixed Martial Arts
Seabourne, Anna Pedagogy Thursday 0.31
Sensei, students and the spoken 11.00-12.00
word: Learning and teaching in a
Japanese koryū dōjō
Spatz, Ben Keynote Thursday Birt Acres
Embodied Research: An Epistemic 17.00-18.15
Context for Martial Arts Practice
Staller, Mario Violence Wednesday 1.20
The Effects of Threat on Cognition: 15.30-16.30
Attentional Biases and Risk-Taking
in Police Officers and Martial
Artists
36 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Staller, Mario The simulated armed confrontation: Motivations (1) Thursday 0.05
A novel paradigm for studying 11.00-12.00
the neuropsychology of human
defensive behaviour
Stephens, Neil Capoeira Bodies, Two Movies and Capoeira performance Wednesday 0.14
Everyday ‘Realities’ 11.00-12.00
Stetkevych, Qays The grappling techniques of the Grappling with history Wednesday 0.05
fornaldarsögur and Íslendingasögur 15.30-16.30
Stewart, Alex Embodying the Fight Game: The Motivations (2) Thursday 0.14
social construction of Desire among 15.30-16.45
English professional boxers
Tamiaho Maori Warrior Epistemology Special Session 2 Thursday 0.14

Herangi-Searancke 12.15-13.00
Tran, Lan Mindfulness, Metacognition, and Mindfulness Wednesday 0.31

Martial Arts: I Liq Chuan and Arts 15.30-16.30
of Awareness
Vaittinen, Anu Sensuous Transformation: Pedagogy Thursday 0.31

The Interconnections between 11.00-12.00
Embodied Training and Multi-
Media Resources in Wing Chun
Watterson, Nancy Mindfulness, Metacognition, and Mindfulness Wednesday 0.31

Martial Arts: I Liq Chuan and Arts 15.30-16.30
of Awareness
Wetzler, Sixt Straight Lines and Magic Circles: Myths and assumptions Thursday 1.20
The martial arts myth of geometry 11.00-12.00
Wong, Wayne From the Martial to the Art: Slow Film aesthetics Thursday 0.14
Aesthetics in Transnational Martial 11.00-12.00
Art-house Cinema
Zadoff, Itamar Shinto, Martial Arts and Nation Invention Thursday 0.05
Building in Early-Meiji Japan 15.30-16.45
Zarrilli, Philip Embodied Enquiry: reflecting on Keynote Tuesday Birt Acres

embodied practices as ‘dynamic 15.00-16.30
events’
Zhang, Gehao From Red Spear to bayonet drill: a Historical excavations Thursday 0.31
media archaeology of marital arts 15.30-16.45
weapons in China

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE
FILM COMPETITION
RESULTS AND SCREENINGs
In order to stimulate new forms of research, dissemination

and communication in the field of martial arts studies,
this year we invited students to submit short five minute
films on any aspect of martial arts. We agreed to host the
films on martial arts studies media channels and assemble
a committee to judge the entries. Winners were to be
given free conference registration, conference dinners and
accommodation at this year’s conference. Here’s what we said:
You may want to document an obscure martial arts style

for posterity, or give insight into a system, culture or
field of practice. You may want to deal with theoretical
or practical issues in martial arts studies. You may want
to showcase your own research. You may want to do any
number of possible things. And we are open to them all.
Just share your five minute film with us and allow us to
host it open access on various platforms (i.e., YouTube
and Vimeo). We’ll give you full credit as creator, of
course. And you will be helping to advance the visibility
and insights of martial arts studies as well as standing a
chance of free registration, meals and accommodation at
the Martial Arts Studies Conference in Cardiff in 2016.
This year, our panel of judges selected films by both Iveta

Karpathyova and Philip Loy as winners. Their films will be
screened on Tuesday evening at 29 Park Place, and at other
times throughout the conference.
In addition (not as part of the competition, but in response

to our interest in moving martial arts studies work into the
realms of audiovisual media), we received a film made by
Scott Park Phillips, a film recommended by Ben Judkins as
a supplement to his keynote, and a range of films made by
various film makers, to be curated at our conference by Soo
Cole of Curzon films. Some of the films being screened are
shown in the pages that follow.
38 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL Film Competition
ARTS STUDIES Results and Screenings
CONFERENCE
1000 Londoners: #72

Yanzi, a 34th generation Shaolin
Kung Fu Master in Tufnell Park
(3min 7sec)
Director: Oliver Parkin
1000 Londoners: #119

Wrestling Champion of LDN Wrestling:
Alan Lee Travis
(3min 19sec)
1000 Londoners: #9
John Jasinski, who’s taking on his irst
pro cage ight in Whitechapel
(3min 7sec)
1000 Londoners: #48

Ryan Hart, a Pro Street Fighter Gamer
for Team Dignitas
(3min 11sec)
1000 Londoners: #127

he boxing coach who won Angola’s irst gold
medal: Paulo Muhongo
(2min 59sec)
Director: Peter Kelly
hese are part of Chocolate Films documentary series 1000

Londoners and feature in the BFI’s Britain on Films season.

CONFERENCE
Tengu - Birdmen of the Mountains

2016
(12A) (8min 16sec)
Director: Samuel Smith

Starring: David Cheung, Lauren Clinch, Brandon Ly
A father ights to protect his family against the terror of the

Tengu - Birdmen of the mountains.
Completed at the start of 2016, has been collecting numer-

ous awards as it begins to be screened at festivals around the
world. Featuring intense and beautiful choreographed ight
sequences of rising star David Cheung.
Tengu - Birdmen of the Mountains has its UK premiere

screening at Fighting Spirit Films Festival 2016 at the O2
Cineworld London.
Fixer
2016
(12A) (4min 35sec)
Director: Matt Routledge

Starring: Daniel O’Neill, Annabel Butler
A mysterious man must deliver a suspicious suitcase to a

wealth businessman’s daughter.
Completed at the start of 2016, has been collecting numer-

ous awards as it begins to be screened at festivals around the
world. Featuring intense and beautiful choreographed ight
sequences of rising star David Cheung.
Fixer has its UK premiere screening at Fighting Spirit Films

Festival 2016 at the O2 Cineworld London.
40 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Handuken
2013
(12A) (3min 28sec)
Director: Chris Chung

Starring: Aaron Ly, Wai Wong, Alan Low, Bruce Chong,
Ling Whye Hand, Jing Lang
A detective in hostile territory is on a solitary attempt to

retrieve a fugitive in London’s criminal underbelly.
Winner ‘Best In Show’ and ‘Xristos Award’ at Action On

Film International Film Festival, USA 2013, Winner ‘Best
Short Short’ at London Independent Film Festival 2014.
Operation: Fringe
2016
(12A) (max 12-15min)
Director: Gregory Humpries

Starring: Jane Elsmore, James Unsworth, Linda Louise
Duan, Ansko Pitkanen and Gareth Ellis
An action comedy idiocy. Something’s not right in the es-

pionage world. Agents are going missing at an alarming rate,
forcing bosses and agencies to hire from the private sector.
Unfortunately, the private sector spies are also disappearing,
making actors the only recruitment option let. An urgent
mission for Jax Sumarita to gather intel on her missing col-
leagues has meant calling in three untested actors, into an
unknown environment, to face an unfamiliar foe.
Operation Fringe has its UK premiere screening at Fighting

Spirit Films Festival 2016 at the O2 Cineworld London.

CONFERENCE
Real Target
2016
(12A) (3min 57sec)
Director: David Cheung

Starring: David Cheung, Yolanda Lynes
In this small snippet from the 90 minute action comedy

feature, this short introduces the Kung Fu Couple, a duo
of undercover, secret agent vigilantes. While enjoying
some down time in their London apartment, some minor
bickering escalates into a competitive sparring match. Using
various household weapons from popcorn and teapots to
samurai swords, the couple prepare each other for a world
of bad guys and secret agents, they test their skills to stay in
top form.
www.realtargetilm.com
Oicial selection for 2016 in : MOFF - Milan Online Film

Festival, Barcelona Planet Film Festival, New York Sun Fest
NYSF 2016, Cinema World Fest Awards, Roma Cinema
DOC, Los Angeles Cine Fest, Winner of Best Web Short
Film of the month (TMFF - he Monthly Film Festival):
http://tmf.net/movies/the-real-target/
he Real Target has its UK premiere screening at Fighting

Spirit Films Festival 2016 at the O2 Cineworld London.
42 19 - 21 July 2016
CONFERENCE
Wrath of God
2015
(15) (8min)
Director: David Newton

Starring: Laurence Patrick, Olivia Jewson, Ian Pead, Ryan
Stuart, Helen Steinway Bailey, Liang Yang
350 years ago a man known as the Hand Of God used his
power to hold back the forces of darkness. Now, as darkness
awakens once again, this power is passed to a young girl,
Rachel. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable enemy, can
she master this new found power and defeat darkness once
and for all?
Winner of 2 awards for ‘Best Action Choreography’ and

‘Best Fight Scene’ at the 2nd Annual Nova Fest 2016
Salvation
2014
(15) (10min)
Director: Ross Boyask

Starring: Cheryl Burniston, Cengiz Dervis, Greg Burridge,
Ben X Bodecker
A girl called Jackie, beaten and tied to a chair in a derelict

building, must use all of her wits and courage if she hopes
to survive the night against three terrifying attackers, who
tell her that she’ll never see her loved ones again. Will she
escape? Will she survive? And will she be able to save the
people she cares for more than anything in the world?
Salvation will be presented at Fighting Spirit Films Festival

2016 at the O2 Cineworld London.

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
RESEARCH NETWORK
he Martial Arts Studies Research Network is an AHRC-Funded research
network directed by Professor Paul Bowman in the School of Journalism,
Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC) at Cardif University, UK.
Aims Contact
he primary objective of the Martial Arts Studies Professor Paul Bowman
Research Network is to connect up disconnected [email protected]
disciplinary and cultural discourses on martial arts by
fostering dialogue through cross-disciplinary events. In
connecting and engaging diverse researchers, the network Information
will develop knowledge of the signiicance and impact of Martial Arts Studies Research Network:
martial arts in the contemporary world and set the agenda mastudiesrn.org
for future research in the interlocking multidisciplinary
ields around them. Martial Arts Studies Journal:
Events Martial Arts Studies Book Series
he irst event was the 2015 Martial Arts Studies rowmaninternational.com/series/martial-arts-studies
Conference which took place from 10th to 12th June at
Cardif University. A diverse range of events is now taking
place at various locations across the UK.
he second annual international Martial Arts Studies

Conference took place from 19th to 21st July 2016, again
in Cardif University.
Outputs
he Martial Arts Studies Research Network is closely
connected with two main publication outlets.
he irst is the academic journal, Martial Arts Studies,

which is a fully peer reviewed, online, open access imprint
of Cardif University Press.
he second is the Martial Arts Studies monograph series,

published by Rowman & Littleield International.
44 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
JOURNAL
he latest issue of Martial Arts Studies Journal (Spring 2016) has twelve
high-quality articles and reviews written by international scholars and
practitioners. he main theme of this issue is he Invention of Martial Arts.
ISSUE 2 The Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat

Hyper-reality and the Invention of the Martial Arts
CONTENTS Benjamin N. Judkins
The Fifty-Two Hand Blocks Re-Framed

Rehabilitation of a Vernacular Martial Art
Thomas A. Green
The @UFC and Third Wave Feminism? Who Woulda

Thought? Gender, Fighters, and Framing on Twitter
Allyson Quinney
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Warriors: The (Re)Invention of a

Mesoamerican Warrior Tradition in Xilam
George Jennings
Fight-Dancing and the Festival: Tabuik in Pariaman,

Indonesia and lemanjá in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
Paul H. Mason
The Pacific Philosophy of Aikido:

An Interactional Approach
Augustin Lefebvre
JOURNAL WEBSITE
Scan the QR code for a direct download of the latest issue of
the journal.

MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
Monographs
A key strand of the Martial Arts Studies network of events, publications
and projects is a book series with Rowman & Littleield International.
Martial Arts Studies by Paul Bowman (2015) is already in print and two
titles in the new series Martial Arts Studies will be published later in 2016.
CONFERENCE DISCOUNT
Rowman & Littleield International
have generously provided a
conference discount of 25% or 30%
on this series of Martial Arts Studies
books.
Please pick up their lyers for full

details of the discounts available on
these books dates and how to order.
46 19 - 21 July 2016
MARTIAL
ARTS STUDIES
CONFERENCE NOTES
International Interdisciplinary Conference

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MARTIAL

8 Biographies and abstracts

44 Martial Arts Studies

MARTIAL Open access peer-reviewed

MARTIAL Connecting and

MARTIAL An academic book series

MARTIAL he Annual International

International Interdisciplinary Conference 1

Thanks and acknowledgements go to those who have

To help make the Rule #1

International Interdisciplinary Conference 3

WI-FI PANELS AND CHAIRS

FILMING AND INTERVIEWS Printing

14.00 - 15.00 Conference Registration Bute Foyer

15:00 - 16.30 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

16.30 - 17.30 Networking Room 0.52

17.30 onwards Drinks 29 Park Place

International Interdisciplinary Conference 5

9.00 - 10.00 Conference Registration Bute Foyer

9.30 - 9.45 Welcome and Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

9.45 - 10.45 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

10.45 - 11.00 Tea and coffee Bute Café

11.00 - 12.00 Panels 1 Capoeira performance (Room 0.14)

12.00 - 12.15 Break

12.15 - 13.00 Special Session Room 0.14

13.00 - 14.00 Buffet lunch Bute Café

14.00 - 15.15 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

15.15 - 15.30 Tea and coffee Bute Café

15.30 - 16.30 Panels 5 Mindfulness (Room 0.31)

16.30 - 16.45 Break

16.45 - 18.00 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

9.00 - 9.30 Tea, coffee, fruit Bute Café

9.30 - 10.45 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

10.45 - 11.00 Tea and coffee Bute Café

11.00 - 12.00 Panels 9 Myths and assumptions (Room 1.20)

12.00 - 12.15 Break

12.15 - 13.00 Special Session Room 0.14

13.00 - 14.00 Buffet lunch Bute Café

14.00 - 15.15 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

15.15 - 15.30 Break

17.00 - 18.15 Keynote Birt Acres Lecture Theatre

19.00 - 22.00 Conference Dinner Aberdare Hall

International Interdisciplinary Conference 7

Agar-Hutton, Robert Barrowman, Kyle

Problems and definitions Cinema

Kyle Barrowman is a PhD student at Cardiff University. He has

Bowman, Paul interpretations of the medieval techniques. Relying on the

International Interdisciplinary Conference 9

Channon, Alex Davies, Philip

Gender Historical excavations

Professor Philip H.J. Davies is Director of the Brunel University

Delamont, Sara Ehlen, Martin

Martin Wolfgang Ehlen was born in 1972 in Bernkastel-Kues/

International Interdisciplinary Conference 11

Farrer, D.S. Fuller, Carol (with Viki Lloyd)

Motivations (2) Motivations (1)

Gianni, Tommaso Hall, Neil R.

International Interdisciplinary Conference 13