Historical Sociology of Japanese Martial Arts

<p><strong>Winner of the Norbert Elias Book Prize 2020</strong></p><p>This is the first long-term analysis of the development of Japanese martial arts, connecting ancient martial traditions with the martial arts practised today. <i>The Historical Sociology of Japanese Martial Arts </i>captures the complexity of the emergence and development of martial traditions within the broader Japanese Civilising Process. </p><p>The book traces the structured process in which warriors’ practices became systematised and expanded to the Japanese population and the world. Using the theoretical framework of Norbert Elias’s process-sociology and drawing on rich empirical data, the book also compares the development of combat practices in Japan, England, France and Germany, making a new contribution to our understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics of state formation. Throughout this analysis light is shed onto a gender blind spot, taking into account the neglected role of women in martial arts.</p><p>The Historical Sociology of Japanese Martial Arts is important reading for students of Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Sport, Sociology of Physical Activity, Historical Development of Sport in Society, Asian Studies, Sociology and Philosophy of Sport, and Sports History and Culture. It is also a fascinating resource for scholars, researchers and practitioners interested in the historical and socio-cultural aspects of combat sport and martial arts.</p> <p>1. Introduction, <strong>Part I: Warriors</strong>, 2. Archery and Sumo as First Traces of Martial Arts, 3. The Emergence of Composite Martial Ryu during the Two Courts and the Warring States Periods, 4. Excursus: the Origins of Martial ryu, <strong>Part II: Retainers</strong>, 5. The Stabilization of Martial Ryu During Early Tokugawa, 6. The Transformation and Diffusion of Martial Arts During Mid and Late Tokugawa Periods, <strong>Part III: Martial Artists</strong>, 7. The Identification of Martial Arts with the Japanese We-identity during Meiji, 8. Taisho Democracy as a Transition Phase in the Development of Martial Arts, 9. The Militarization of the Japanese Population Through Martial Arts in Early Showa, 10. Excursus: the Birth of Modern Martial Artists, 11. Reformulation, Expansion and Hybridisation of Japanese Martial Arts, 12. Epilogue</p>