It’s a rare thing to find a textbook about the martial arts. We’re not talking about technical manuals, biographies, historical accounts, or surveys. Textbooks are academic accounts of what Kim and Back would call “the philosophy and essence of the martial arts.” There have been some great works by anthropologists, archeologists, physical educators, and the like to apply the highest possible rigor to the study of what the martial arts are. It’s too bad they’re so hard to find.
In an effort to support this type of work and to show our readers where they can begin, here is a list of textbooks we’ve read so far, to be updated as we continue our quest for challenging and engaging readings. We’ll try to separate them by general discipline, but there is a great deal of cross-over. If our readers have any leads on more of this type of work, please tell us!
Anthropology:
Warrior Dreams: The Martial Arts and the American Imagination by Prof. John J. Donohue
“There is a reason why people in twentieth-century America dream of the martial arts, why they create identities with it, express themselves through it, and tell stories to one another about it. Here, in the realm of myth and symbols, the anthropologist is at home. In the attempt to interpret the uses the myths and symbols have been put to, this books was written.” – Donohue, p. 5
Physical Education:
Martial Meditation: Philosophy and the essence of the Martial Arts by Prof. Daeshik Kim and Allan Back (no link available at publishing)
“This book is a serious study of philosophical issues in the Eastern martial arts. Such issues include the relation of the martial arts to sport and art, the goals of the martial arts, and the influence of Zen Buddhism in the martial arts. Again, there are many books that touch on these issues…insights may be present, but the explication of those insights usually is not. We intend to concentrate on explicating those insights.” – Kim and Back, viii
Theology and Philosophy:
Meditation and the Martial Arts by Michael L. Raposa
Raposa’s work is very Aikido friendly, but concentrates on many disciplines to support the argument that martial arts inevitably contain a moral/philosophical element. What makes it unique is his academic, theological approach towards the goals of the martial arts as they align with the goals of the world’s major religions.
Online:
Questia.com has some interesting academic articles and full texts for a fee.
artist auxiliary 