The Historical Sociology of Japanese Martial Arts

Winner of the Norbert Elias Book Prize 2020

This is the first long-term analysis of the development of Japanese martial arts, connecting ancient martial traditions with the martial arts practised today. The Historical Sociology of Japanese Martial Arts captures the complexity of the emergence and development of martial traditions within the broader Japanese Civilising Process.

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.

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.

"This book is one of the first to use Elias?s sociology so centrally in considering the social history of Japanese martial arts, and is perhaps unique in its vast historical scope and sweep ? The experience of reading this book was deeply significant to me as a scholar, as it has led to the aforementioned epiphanies. I expect that the book will continue to be the kind of work that is valued by a wide and diverse audience in the future." - Tetsuya Nakajima, Ibaraki University, Japan, Martial Arts Studies

"I would definitely recommend [this book] to anyone interested in the sociology of martial arts. This is a well thought out, and methodologically innovative presentation of the history of Japanese martial arts which will make good reading for both students and seasoned scholars."- Eugenia Rozenfeld, University of Haifa, Israel, The International Journal of the History of Sport