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Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 31880

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Prof. Dr. Wojciech J. Cynarski

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Guest Editor

Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: cultural tourism; sport; recreation; leisure; sociology of physical culture; martial arts; martial arts tourism; physical culture in processes of globalization, institutionalization; cultural dialogues
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Prof. Dr. Thomas A. Green

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Guest Editor

Anthropology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, USA
Interests: martial arts and expressive genres; intangible cultural heritage; tourism and culture change; symbolic dimensions of martial arts; vernacular martial arts

Prof. Dr. John A. Johnson

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Guest Editor

Dept. of Taekwondo, College of Physical Education, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea
Interests: martial arts, philosophy, and international relations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current challenge for science in the field of leisure time activity research is to practice it as a new paradigm (Cynarski, 2014). Therefore, non-reductionist approaches should be adopted, taking into account the coexistence of many aspects of human personality and social life (contextual, temporal, processual). It is crucial to go beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines when many issues require interdisciplinary approaches. Here the scientific framework should be quite wide—from cultural anthropology, through various sociological sub-disciplines, to theories of tourism and recreation or theories of martial arts.

Martial arts are an interesting area of research, as well as an attractive form of leisure activity and a form of cultural tourism—the heritage of nations of different countries. They combine tourist trips with physical recreation, and at the same time bring into the world the symbolism and values associated with the traditions of the martial arts’ creators, hence the terms “taekwondo culture” and the like (Bennett, 2015; Lin, 2016; Mor-Stabilini, 2016; Guo, 2019).

We can focus more generally on the role of heritage in the field of physical culture, as demonstrated by martial arts. On the other hand, we are interested in using this potential in physical recreation as a free-time activity, which is the advantage of the tourist role. Let the third field of scientific search be the search for the theoretical concepts that best serve the description and explanation of various forms of tourism, of people practicing martial arts or those who are more passively interested in them. The purpose of this collection is to enrich existing knowledge and to fill any existing gaps. There is currently no study that addresses these issues from different perspectives and internationally.

We especially invite specialists to participate.

References:

Bennett, A. (2015) Kendo. Culture of the Sword. University California Press.

Cynarski, W. J. (2014) The New Paradigm of Science Suitable for the 21^st Century. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 149, 269-275.

Cynarski, W. J. (2015) The systemic-anthropological approach to tourism research. In: W. Munsters, & M. Melkert (Eds.), Anthropology as a Driver for Tourism Research. Antwerpen – Apeldoorn: Garant, pp. 11-21.

Cynarski, W. J. (2019) Martial Arts & Combat Sports: Towards the General Theory of Fighting Arts. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Katedra.

Cynarski, W. J. (2020) Tourism of Martial Arts: Social-Cultural Perspective. Rzeszów: Rzeszow University Press.

Cynarski, W. J., & Swider, P. (2017) The journey to the cradle of martial arts: a case study of martial arts’ tourism. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 17(2), 24–33; doi: 10.14589/ido.17.2.3.

Cynarski, W. J., Yu, J. H., Warchol, K., & Bartik, P. (2015) Martial arts in psycho-physical culture. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 15(4), 33-38; doi: 10.14589/ido.15.4.5.

Griffith, L. (2016) In Search of Legitimacy: How Outsiders become Part of the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Tradition. New York: Berghahn.

Griffith, L. M. (2016) Beyond Martial Arts Tourism: Outcomes of Capoeiristas’ Apprenticeship Pilgrimages. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 16(2), 32–40; doi:10.14589/ido.16.2.4.

Griffith, L. (2010) Martial arts tourism. In: T. A. Green, & J. R. Svinth (Eds.), Martial Arts in the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. Santa Barbara (CA): ABC-Clio, pp. 411-415.

Griffith L., & Marion J. S. (2017) Apprenticeship Pilgrimage: Developing Expertise through Travel and Training. Rowman & Littlefield.

Guo, Y. (2019) Canton Kung Fu: The Culture of Guandong Martial Arts. Sage Open 9(3), 1-11; doi: 10.1177/2158244019861459.

Gutierrez-Garcia, C., Swider, P., & Pawelec, P. (2019) Report on the Fourth World Scientific Congress of Combat Sports and Martial Arts under the perspective of martial arts tourism. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 19(2), 1–3; doi: 10.14589/ido.19.2.1.

Jennings, G., & Cynarski, W. J. (2019) Martial Arts in Postcolonial Times: Local Theories for Local Contexts. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 19(3), 11–23; doi: 10.14589/ido.19.3.2.

Mor-Stabilini S. (2016), The Ancient Art of the Japanese Sword. The ancient school of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu along historical, cultural and spiritual path. Bergamo: Jitakyoei Budo.

Munsters W., & Melkert M. (Eds.) (2015) Anthropology as a Driver for Tourism Research. Antwerpen – Apeldoorn: Garant.

Kim, Min Kil, Lee, Donghun, Kim, Suk-Kyu, & Kim, May (2015) Leisure constraints affecting experienced martial arts participants. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research 20(9); doi: 10.1080/10941665.2014.952240.

Lin, Z. (2016) On Chinese Tai Chi culture: Contemporary values and international Communications. Asian Social Science 12(10), 273-277.

Obodyński, K., & Cynarski W. J. (2004) System Paradigm of the Theory of Tourism. In: W. J. Cynarski, & K. Obodyński (Eds.), Tourism and Recreation in the Process of European Integration. Rzeszów: PTNKF, pp. 19-24.

Raimondo, S. (2011) Heritage tourism and Taijiquan. The case of Chenjiagou, Henan, RPC. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 11(1), 52-59.

Skowron-Markowska, S. (2019) Chinese guo shu (國術 “national art”) in Shaolin Temple. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology 19(1S), 25–31; doi: 10.14589/ido.19.1S.5.

Prof. Dr. Wojciech J. Cynarski
Prof. Dr. Thomas A. Green
Prof. Dr. John A. Johnson
Guest Editors

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Keywords

tourism and recreation
cultural heritage
physical culture
martial arts
systems approach

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chinese Destinations Related to Martial Arts Tourism from the UNESCO Perspective

by Stefania Skowron-Markowska and Marta Nowakowska

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7581; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147581 - 7 Jul 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the authenticity of Shaolin Temple and Chenjiagou Village in the context of intensified martial arts tourism and UNESCO documents. Desk research, structured interviews and participant observation were used to investigate the issue. The issue of cultural and natural heritage has become part of the modern image of a powerful new China. They particularly use these resources in cultural tourism, where boasting of heritage listed on UNESCO’s tangible and intangible heritage list is certainly an appropriate impression. The UNESCO intangible and tangible heritage list also includes objects related to martial arts tourism (Shaolin Temple, Chenjiagou Village). The article presents how Western (American, European) preferences and expectations are visible in the way of preserving and using these objects with an attempt to maintain UNESCO standards. It has been noticed that the added objects/events/shows are accepted by the Chinese as increasing the attractiveness of the place, even if they are not thematically and historically related to it. The authors checked whether a certain cultural compromise is possible or whether these places are a completely Westernized product, taking the form of theme parks or ethnoparks. For Western tourists, such phenomena are often synonymous with the commercialization and falsification of the authenticity of a place, which is why the role of cultural education is very important, both in China and in Western countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

11 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Budo in Physical Recreation as a Form of Rapprochement to Nature

by Grzegorz Bielec, Bartosz Dziadek, Zbigniew Borysiuk and Wojciech J. Cynarski

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6951; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126951 - 21 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2562

Abstract

Martial arts, or budo in Japanese, are practiced recreationally on a global scale. Is there a relation between the regular practice/training of various fighting arts and the attitude of these people towards the natural world? Does budo educate in this direction? Representatives of various fighting arts (n = 145) were examined using a diagnostic survey. It was found that the attitude of the respondents to nature and ecology was positive for the majority of the respondents (almost 74%). This applied to both men and women and was not determined by the level of education. The type of martial art or combat sport practiced did not differentiate this attitude. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

9 pages, 425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perception of Self-Efficacy and Health-Related Behavior in Context of Taekwon-Do Sport Camps

by Dorota Ortenburger, Jacek Wąsik and Dariusz Mosler

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4645; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094645 - 22 Apr 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2296

Abstract

Background: The aim of this paper is to expand the knowledge on the subject matter of the relations between behavior that is geared towards health and the feeling of effectiveness in the context of martial arts tourism in the form of Taekwon-do training summer camps. Method: The research encompassed 58 people (32 men and 26 women) who train Taekwon-do (ITF) (aged: 26.36 ± 8.97; scope: 18–45 years of age). The measurement of the feeling of effectiveness and healthy behavior was conducted by means of standardized tools, including the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: The analyzed fighters who participated in the research in the majority of the sports meetings declared a higher level of the feeling of effectiveness (p < 0.001). Through cluster analysis emerged two groups, with a significant difference between self-efficacy (mean value of 20.05 points in contrast to 33.93 points in the second group). The group with higher psychological indices values attended a higher amount of summer camps during their practice history (at least two camps attended in the second cluster). Conclusion: Sports tourism connected with martial arts, as exemplified by training groups (professionally organized training camps) of Taekwon-do (ITF), is connected with the increased feeling of personal effectiveness, while also serving the enhancement of psycho-physical health, well-being, and the development of social skills. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

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16 pages, 484 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Tourist’s Perception of the Tourist Destinations Image: An Analysis of Chinese Kung Fu Film and Television

by Huan Chen, Yifan Zuo, Rob Law and Mu Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3875; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073875 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4805

Abstract

Cultural media, film, and television works can increase the popularity of the image of tourist destinations, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the tourism industry and obtaining economic benefits. This study takes Chinese kung fu film and television as examples to explore the mechanism of audience participation in the perception of tourist destinations. It further explores the mediating effect of cultural contact. The study took the image perception of tourist destinations as the dependent variable and audience participation as the independent variable. A total of 331 subjects were surveyed, and a multi-layer regression model was established to test the rationality and validity of the hypothetical theoretical model. The research results show that audience participation in martial arts films and television tourism can directly and indirectly affect the audience’s perception of martial arts culture. At the same time, the viewer can achieve contact with martial arts culture through film and television, accordingly forming his or her perception of the destination. In other words, film and television audience participation can bring more cultural contact to the audience. In turn, cultural contact can enhance the image perception of tourist destinations and play an important intermediary role in the process of audience participation by enhancing the perception of tourist destinations. By confirming the variable relationship in Wushu film and television tourism, this research fills the gap between the two aspects, which contributes to promoting the two-way interaction between Wushu film and television works and tourism marketing and achieving the long-term sustainable development of tourism destinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

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18 pages, 295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taekwondo as an Academic Field of Study for Non-Koreans: An Unconventional and Extreme Form of Martial Arts Tourism

by John A. Johnson

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3124; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063124 - 12 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5329

Abstract

Many Korean universities grant undergraduate and graduate school degrees in part on coursework, theses, and dissertations that explore Taekwondo through various academic lenses in Taekwondo Studies programs, yet only a few individuals have traveled to the Korean Peninsula to study Taekwondo academically. Traveling internationally to earn a university degree in a martial art can be considered extreme martial arts tourism. This multidisciplinary study explores the motivations of non-Koreans who have studied Taekwondo academically in Korea as well as their aspirations after graduation. The study utilized a combination of autoethnographic techniques and interviews with individuals who have given up years of their lives, thousands of dollars, their home cultures, languages, and food, and their families to travel to a foreign university in order to study Taekwondo. Twelve participants were identified that met the selection criteria, but eight responded to the interview requests. The nine participants, including the author, came from a wide assortment of backgrounds, but all shared a passion for Taekwondo; now, most participants (n = 5) have jobs within the Taekwondo industry, including two professors in separate Departments of Taekwondo. This study’s findings elucidate why non-Koreans study Taekwondo academically and thereby offer suggestions on how to improve this educational market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

16 pages, 1687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Martial Arts Tourism of the “Europe—Far East” Direction, in the Opinion of Grand Masters

by Abel A. Figueiredo, Wiesław Błach, Zbigniew Bujak, Roland J. Maroteaux and Wojciech J. Cynarski

Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8857; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218857 - 25 Oct 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4064

Abstract

Martial arts tourism is a form of cultural, sports and educational tourism that requires special recognition; particularly important is knowledge about martial arts. The sources of this practical knowledge are especially high-ranking masters. The scientific problem raised here involves the issue of high-ranking martial arts teachers taking trips for their own studies (to acquire knowledge and skills) and teaching others. Some of the questions addressed include how often the trips occur (single, sporadic, or multiple, regular), what their effects are, and what their meaning is—in the opinion of these experts. The “Martial Arts Tourism” questionnaire was addressed to N = 12 people, masters/teachers of high-rank in martial arts (level 7–10 dan/toan) who live and teach in Europe and the USA, but come from Europe. They are the holders of the highest degrees in Chinese, Japanese and Korean styles. Further questions were asked through direct correspondence. The collected statements were usedby means of qualitative analysis—as in the method of ‘expert courts’/’competent judges’. The respondents in most cases undertook trips from Europe to East Asia for their own learning. They teach themselves mainly in their own countries and in Europe. Stays rarely lasted over two weeks. The respondents are convinced of the legitimacy of this type of trip, and believe that the trips are very helpful on the way to mastery. None of the respondents mentioned the material forms of cultural heritage pertaining to martial arts as motives for the trips. Therefore, the ability to visit historic places is a marginal concern. The trips were directly linked to a career path and self-improvement in martial arts, learning or teaching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

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13 pages, 1070 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Martial Arts Tourism: Meta-Analysis of Publications from 2005–2020

by Przemysław Pawelec, Paweł Świder and Wojciech J. Cynarski

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 7069; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177069 - 30 Aug 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4183

Abstract

A feature of modern society in the era of cultural globalization is its mobility. One of the manifestations of this social mobility is people spending free time on tourist trips. Tourism, as understood as a sociocultural phenomenon, is a special manifestation of location. In addition to the motives for undertaking trips in martial arts tourism, individual destinations, specific tourism potential and the typology of participants in tourist meetings were analyzed, and individual cases were examined. The research materials were 44 articles published in scientific journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOHost databases. Publications, which appeared in the sources discussed between 2005 and mid-2020s were considered. Some periodicals were present in all three of the quoted databases, therefore specific articles were taken into account only once. This study will cover a meta-analysis of martial arts tourism in journals indexed in several major scientific databases. It is related to the phenomenon of tourism of this type, which is discussed from various scientific perspectives. As a research tool, the Atlas.ti program was used (mainly in the qualitative research or analysis of qualitative data), by means of which correlations and dominant items were sought. A comparison with other publications suggests that no similar meta-analysis has so far been performed in relation to the literature devoted to the subject of “martial arts tourism”. Particularly interesting conclusions were identified: (1) there are thematic relations between the destination country, the main destination, and the destination country; (2) martial arts are treated by researchers as both primary, and secondary threads, (3) the difference between travel destinations and types events attended by people interested in martial arts, (4) the variety of event formats plays a role in popularizing the subject of these forms of physical activity, and (5) the number of publications describing specific destinations is not particularly related to specific countries as destinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

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14 pages, 404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Triggers Us to Be Involved in Martial Arts? Relationships between Motivations and Gender, Age and Training Experience

by Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, Patrycjusz Zarębski and Grzegorz Kwiatkowski

Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6567; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166567 - 13 Aug 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3238

Abstract

The study aims to recognize the motivations to engage in judo depending on gender, age and level of sports experience among nonelite judokas from the Greater Poland region because previous studies mostly concerned the motivations of top athletes. We supposed that there was a relationship between age, gender, level of sports experience and motivations in judo. During the diagnostic survey, judokas completed the Polish version of the Sport Motivation Scale. In order to determine the motivational profiles of judokas, cluster analysis was performed using the k-means method. The highest values were obtained for motivations related to the intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation and the intrinsic motivation to accomplish, while the lowest values were obtained for motivations related to amotivation and external regulation. The research results showed a relationship between experience in judo training and the motivations of judokas; however, the motivations of the judokas were not differentiated based on their gender or age. In our study, the intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation turned out to be more important for judokas participating in competitions, while recreational athletes more often indicated experiencing amotivation. The intrinsic motivation to accomplish and intrinsic motivation to know turned out to be more important for athletes in training for more than 10 years, while amotivation was more often indicated to be experienced by judokas practicing judo for less than 10 years. Respondents who reported high internal motivation values and had a motivational structure they shaped themselves had been training for longer—for more than 10 years. In our study, the three motivational groups of judokas were identified, and we found that judo experience differentiated belonging to groups. It is recommended to check other martial arts and check more variables in the future, e.g., marital status, which is a potentially important factor in the field of sport motivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Cultural Perspective for Martial Arts Tourism and Motor Recreation Research)

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