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"What is the essence of martial arts? What is their place in or relationship with culture and society?
Deconstructing Martial Arts analyses familiar issues and debates that arise in scholarly, practitioner and popular cultural discussions and treatments of martial arts and argues that martial arts are dynamic and variable constructs whose meanings and values regularly shift, mutate and transform, depending on the context.
It argues that deconstructing martial arts is an invaluable approach to both the scholarly study of martial arts in culture and society and also to wider understandings of what and why martial arts are. Placing martial arts in relation to core questions and concerns of media and cultural studies around identity, value, orientalism, and embodiment,
Deconstructing Martial Arts introduces and elaborates deconstruction as a rewarding method of cultural studies."

Historical European martial arts (HEMA) have to be considered an important part of our common European cultural heritage. Studies within this field of research have the potential to enlighten the puzzle posed by past societies, for example in the field of history, history of science and technology, or fields related to material culture. The military aspects of history are still to be considered among the most popular themes of modern times, generating huge public interest. In the last few decades, serious HEMA study groups have started appearing all over the world – focusing on re-creating a lost martial art. The terminology "Historical European Martial Arts" therefore also refers to modern-day practices of ancient martial arts. Many of these groups focus on a "hands-on" approach, thus bringing practical experience and observation to enlighten their interpretation of the source material. However, most of the time, they do not establish inquiries based on scientific research, nor do they follow methodologies that allow for a critical analysis of the findings or observations. This paper will therefore propose and discuss, ideas on how to bridge the gap between enthusiasts and scholars; since their embodied knowledge, acquired by practice, is of tremendous value for scientific inquiries and scientific experimentation. It will also address HEMA practices in the context of modern day acceptance of experimental (or experiential) processes nd their value for research purposes and restoration of an historical praxis. The goal is therefore to sketch relevant methodological and theoretical elements, suitable for a multidisciplinary approach, to HEMA, where the "H" for "historical" matters.

The political situation in Poland after the instigation of martial law is evaluated as a case of "baroque" politics -- the exhaustion of possibilities & the extension of apolitical style until it becomes a caricature of itself. Polish socialism demonstrates traits of "oriental despotism," employing violence as a means of production. It is based not on utilitarian rationality, but on a specific, closed-form rationality of stabilization & subjugation, leading to circular reversions to Stalinism in party-army-bureaucracy relations, & spasmatic cycles of palace revolutions combined with renewed, hopeless attempts to artifically stimulate economic growth. Contradictions in the martial regime between the Communist Party & the military are explored, & the disintegration of the "terror machine" in Poland is analyzed. The current regime is seen as unable to create mediating structures to allow it to legitimate its rule with the populace; given this situation, it has no other choice but oriental despotism. J. Weber.

This is a report covering the 5th Annual Martial Arts Studies Conference, held in Orange, California (USA) on May 23-24, 2019. There were a total of six parallel sessions comprised of 44 presentations. Although the conference theme was "martial arts, culture, and politics," the thematic organization extended beyond this premise to all aspects of martial arts as a field of investigation. As a whole, the conference was impressively orchestrated and quite well attended by representatives from around the world and is notable as the first official Martial Arts Studies Research Network event to take place in North America. ; Este informe trata la 5th Annual Martial Arts Studies Conference, celebrada en Orange, California (EE. UU.), del 23 al 24 de mayo de 2019. Se desarrollaron un total de seis sesiones paralelas, compuestas por 44 presentaciones. Aunque el tema de la conferencia fue "artes marciales, cultura y política", la organización temática fue más allá y abarcó todos los aspectos de las artes marciales como campo de investigación. En general, la conferencia estuvo excepcionalmente organizada, contó con la asistencia de participantes de todo el mundo, y es destacable que este ha sido el primer evento de la Martial Arts Studies Research Network que ha tenido lugar en Norteamérica. ; Este artigo apresenta um resumo sobre a 5th Annual Martial Arts Studies Conference, que teve lugar em Orange, Califórnia, nos dias 23 e 24 de maio de 2019. Foram realizadas 6 sessões paralelas, compostas por 44 apresentações. O tema da conferência foi "artes marciais, cultura e políticas", mas a organização temática foi mais abrangente e abarcou todos os aspetos das artes marciais como campo de investigação. De uma forma geral, a conferência estava muito bem organizada, contando com a participação de investigadores de todo o mundo. Foi o primeiro evento da Martial Arts Studies Research Network, que teve lugar na América do Norte.

Historical European martial arts (HEMA) have to be considered an important part of our common European cultural heritage. Studies within this field of research have the potential to enlighten the puzzle posed by past societies, for example in the field of history, history of science and technology, or fields related to material culture.

The military aspects of history are still to be considered among the most popular themes of modern times, generating huge public interest. In the last few decades, serious HEMA study groups have started appearing all over the world – focusing on re-creating a lost martial art. The terminology "Historical European Martial Arts" therefore also refers to modem-day practices of ancient martial arts. Many of these groups focus on a "hands-on" approach, thus bringing practical experience and observation to enlighten their interpretation of the source material. However, most of the time, they do not establish inquiries based on scientific research, nor do they follow methodologies that allow for a critical analysis of the findings or observations.

This paper will therefore propose and discuss, ideas on how to bridge the gap between enthusiasts and scholars; since their embodied knowledge, acquired by practice, is of tremendous value for scientific inquiries and scientific experimentation. It will also address HEMA practices in the context of modern day acceptance of experimental (or experiential) processes and their value for research purposes and restoration of an historical praxis. The goal is therefore to sketch relevant methodological and theoretical elements, suitable for a multidisciplinary approach, to HEMA, where the "H" for "historical" matters.

This study examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on martial arts training worldwide. A mixed-method online questionnaire consisting of 28 items was used as a survey instrument. 306 martial artists responded. These were mainly from the United Kingdom, the USA, Germany, Italy and Japan. The questionnaire focused on pragmatic adaptations of training volume, training rhythm, training location, training mode (individual or group) and training methods. The survey sought to gain insights into modifications that martial artists made as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to their training, curriculum, alternative fitness, strength and health activities, as well as training goals. The results suggest that the training restrictions implemented by governments in order to try to combat the pandemic transformed the practice of martial arts on a massive and fundamental scale. Specifically, they led to two seemingly opposing developments: increasing digitisation and an increased focus on the importance of embodiment. The article concludes with a suggestion that these lines of development will mould the post-pandemic landscape of martial arts.