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Anime and the Education of a Martial Artist
Introduction Occasionally life takes a turn and one’s personal martial arts training gets moved to the back burner. The last couple of weeks have been like that as my wife and I have been...
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Imagining Ip Man: Globalization and the Growth of Wing Chun Kung Fu
***I am current on the road for the annual Martial Arts Studies conference at Cardiff University in the UK. As soon as I return home I will be posting a full report of the event and sharing the...
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Lightsaber Combat and Wing Chun: The Search for Meaning in the Modern Martial...
The title slide of my keynote address at the July 2016 Martial Arts Studies Conference. ***I am current on the road for the annual Martial Arts Studies conference at Cardiff University in the UK. As...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: August 28th, 2017: Dragon Girls, New Books...
Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News!” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review media stories that mention or affect the traditional fighting...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: September 11th, 2017: The Back to School...
Guess who is coming to Philadelphia this September? Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News!” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review media stories...
View ArticleStar Wars: An American Martial Arts Film Franchise?
***On November 19th at 4 pm I will be taking part in a live-chat (broadcast on YouTube) on ethnographic research in the martial arts and lightsaber combat. This is exciting as a number of very...
View ArticleDisenchanting Jianghu (Rivers and Lakes): Historical Experience and the Kung...
Introduction I am happy to report that all of the conference papers and book chapters I have been working on for the last month are now finished. Unfortunately, my blogging sabbatical must continue...
View Article2017 Christmas Shopping List: Martial Arts Equipment and Long Reads to Get...
Its That Time of Year Again! Welcome to Kung Fu Tea’s sixth annual holiday shopping list! These are some of my favorite posts to pull together. They also serve as a great reminder to continue to...
View ArticleGuest Post: Martial Arts in the British National Press
Martial Arts in the British National Press Paul Bowman Cardiff University JOMEC Research Seminar, Cardiff University, 13th December 2017 Introduction This research project looked at stories, items...
View ArticleTrends and Stories that Shaped the Chinese Martial Arts in 2017
This is the time of year when it is only natural to pause and reflect on where we have been and what may be coming next. 2017 has been a busy year in the Chinese martial arts. Progress has......
View ArticleTop Ten Figures Who Shaped the Asian Martial Arts – Part I
Introduction As the saying goes, “amateurs borrow, professionals steal.” That adage certainly holds true in the world of blogging. Of course the real key to the exercise (both on-line and in life) is...
View ArticleTop Ten Figures Who Shaped the Asian Martial Arts – Part II
Welcome! This is the second (and concluding) section of my list of the top ten figures who helped to shape the development and spread of the modern Asian martial arts. Putting such a list together...
View ArticleThe State of Martial Arts Publishing Today – A Roundtable Discussion
Introduction Greetings, and welcome! Earlier this year a reader asked me to comment on the current state of the popular martial arts publishing industry. I have certainly noticed a couple of...
View ArticleChinese Martial Arts in the News: March 5th, 2018: Wu (the Fight Club) and...
Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News!” Lots has been happening in the Chinese martial arts community, so its time to see what people have been saying. For new readers, this is...
View ArticleEverybody is a Theorist (Especially on YouTube)
Something Old, Something New Everyone has a favorite TV show, film genre or martial art. So here is a quick experiment that you can carry out from the comfort of your own smart phone. Head on...
View ArticleChinese Martial Arts in the News: April 30th 2018: Karate, Choy Li Fut and...
Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News!” Lots has been happening in the Chinese martial arts community, so its time to see what people have been saying. For new readers, this is a...
View ArticleChinese Martial Arts in the News: May 21st, 2018: Kung Fu, Travel and a...
Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News!” Lots has been happening in the Chinese martial arts community, so its time to see what people have been saying. For new readers, this...
View ArticleLightsaber Combat and the Value of Myth in the Martial Arts
Solo, the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise, opens around the country tonight. As such, it is only fitting that I share with readers of Kung Fu Tea my latest article, co-authored with Chad...
View ArticleMatthew Polly on Bruce Lee and The Art of Writing a Life
Matthew Polly. 2018. Bruce Lee: A Life. New York: Simon and Schuster. 656 pages. $35 USD. Introduction Matthew Polly is perhaps the best known and most popular author writing on the martial arts...
View ArticleResearch Notes: Martial Arts and a History of Desire
A History of Desire When thinking about the diffusion of the Asian fighting arts to the West, we must distinguish between the history of the martial arts as they were practiced, and their...
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