Myth and Identity in the Martial Arts - (Sport, Identity, and Culture) by Alexus McLeod (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book is an investigation of the role of myth and creation of social identity in martial arts, looking at historical contexts and important movements in East Asia and the West, from ancient times to the present day.

Book Synopsis

Myth and Identity in the Martial Arts: Creating the Dragon is a study of the role of myth and ideology in the formation of social identity, focusing on a variety of communities of practice involving the martial arts in East Asian and Western history. Alexus McLeod argues that myths of the martial arts should not be understood as "falsehoods" created as means of legitimizing modern practices, but should instead be understood as narratives that enable individuals and communities to formulate social identities and to accord meaning to their practices. This book covers six influential sources of myth and identity formation in the history of martial arts: early Chinese and Indian philosophy, the formation bushido thought in the Edo period of Japan, Republican-era Chinese conceptions of nationhood and physical culture, Western contributions and the innovations of Bruce Lee, African American conceptions of martial arts as a response to oppression in the twentieth century, and the contemporary ideologies of mixed martial arts.

Review Quotes

""Myth and Identity in the Martial Arts is a timely and welcome addition to the martial arts studies literature. Alexus McLeod's engaging and accessible text provides a persuasive analysis of how martial arts mythologies feature in the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves. The broad scope of its analysis will appeal to readers across academic disciplines with a substantive interest in how myths provide vital fodder for the social construction of identity."" --Alex Channon, University of Brighton

""A must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of martial arts, philosophy, culture, and identity. Multidisciplinary, yet a work of serious philosophy. Encyclopedic, but still theoretically focused, McLeod's writing is accessible to scholars, practitioners, and fans of martial arts culture."" --Steve Geisz, University of Tampa

About the Author

Alexus McLeod is professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University.