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.
By:
Alexus McLeod
Imprint: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781666944600
ISBN 10: 1666944602
Series: Sport, Identity, and Culture
Pages: 362
Publication Date: 15 February 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction: Creating the Dragon Chapter 1. “I Want to Create a New Chamber”— Historical Foundations and Development of the Martial Arts Chapter 2. “A Finger Pointing to the Moon”—Dance, Ritual, and the Arts of War Chapter 3. “One Should Consider Himself as Dead”—Martial Arts and Deconstruction of the Self Chapter 4. “What’s Your Style?”—National, Ethnic, and Cultural Identity in the Martial Arts Chapter 5. “Honestly Expressing Yourself”— Bruce Lee and the Idea of Expression of the “True Self” in the Martial Arts Chapter 6. “Who’s The Master?”—Martial Arts Ideologies of Empowerment Chapter 7. “No Mercy”—Contemporary Martial Arts Myth of “Real” Fighting, Control, and Potency Conclusion: Commitment and the Martial Arts as Way of Life
Alexus McLeod is professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University.
Reviews for Myth and Identity in the Martial Arts: Creating the Dragon
""A must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of martial arts, philosophy, culture, and identity. Multi-disciplinary, 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 ""Myth and Identity in the Martial Arts is a timely and welcome addition to the martial arts studies literature. Dr. 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
