The situation of the martial arts and combat sports society, and the science of fighting arts in AD 2016

This is a description of the current situation, the news from Poland and from the perspective of the headquarters of the IPA & IMACSSS in Rzeszow starting with a reference to historical events. The editorial refers to international events in the martial arts circle, the issue of a new paradigm of learning and the content of volume 16. These include accounts (factual material), reviews (evaluation) and comments. There is also a preliminary announcement of significant events in 2017 and the publication of volume 17. 2 “IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 16, no. 4 (2016) Congress of IMACSSS in Rio Maior (Portugal). This was possible thanks to the efforts of Prof. Dr Antonio Vences de Brito and his team. And it was a big success – organisational and scientific, because of high level of the discours [cf. Vences de Brito 2016]. The review of this event should be published in the next volume of our Journal. The IMACSSS previous conference in Brno still enjoys a positive response [Bugala 2015; Cynarski, Kubala 2015]. Our quarterly has improved its position in the Scopus/Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) from the result of 0.187 for 2014 to 0.198 in 2015. However, progress in our journal was not acknowledged by the experts in the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, who awarded it a score 8 previously it was 10). The editorin-chief appealed against this unjust assessment, but unfortunately to no avail. It is difficult to determine the criteria for the assessment by the ministerial expert team. We are waiting for indexing on the Web of Science hoping that their assessment will be more relevant, substantive and justified. Let us move on to broader questions – new theoretical concepts and a new paradigm for our area of expertise. In the spirit of the new paradigm, the General Theory of Fighting Arts [Cynarski 2016b] is offered as an example. What are the distinguishing features of this new paradigm? They are supposed to have: Firstly: a systemic, and at the same time humanistic approach, which is in line with the preference of our Journal [cf. Cynarski 2013, 2014]. The second trait of the new paradigm, is a change in the state of knowledge as a result e.g. of genetic tests (Y-DNA), which almost lead to a revolution in archeology and ancient history. The third aspect of the change in scientific inquiry concerns the epistemology and methodology of scientific research. In this case it is not only allowed, but also advisable to delve into new categories of sources, such as photography and film recordings (visual sociology and analysis of pictures). These techniques make it possible to illustrate the publications through a film, and one such film presenting one form of karate, Idokan, is now available, and is also on YouTube [Cynarski, Sieber 2016]. It is also advisable to follow the same tracks. While it is usually true that authors should provide no more than 20% of references to their own work, in some cases it is justified. It may happen when a new theory arises from puzzles, and where about 50% of these puzzle pieces have to be created, it is then worth quoting a reference to one’s own work [cf. Hetherington 1996]. Let us return to the second manifestation of the paradigmatic changes. The work of the American geneticists (Klyosov et al.; Underhill et al.; and others) now gives a new outlook to the history of Indo-European peoples and the Slavs. The article The proto-Slavic warrior in Europe: The Scythians, Sarmatians and Lekhs (Cynarski and Maciejewska) published in this volume disseminates this new knowledge, putting presenting a bold hypothesis and attempts to interpret the facts. It is possible a presumptive polemic will be published in subsequent issues. Idokan Poland Association adopted a new project – IPA Project no. 4 / 2017-20. Its specific topics include: 4.1. The cultivation and institutionalisation and adaptations to martial arts in Europe; 4.2. Historical Polish and European fencing factual material, restoration and teaching; 4.3. 70 years of judo-do/ido – the idea and technique; 4.4. Martial arts tourism – analytical and explanatory studies. In the case of martial arts tourism there can be distinguished, by analogy to Alpinism and Himalayan mountaineering – the Big Crown (most Asian ‚magnets’ of tourism of this kind) and its main jewel: Shaolin Temple. This is undoubtedly the biggest attraction for martial arts tourism on a global scale. While the Muai Thai stadiums in Bangkok are interesting for fans of this sport, and Okinawa for karate enthusiasts, Shaolin attracts tourists as the birthplace of many varieties of martial arts. The report from a trip to this famous monastery should be published in the next volume of our quarterly. In this volume we find a new interpretation of Lao Tzu’s and Peter Jahnke’s philosophy of the Way [article: The Christian and the pathway of martial arts]. This is a new reading, indicating the moral proximity of the Way of Virtue of Taoism philosophy and Christian ethics, and the deeper meaning of the ascetic way of martial arts [Cynarski 2016a]. Although in the Japanese version of the Gospel the translation: „In the beginning was the Tao”, can be found, Tao is not identified with a personal God. Kowalczyk [2016] rightly points out that there are fundamental differences between the ontological assumptions of Taoism and Christianity, as well as between personalistic anthropology and the concept of human Taoism or Buddhism. It is encouraging that the circle of researchers on the issue of ‚tourism of martial arts’ is expanding. Noteworthy is the work Beyond Martial Arts Tourism: Outcomes of Capoeiristas’ Apprenticeship Pilgrimages [Griffith 2016], describing the issue on the ground in Brazil. The next issues of our Journal will certainly include more studies on the ‚tourism of martial arts’. Volume 16 contains works from different scientific disciplines. For example they include historical accounts devoted to the traditions of Eastern Asia (Liu, Jung and Shishida) and the history of martial arts and combat sports in Spain (Jimenez-Landazuri et al.). There are studies concerning cultural anthropology (Guodong, Green, Gutierrez-Garcia; Vicente), and from interdisciplinary perspectives, for example: between psychology and coaching (Shapie et al.; Ortenburger et al.). There are also articles representing kinesiology (Vodicka et al.), the general philosophy of sport (Pawlucki), the sociology of sport (Dziubinski; Dabrowski et al.), and also some specialist subdisciplines. These are: 1) the philosophy of martial arts (Martinkova and Parry), the sociology of martial arts (Kusnierz et al.; Ben Messaoud), and the pedagogy of martial arts (Johnson; Arziutov et al.). Some scientific problems are very specific for our profile, like self-defence (Bugala et al.). Some others can be analysed in sport sciences or in the area of cultural 3 Cynarski W.J. — The situation of the martial arts and combat sports society, and the science of fighting... studies. In this context the article by Sieber and Pawelec [2016] concerning the autonomy of the science of martial arts and methods of determining highest competence. It is particularly important. In addition, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of reviews of publications and scientific events. This time we have a series of review articles and another portion of the news in a series Facts and Comments. Today we are waiting for next year’s 50th anniversary of the Japanese Academy of Budo, for a meeting of IMACSSS, IPA and DDBV experts in Munich, for the 25th Summer School of IPA, for the next Symposiums and Workshops. The IPA 24th General Assembly Commemoration Symposium: “Martial Arts in Scientific Research” 2017 in Rzeszow will be mainly devoted to historical sabre skills [Zablocki 2001; Sawicki 2011; Marsden 2015]. And the editorial Committee of our Journal is waiting for your best, new manuscripts, to be published. If you are looking for fresh inspiration please remember our website www.imcjournal.com. We invite you to read and cooperate further, Wojciech J. Cynarski University of Rzeszow Editor-in-chief