Perception, understanding and adaptation of Asianmartial arts in the West: a sociological analysis

Making use of terminological instruments of the humanistic theory of Far-Eastern martial arts, the authors analyse the phenomenon of perception and adaptation of Asian martial arts in the West – particularly in Germany and the USA, in the perspective of culture and sport sociology. The paper discusses selected reports of authors undertaking humanistic reflection with reference to the phenomenon of martial arts. General tendencies in the martial arts practiced in the West were presented and detailed differences between American and Middle-European perceptions discussed. The ‘budō pedagogy’, as well as intercultural and intercontinental borrowings of budō leaders were emphasised.