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© Idōkan Poland Association “IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 14, no. 3 (2014), pp. 49–66 DOI: 10.14589/ido.14.3.7 TERMINOLOGY Wojciech J. Cynarski1(ABDEF), Joanna Skowron2(DEF) 1 Faculty of Physical Education, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów (Poland) 2 Foreign LanguagesCentre, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów (Poland) e-mail: [email protected] An analysis of the conceptual language used for the general theory of martial arts – Japanese, Polish and English terminology Submission: 15.07.2014; acceptance: 4.08.2014 Key words: fighting, martial arts, terminology, language, changes, understanding Abstract: Problem. The following study is concerned with the issue of the terminology used in martial arts, both widely in their practice, as well as in the scientific sphere. It deals with errors and misunderstandings, and changes and establishes definitions of terms. Method. The research is particularly concerned with the basic terms for martial arts used in the English, Japanese and Polish languages. Hermeneutic content analysis of the subject literature, dictionaries and scientific studies is here carried out from the perspective of the Humanistic Theory of Martial Arts (HTMA). Results. The authors present general comments about language changes and their causes. They make comparisons between definitions in specialist literature. They explain the problems of translation and refer to the statements of other researchers. The appendix features a glossary with analysis and explanation of selected basic concepts. Conclusions. Stipulative definitions, whose purpose is to clarify the basic concepts used in the science of martial arts, were used. This new scientific specialization should extend from the jargon of trainers to the language of scientific description. The causes of errors in martial arts terminology were also pointed out. Introduction to describe the reality of martial arts well. Scientist- specialists should be familiar with this specific Martial arts and combat sports (area of the martial terminology and understand its meaning. In turn, arts science / science of martial arts) terminology is practitioners should use the scientific description to very diverse and heterogeneous due to the number expand their knowledge and its practical use. of different methods, styles, schools; martial In the primary meaning it is a conceptual practices, fighting skills and sports that exist all language resulting from the adopted theoretical around the world. The assumption of one general perspective (definitions of terms), which depends theory of martial arts and related systems needs on the choice of theoretical concepts. Authors the scope of terminology and the choice of proper possessing narrowly specialized knowledge about names to be established . How can one name cover martial arts, or only selected combat sports, do not the various systems of art, ways, sports, methods, provide correct interpretation of the facts in the self-defence options and different usage methods in field of martial arts. This requires both practical military service (police, combat systems etc.) as well as knowledge and personal experience in the study those elements which are closer to ritual, meditation of different types of martial art. However, there and healing properties? are very few expert-scientists, who are at the same Terminology of martial arts, it is (1) the time high-ranking masters in several martial arts language used for scientific description, and (2) (classical and modern, using traditional weapons the vocabularyThis used in copy the practice for ofpersonal martial arts. use onlyand hand-to-hand – distribution fighting). prohibited This copy for personal use only – distribution prohibited — This copy for personal use only – distribution prohibited forpersonal only – distribution use copy — This prohibited only usefor personal – distribution This copy It is important for this language to be commonly In its other meaning the terminology stems understood both by researchers and practitioners and from socially and historically conditioned practice Electronic PDF security by Committe of Scientific Research, Stowarzyszenie Idokan Polska Poland 50 “IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 14, no. 3 (2014) of language. It is often a language not commonly traditional Polish literature [Zabłocki 2000; Sawicki used or known only to specialists. This applies to old 2011; Szajna 2007; Borysiuk et al. 2013]. However types of weapons and armaments, the names of parts reflection on the language of fencing and analysis of weapons and ways of using them, the tradition of “general” sports language, with its terminology of of fighting on horseback (naming the harness, the war and battle: attack, aggressive defence, fighting, vocabulary concerning horses), kinds of armour offence, trap, shooting etc. [cf. Polok 2005] will not and the names of fighting techniques. be covered in this paper. The Humanistic Theory of Martial Arts Martial arts, regardless of their origin, have (HTMA) includes the physical and psychological become a cultural phenomenon on a global scale. dimension of individual martial arts originating It is worth analysing the nomenclature adopted from eastern Asia, and other systems of psycho- in the major European countries (France, Spain, physical practice, which means “self-realisation Germany). Asian martial arts came here quite is achieved through training in fighting skills or early and often transferred to other countries weapons training”. through French, Spanish or German instructors A systematic and multi-dimensional approach respectively. And this oral or written message, is needed here so that comparative studies of is sometimes burdened with errors (speech and different theoretical concepts are carried out writing, transcription and spelling). However, this [Cynarski, Kurek 2009] along with the creation of study focuses mainly on the main Polish, Japanese new concepts. and English terminology. HTMA seems to contain the greatest A lot of content, especially Chinese, is literally explanatory power for the multidimensional untranslatable into European languages. So various phenomenon of martial arts. It introduces a language versions of the same original content are available. to describe the various traditions of martial arts In addition poetic descriptions from old treaties [Cynarski, Obodyński 2003; Cynarski 2004, 2009a] are sometimes an image of a state of mind rather and proposes a rational glossary [Cynarski 2004: than a physical condition. They become more 393-401, 2009a: 236-247]. It should help to sort out understandable only by long practice of martial arts. the existing conceptual chaos in publications. The Another necessity is to understand the language chaos can result from the translation of concepts of symbols in eastern and south-eastern Asian from eastern Asia into English and other European countries i.e. possession of certain hermeneutical languages [cf. Figueiredo 2009; Pérez-Gutiérrez, competence in this field. The lack of humanistic, Gutiérrez-García, Escobar-Molina 2011]. anthropological and cultural knowledge, prevents Some additional complication are dictionary the full understanding and explanation of the world definitions, sometimes mistakenly or without a of martial arts (from the axiological sphere to the logical consequence explaining basic concepts psychophysical reality) particularly because the such as ‘martial art’ [Cynarski 2013a]. Sometimes same symbols in China and Europe sometimes definitions are simplified and do not explain the have quite different meanings [cf. Grossman 1988; complexity of the term e.g. “martial arts are any Florence 1995; Eberhard 2001; Cynarski, Obodyński one of several forms of fighting and self-defence 2009]. (such as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sports” [Merriam-Webster 2014]. From the language of the Samurai come General comments about changes to such names as ‚empi-uchi ‚(strike of a swallow), languages referring to elbow-stokes, or „tsubame-gaeshi’ (swallow counter), which is the name of one of the Technological advances have meant many significant techniques used to counter an attempt to undercut. changes in the art of war. Hand-to-hand fighting, Many others, such as jūjutsu, shihan, sōke come from the use of old steel and the cavalry have lost their Old Japanese. They are mostly incomprehensible to importance. So the notions that for centuries have contemporary Japanese people. described the weapons and armament, armour The language of historical fencing requires or harnesses have also become obsolete. Who in knowledge of concepts not used today, and the Poland today knows what a glaive or glaive flagstaff, study of old treaties. Zbigniew Czajkowski, an bolt, stirrup or bridle is ? In addition, the old treaties expert in fencing in the European tradition, and were written in the language of our ancestors, which in Old English and French, has had some significant makes everything less understood. achievementsThis in this copy field for[Czajkowski personal 1968, use onlyA country’s– distribution national martialprohibited arts may be This copy for personal use only – distribution prohibited 2007] as have scholars dealing with Old German prohibited forpersonal only – distribution use copy — This prohibited only usefor personal – distribution This copy This copy for personal use only – distribution prohibited — This copy for personal use only – distribution prohibited forpersonal only – distribution