University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 5-2011 Kenshi’s Experiences of Kendo: A Phenomenological Investigation Takahiro Sato University of Tennessee - Knoxville, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Sports Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Sato, Takahiro, "Kenshi’s Experiences of Kendo: A Phenomenological Investigation. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2011. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/1022 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Takahiro Sato entitled "Kenshi’s Experiences of Kendo: A Phenomenological Investigation." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Kinesiology and Sport Studies. Craig A. Wrisberg, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Leslee A. Fisher, Joel F. Diambra, Noriko J. Horiguchi Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) KENSHI’S EXPERIENCES OF KENDO: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Takahiro Sato May 2011 ii Copyright © 2011 by Takahiro Sato All rights reserved. iii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation first and foremost to my wife, Miyako. Her optimistic and hopeful attitudes always encouraged and motivated me through the most difficult days. I also want to give many thanks to my daughter, Azusa. Her tremendous passion and dedication to achieve her goals inspired me a lot. Both of you are a source of motivation, energy, and joy in my life. I also would like to dedicate this dissertation to my mom and dad, who have always supported my dreams and believed in my success. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to show my deepest gratitude to all the people who have given me support and encouragement throughout my dissertation work. In particular, I would like to thank my committee members. To my committee chair Dr. Craig Wrisberg, I cannot express my appreciation to you enough. I have received countless lessons and support from you during my entire doctoral program. You are my great sensei. To Dr. Leslee Fisher, I want to thank you for providing input from your exceptional knowledge about the blend of sport psychology and cultural studies. To Dr. Joel Diambra, I would like to thank you for introducing me to such an intriguing research approach, the existential phenomenological methodology. To Dr. Noriko Horiguchi, I would like to thank you for the advice and suggestions from your expertise about Japanese studies. I also would like to thank all of the kenshi who participated in this research. It was a great honor for me to interview you all and learn from your experience as a sport psychology scholar and as an inexperienced kenshi. I want to extend my appreciation to the Phenomenology Research Group led by Dr. Howard Pollio and Dr. Sandra Thomas for their help and contribution to my data analysis. I want to express my thanks to my friends who have given me emotional and technical support: Ron Kalafsky, Pete Jensen, Dani Scott, John Manley, my fellow graduate students, and my sensei and fellow kenshi in Knoxville Kendo Club. 本当にありがとうございました。 v ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to extend existing literature on the martial arts by examining the experience of kendo (Japanese fencing) participants. In-depth, existential phenomenological interviews were conducted with nine (eight males and one female) currently competitive kendo practitioners (i.e., kenshi), ranging in age from 19 to 40 years. All participants were of Japanese descent but resided in the United States at the time of the interviews. Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed several prominent aspects of the lives and performance experiences of kenshi. The most important finding was the relatively equal emphasis participants placed on the mastery of kendo technique, aesthetically elegant skill execution, and victory in competition. Other aspects of kenshi’s experience included the building of strong relationships with influential sensei (i.e., instructors), the display of proper manners and etiquette, and the learning of life lessons. vi Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 ...................................................................................................................1 Introduction.................................................................................................................1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................4 Significance.............................................................................................................4 Assumptions............................................................................................................5 Limitations ..............................................................................................................5 Delimitations...........................................................................................................5 Terminology............................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................................10 Review of Literature..................................................................................................10 A Brief Overview of Kendo...................................................................................10 Combat sports........................................................................................................18 Culture and sports..................................................................................................22 Summary...............................................................................................................28 CHAPTER 3 .................................................................................................................30 Methods ....................................................................................................................30 Existential Phenomenology ...................................................................................30 Participants............................................................................................................33 Procedures.............................................................................................................33 Issues of Validity and Reliability...........................................................................40 CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................................43 Results ......................................................................................................................43 Kendo Components ...............................................................................................43 Kendo as Competition ...........................................................................................53 Kendo as Art .........................................................................................................57 Relationship/Bond ................................................................................................. 65 The Way/Path........................................................................................................75 Values of Kendo....................................................................................................87 World of Everyday Life.........................................................................................92 CHAPTER 5 .................................................................................................................98 Discussion.................................................................................................................98 Major Findings......................................................................................................98 Connections to Previous Research ....................................................................... 108 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 120 Sport Psychology Practitioners ............................................................................ 120 Future Researchers .............................................................................................. 123 Conclusions............................................................................................................. 124 References .................................................................................................................. 126 Appendices ................................................................................................................