Can We Learn Martial Arts Through Books? The Revival of Korean Fight Books Through Transmission and Reconstruction

Fight books can be defined as texts specialising in the theories of martial arts and the instruction of techniques (for future generations) based on actual experience of real fighting and training. According to this definition, today's efforts to reconstruct classical martial arts based upon historic fight books, in both East and West, are attempts to resurrect something extinct. Traditional East Asian martial artists, however, often argue that there are substantial limits in the reconstruction process of, for example, medieval European martial arts given the discontinuity of embodied knowledge, especially when compared to the Asian arts’ presumed strong transmission from generation to generation without interruption. Both seem quite different, but they share the epistemological assumption that authentic archetypes of martial arts did exist at some point in the past and believe it possible to transmit or reconstruct them in the present. This paper examines the limitations to the hypothesis of the existence of martial arts archetypes by examining the discourse surrounding the inherited tradition of the Muyedobotongji in Korea. The authors of the Muyedobotongji successfully synthesised and standardised contemporary East Asian martial arts and shared that knowledge from the perspective of Joseon[1] in the late eighteenth century. Now, after 200 years, we must do our part to breathe new life into it for this era.

Benefits of Exercise on Influenza or Pneumonia in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

A coronavirus pandemic has recently become one of the greatest threats the world is facing. Older adults are under a high risk of infection because of weaker immune systems. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the recent scientific evidence that outlines the effects of exercise on influenza or pneumonia in older adults. An electronic literature search was conducted using the WEB OF SCIENCE, SCIENCEDIRECT and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases using the following keywords, “Exercise,” “Older adult,” “Influenza,” and “Pneumonia.” Any randomized control trials, cross-sectional and observational studies that related to this topic were all included. Twenty studies met the eligibility criteria for this review. Thirteen randomized control trials investigated the effects of exercise on the immune responses to influenza or pneumonia vaccination: seven trials employed moderate aerobic exercise, three employed resistance exercise, and the remaining three used Asian martial arts or special home-based exercises. Five cross-sectional and two observational studies examined the associations between exercise/physical condition and influenza/pneumonia. Most of the current studies suggested that prolonged moderate aerobic exercise may help to reduce the risk of influenza-related infection and improve the immune responses to influenza or pneumonia vaccination in older adults. In addition, training in traditional Asian martial arts was also found to be beneficial. Future research should focus on the different effects of moderate and vigorous exercise on influenza-related diseases.

Remarks on the philosophy of Idokan Karate

<div><p>Every school of <em>karatedo</em> presents some special values and norms. May be, the philosophy of <em>Idokan Karate</em> is partially similar to other schools, and especially represents the <em>Ido</em> philosophy (that is not worldwide known). It is a real, practical philosophy, internalised and used by groups of <em>karateka</em>, as a form of today's warrior pathway. The author tries to answer the following questions: What ethics, values and rules are prominent in <em>Idokan Karate</em>? What is the specific, symbolic content of this style and school? This is a single case study, involving a content analysis of literature and the wider discourse, and the hermeneutic phenomenology. The study uses the analysis of broad discourse, which concerns both scientific studies and popularizing publications. Not without significance is the fact that the author has actively practiced Asian martial arts for over 40 years. The specific, symbolic content of <em>Idokan Karate</em> is taken from philosophic Taoism, Chinese and Japanese tradition of martial arts, and from Christianity. Its interpretation shows that the <em>karate</em> athlete has to go the moral way. It is the pathway toward being a better human. Such teleology comes from special values, rules and aims. In the normative ethics, the Decalogue and the idea of nobility (the <em>Homo creator nobilis</em>) are most important. <em>Tao</em> in <em>Idokan</em> <em>Karate </em>is understood as God's Word, the principle of love and the way of the Heavens.</p></div>