Investigations into the history of karate

For the academic study of karate, it is also important to think outside the box. I always look to see what’s new on the market and what scholarly approach the authors have chosen for their research of other martial arts disciplines. 

Biographies of famous martial artists have always fascinated me. That’s also the reason why I myself take a closer look at the most important protagonists in my work. I always follow the publications of other authors with great interest to see what new things they have discovered, what aspects of their work I can use for my own work and what benefits they can have for the academic study of martial arts. With this in mind, I became aware of the new book by Augustus John Roe (2023): “Masters Martial Arts. Unraveling fact from fiction“ (YMAA Publishing).

Good biographies of martial artists are rare. They usually just copy what has already been written elsewhere. They therefore offer no real added value for the reader or for research. Roe’s book is refreshingly different. In his collection of biographies, he doesn’t just focus on the lives of his protagonists, each of whom he describes briefly. Instead, he examines their lives on the basis of three key questions: Why are the legendary founders and figureheads of the martial arts so highly regarded? How realistic are their legends? What is the function of these legends, both historically and in the present day?

In his book, Roe looks at no fewer than twelve people, each of whom can be viewed in a very differentiated way, both geographically and chronologically. The biographies are structured in four categories, to which he assigns his protagonists – an approach that I have never seen before in literature: Spiritual journeys, stories of rebellion, duels, challenges.

Anyone expecting a detailed life story here is wrong. With twelve biographies in one book, this is naturally difficult. However, the book offers well thought-out reading and new insights. As a result, the book is an entertaining work. Martial artists and non-martial artists alike will enjoy it. Conclusion: Highly recommended!