Abstract - Humanities in the study of Budo – problems and methodology
The author discusses the subject of the humanities and social reflection in martial arts and combat sports. This is an approach synthesizing knowledge and inspecting and presenting opinions, which also includes postulating and designing theses. The first part of the work contains a description of the paradigmatic changes in science and a brief description of a new humanistic and systemic paradigm. Then, in the second part, several theoretical concepts operating within the subject area of 'martial arts science' are considered. The anthropology of martial arts and the humanistic theory of martial arts have been contrasted with other theories, developed earlier or at the same time. The third part of the discussion contains preferred methods of research, with a focus on qualitative methods.
The study ends with a summary and conclusions which can be applied to future study.
These are the opinions of the author, his voice in the discussion on further directions of Budo research (martial arts, combat sports) and the proposed methodology of the studies:
1. In humanistic studies qualitative research methods bring greater cognitive value as they are better able to explain the reality being described.
2. In 'martial arts science' it is hard to overestimate the value of the opinions of experts with many years of practical experience, as it is the science concerning this very practice.
3. Avoiding reductionism and closing oneself off from their martial arts should allow for the creation of a scientific theory common to the different traditions of martial arts.