Abstract
The rapid globalization of martial arts has reconditioned how the beliefs, customs, and philosophies of traditionally based systems are interpreted and applied in modern practice. As contemporary scholarship struggles to accommodate the cultural histories, myths, and traditions that permeate the perception of martial arts in modern contexts, the focus of inquiry has shifted towards explaining cultural variations in practice rather than understanding the nature of self-awareness derived from self-practice. Consequently, the deeper meanings of martial arts as pathways to personal and transpersonal awareness are often invalidated in favor of objective and verifiable explications. In short, the role of consciousness is frequently marginalized in the exploration of modern martial arts. This commentary challenges this scholarly trend, suggesting a reconsideration of the ways in which modern martial arts serve as outlets for self-awareness that preserve, readdress, and synthesize traditional philosophies in creative ways. Using Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do as a primary example, I argue that the role of consciousness as a key attribute in training has not been lost; it has merely been reconstituted in ways that are less distinguishable than in traditional Eastern systems but nevertheless remains a focus of martial arts practice.
Keywords: Bruce Lee, consciousness, martial arts, martial arts studies, modern martial arts, self-awareness
Recommended Citation
Sutton, J. H. (2025). Martial Arts Studies: A Commentary on the Exploration of Consciousness in Modern Martial Arts. Journal of Conscious Evolution, 22(1). https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cejournal/vol22/iss1/4
Included in
Asian History Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Buddhist Studies Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Philosophy of Mind Commons, Sports Studies Commons, Transpersonal Psychology Commons
