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.

This thesis provides a detailed socio-historical analysis of the evolutionary process of traditional Japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu) from the inception of distinct martial schools (bugei-ryuha) in the fourteenth century, to its gradual progression into a modern competitive sport (kendo), and a subject of study in the current Japanese education system. The following questions with regards to the development of Japanese swordsmanship were analysed: 1) How did schools dedicated to the study of martial arts (bugei-ryuha) evolve, and why was the sword so important to the early traditions? 2) What was the process in which kenjutsu become “civilised”, and how did it relate to class identity in the Tokugawa period (1600-1868)? 3) In what way did kenjutsu transmute when class distinctions and national isolationist policies (sakoku) were abolished in the Meiji period (1868–1912)? 4) What were the cultural and political influences in the rise of “state” and “popular” nationalism, and how did they affect the “re-invention” and manipulation of kendo in the first half of the twentieth century? 5) How did post-war private and national cultural policy affect the reinstatement of kendo and its usefulness in inculcating a sense of “Japaneseness”? 6) What are the nationalistic motivations, and perceived dangers of the international propagation of kendo with regards to cultural propriotership? Through applying socio-historical concepts such as Norbert Elias’s “civilising process” and Eric Hobsbawm’s “invention of tradition”, as well as various descriptions of nationalism to the evolution of kendo, this thesis demonstrates how the martial art has continued to maintain a connection with the past, while simultaneously developing into a symbolic and discursive form of traditional culture representing a “cultural ethos” considered to be a manifestation of “Japaneseness”. Ultimately, kendo can be described as a kind of participatory based mind-body Nihonjinron. Japan’s current reaction as it ponders the repercussions if it were to somehow lose its status as the suzerain nation of kendo, i.e. as exclusive owners of kendo - a martial art perceived as one of the most representative forms of traditional Japanese culture – is also assessed in this thesis.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T19:21:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Alves Farias.pdf: 992276 bytes, checksum: e50bfe07bfb2b2e03c8836d559c33fec (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-14 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This research aimed to contextualize the transformations observed through specific eras of the Japanese history about religious and martial contents of the Japanese martial in Brazil. Japanese martial arts is called Budo (The way of War) and the specific one chosen for this research is called Kendo (the way of Sword). The main difference regarding this kind of martial arts compared to others existing in Brazil is the coexistence of historical, ethnic and religious contents that, apparently, are bringing to the Brazilian culture ethical and moral assumptions from Buda s teachings. Through interviews we focused on the investigation about nonphysical manifestation which exists in Kendo. There were two groups, organized according to their official scale. The information led us to conclude that the philosophical, ethical and religious understanding about Kendo is gaining more and more local characteristics / Nessa dissertação procurou-se contextualizar as transformações ocorridas, ao longo de períodos específicos da história japonesa, dos conteúdos de natureza religiosos e marciais, pertencentes ao universo da arte marcial japonesa praticada no Brasil. O conjunto das artes marciais japonesa é denominado BUDO (Caminho das Artes da Guerra) e a arte marcial específica pesquisada, foi o Kendo (Caminho da Espada). A significativa importância de termos escolhido esta modalidade em relação às demais artes marciais orientais presentes no Brasil se refere à coexistência de aspectos históricos, étnicos e religiosos, que aparentemente, introduzem na cultura brasileira, pressupostos éticos, morais da religião ensinada por Buda Gautama. Por meio da pesquisa empírica ocupamo-nos de investigar algumas das manifestações do universo não-corporal do Kendo a partir de entrevistas com praticantes da modalidade divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a graduação oficial, regulamentada internacionalmente. As informações obtidas permitiram concluir que, o entendimento filosófico, ético e religioso do Kendo vem adquirindo características cada vez mais locais

OBJETIVOS: Comparar a qualidade de vida dos idosos praticantes de Kendô com idosos fisicamente ativos não praticantes dessa luta e, secundariamente, comparar os aspectos funcionais desses grupos. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo controlado, do tipo observacional, com delineamento transversal. Por ser um tema ainda não tratado na literatura internacional, optou-se por uma amostra de conveniência composta por 20 participantes (10 no Grupo Kendô e 10 no Grupo Controle). O tratamento estatístico escolhido correspondeu à análise não paramétrica com o teste U de Mann Whitney para comparação dos dados quantitativos e o teste de quiquadrado para a comparação dos dados qualitativos com nível de significância de 5%. Os grupos foram pareados por idade, sendo a principal variável estudada a exposição ou não ao Kendô. A avaliação da qualidade de vida foi medida através do instrumento WHOQOL-bref em conjunto com o WHOQOL-old. A composição corpórea foi medida em balança de bioimpedância (InBody230). O equilíbrio dinâmico foi medido na plataforma de força (Balance Master System da Neurocom International INC® Clackamas - USA). A força de flexo-extensão de joelhos foi medida no isocinético (Biodex® Stystem 3 modelo Biodex Multi Joint System, BIODEX); a força de preensão palmar foi medida no dinamômetro manual portátil (Jamar SH 5001). RESULTADOS: A qualidade de vida do grupo Kendô foi estatisticamente superior a do grupo Controle (p=0,002), principalmente nos domínios Físico (p=0,0001) e Meio-ambiente (p=0,004), assim como na faceta Participação Social (p=0,001) e Atividades Passadas, Presentes e Futuras (p=0,01). Os grupos não apresentaram diferença estatística quanto à caracterização sociodemográfica, composição corpórea, nível de atividade física, força e equilíbrio dinâmico, mas o grupo Controle foi mais rápido no teste sentar e levantar (p=0,03). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem que o Kendô aprimora a qualidade de vida dos lutadores, mesmo quando comparado com um grupo Controle funcionalmente superior / OBJECTIVES: To compare the quality of life of older kendo practitioners with physically active elderly non-practicing this fight and, secondly, to compare the functional aspects of these groups. METHODS: This is a controlled observational, cross-sectional design study. Since this is a topic not covered in the international literature, we opted for a convenience sample of 20 participants (10 in Kendo group and 10 in the control group). The statistical treatment chosen corresponded to non-parametric analysis with the Mann Whitney U test in order to compare the quantitative data and the chi-square test for comparison of qualitative data with 5% significance level. The groups were matched for age, and the main variable studied the exposure or not to kendo. The evaluation of quality of life was measured by the WHOQOL-bref instrument together with the WHOQOL-old. The body composition was measured in balance of bioimpedance (InBody230). The dynamic balance was measured on the force platform (Balance Master System, Neurocom International INC® Clackamas - USA). The strength of flexion and knee extension was measured in isokinetic (Biodex® Stystem 3 model Biodex Multi Joint System, BIODEX); the palm pressure strength was measured on the dynamometer portable manual (Jamar HS 5001). RESULTS: The quality of life of kendo group was statistically higher than the control group (p = 0.002), especially in Physical domain (p = 0.0001) and Environment (p = 0.004), as well as social participation facet (p = 0.001) and Activities Past, Present and Future (p = 0.01). The groups showed no statistical difference in the sociodemographic characteristics, body composition, physical activity level, strength and dynamic balance, but control group showed statistical difference in the sit-to-stand test (p = 0,03). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that kendo improves the quality of life of fighters, even when compared with a control group functionally superior

OBJETIVOS: Comparar a qualidade de vida dos idosos praticantes de Kendô com idosos fisicamente ativos não praticantes dessa luta e, secundariamente, comparar os aspectos funcionais desses grupos. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo controlado, do tipo observacional, com delineamento transversal. Por ser um tema ainda não tratado na literatura internacional, optou-se por uma amostra de conveniência composta por 20 participantes (10 no Grupo Kendô e 10 no Grupo Controle). O tratamento estatístico escolhido correspondeu à análise não paramétrica com o teste U de Mann Whitney para comparação dos dados quantitativos e o teste de quiquadrado para a comparação dos dados qualitativos com nível de significância de 5%. Os grupos foram pareados por idade, sendo a principal variável estudada a exposição ou não ao Kendô. A avaliação da qualidade de vida foi medida através do instrumento WHOQOL-bref em conjunto com o WHOQOL-old. A composição corpórea foi medida em balança de bioimpedância (InBody230). O equilíbrio dinâmico foi medido na plataforma de força (Balance Master System da Neurocom International INC® Clackamas - USA). A força de flexo-extensão de joelhos foi medida no isocinético (Biodex® Stystem 3 modelo Biodex Multi Joint System, BIODEX); a força de preensão palmar foi medida no dinamômetro manual portátil (Jamar SH 5001). RESULTADOS: A qualidade de vida do grupo Kendô foi estatisticamente superior a do grupo Controle (p=0,002), principalmente nos domínios Físico (p=0,0001) e Meio-ambiente (p=0,004), assim como na faceta Participação Social (p=0,001) e Atividades Passadas, Presentes e Futuras (p=0,01). Os grupos não apresentaram diferença estatística quanto à caracterização sociodemográfica, composição corpórea, nível de atividade física, força e equilíbrio dinâmico, mas o grupo Controle foi mais rápido no teste sentar e levantar (p=0,03). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem que o Kendô aprimora a qualidade de vida dos lutadores, mesmo quando comparado com um grupo Controle funcionalmente superior / OBJECTIVES: To compare the quality of life of older kendo practitioners with physically active elderly non-practicing this fight and, secondly, to compare the functional aspects of these groups. METHODS: This is a controlled observational, cross-sectional design study. Since this is a topic not covered in the international literature, we opted for a convenience sample of 20 participants (10 in Kendo group and 10 in the control group). The statistical treatment chosen corresponded to non-parametric analysis with the Mann Whitney U test in order to compare the quantitative data and the chi-square test for comparison of qualitative data with 5% significance level. The groups were matched for age, and the main variable studied the exposure or not to kendo. The evaluation of quality of life was measured by the WHOQOL-bref instrument together with the WHOQOL-old. The body composition was measured in balance of bioimpedance (InBody230). The dynamic balance was measured on the force platform (Balance Master System, Neurocom International INC® Clackamas - USA). The strength of flexion and knee extension was measured in isokinetic (Biodex® Stystem 3 model Biodex Multi Joint System, BIODEX); the palm pressure strength was measured on the dynamometer portable manual (Jamar HS 5001). RESULTS: The quality of life of kendo group was statistically higher than the control group (p = 0.002), especially in Physical domain (p = 0.0001) and Environment (p = 0.004), as well as social participation facet (p = 0.001) and Activities Past, Present and Future (p = 0.01). The groups showed no statistical difference in the sociodemographic characteristics, body composition, physical activity level, strength and dynamic balance, but control group showed statistical difference in the sit-to-stand test (p = 0,03). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that kendo improves the quality of life of fighters, even when compared with a control group functionally superior

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-10-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:47:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 abreu_rf_me_ia.pdf: 5545611 bytes, checksum: f87bfda7a6a6b1328892449e025dcb29 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Esta pesquisa se lança à produção e ao entendimento da etapa primícia do game, o seu roteiro, em um estudo artístico que se relaciona à arte da espada como temática. Com a aproximação cada vez mais incisiva entre as artes e as mídias interativas, surgem possibilidades de expressão promissoras como ocorre em relação aos jogos eletrônicos. A gamearte, justamente o campo de estudo resultado desta junção, propõe novas incursões baseadas em altos graus de interatividade e mostrando sua inclinação,própria das ciberartes, nas quais o artista deve lidar também com a interdisciplinaridade de linguagens hibridizadas. No roteiro do game Ilha Makoto, produto desta dissertação, tratamos de explicitar o trajeto conceitual requisitado para a concepção da obra. / This research aims the production and understanding the first game stage, your screenplay in an artistic study related with the sword art as a theme. With the so sharply approach between arts and interactive media, appears promising expression possibilities as it occurs in relation to video games. The GameArt, precisely the knowledge field results of this connection, proposes new incursions based on high interactivity levels and showing his inclination, cyber arts characteristic, which the artist must also deal with the interdisciplinary hybridized language. In Makoto Island screenplay game, a product of this work, it aims make clear the conceptual path for the design work.

På marknaden finns ett flertal JavaScript-ramverk, exempelvis: YUI, The Dojo Toolkit, Kendo UI och. Ext JS. Syftet med studien är att undersöka vilka av dessa JavaScript-ramverk som är lämpliga att använda vid utveckling av stora dynamiska webbapplikationer. Sedermera skall studien leda till ett förslag på JavaScript-ramverk för ändamålet. Ramverken har analyserats och jämförts med avseende på följande aspekter och kriterier: skalbarhet, prestanda, AJAX, RPC-hantering, licensering, webbläsarkompatibilitet, gränssnittskomponenter, anrop mellan domäner, DOM-hantering och användarvänlighet. För att jämföra och analysera ramverken har en testapplikation utvecklats med varje JavaScript-ramverk. Testapplikationen förses med information från en serverapplikation som utvecklats med PHP, där en SQLite-databas används som informationskälla. Förfarandet innebär att serverapplikationen inte används för att generera användargränssnittet, vilket därmed övergår till att vara JavaScript-ramverkets primära uppgift. Resultatet uppvisar att JavaScript-ramverket The Dojo Toolkit är karakteristiskt det mest lämpliga ramverket att använda i samband med utveckling av stora dynamiska webbapplikationer. Ramverket tillfredsställer samtliga kriterier och aspekter på ett eminent sätt. Sedermera föreslås Ext JS som det sekundära valet av JavaScript-ramverk för ändamålet. / On today’s market there are many attractive JavaScript-frameworks such as YUI, Dojo Toolkit, Kendo UI and Ext JS. The purpose with this study is to find JavaScript frameworks that are suitable in situation when developing large dynamic web applications. The study shall result in a proposal of one or more JavaScript frameworks to use in the situation previously described. The frameworks have been analyzed and compared with respect to the following aspects and criteria: scalability, AJAX, RPC-handling, cross-browser compatibility, GUI-components, cross-domain calls, DOM-handling, user-friendliness, performance, and licensing. To conduct this study a test application has been developed, that are developed with each framework. This application is feed with information from a database on a web server with PHP as the scripting environment. The application server’s primary objective is to provide information to the test application and not to generate the user interface. The result of this study indicates that Dojo Toolkit meets all requirements and has performed well overall. This framework satisfies the stated criteria and the specified aspects in an eminent way. It’s therefore proposed to be used as the main framework when developing large dynamic web applications. Ext JS is proposed as the secondary suggestion for the same purpose previously described.

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) wrote the Gorinsho ("Book of Five Rings") at the end of his life. The text is divided into five sections, “Earth,” “Water,” “Fire,” “Wind,” and “Space;” the first three introduce and explain both military strategy and warfare of his school, Niten-ichi-ryū. “Wind” is a critique of the tendencies Musashi noticed in other sword schools, and “Space” describes the concept of warfare and how to embody its “true way” (though this scroll is evidently incomplete). There are many English translations, yet I make the claim that one more is necessary. Since its first translation in 1974 to its most recent in 2009, the Gorinsho’s meaning has been ill represented in English and no extant translation is suitable for scholarly reference. These translations suffer primarily from three flaws: fundamental translation errors, the effacing of cultural references, and an apparent lack of knowledge concerning the Gorinsho’s textual history. The source text for these problematic English translations is invariably the Hosokawa family manuscript, a wholly unsuitable manuscript for translation. In recent years, the Harima Musashi Kenkyūkai, a Japan-based research group, has done much worthwhile scholarship on the Gorinsho and has compiled a new annotated edition of the text based on a thorough examination of all extant manuscripts. My translation is based on their authoritative edition and it benefits greatly from their research. This thesis endeavors to make clear the case that a new scholarly Gorinsho translation is necessary and provide a preliminary, annotated translation to fulfill that need.

The diploma thesis is aimed at investigating the influence of the educational system of Kendo on the values and attitudes of practitioners, both in terms of perceived contrast between the values and attitudes anchored in Czech (Central European) cultural context and values and attitudes anchored in the cultural context of Japan. In terms of methodology, this will be an empirical research based on survey (5 standardized questions) and an interview.

The following document sets forth the validity and usefulness of the promotional and outreach tools that industrial designers and design studios currently use to advertise their products and promote their services. From the perspective that the new media, platforms, and social networks pose as well as the technology that is associated with them, we will analyze tools and actions that traditionally have been applied by this group. From the virtual portfolio, the managing of exhibition events and creative talks, to interacting with new digital media and the general public. Focused on a national scope, the research work deals with aspects such as the current industrial designers employment situation and the industrial design economic impact in our society, always from the perspective that our recent socioeconomic measures carried out by the Different governments have imposed on this group. In addition, we have analyzed the current situation and the way of working that more than 80 currently active studies or industrial designers (from more than 380 creatives in total that have exhibited at Nude contest) and now are considered the current quarry of Spanish design. Their reality, the success or otherwise of their way of working, and the results they get, have been considered the benchmark on which to base the new methodologies of action. This study aims to show how the current industrial designers operate in a changing society, which requires to be constantly connected, sharing information and interacting, not only to maintain an updated knowledge of the reality that surrounds them at global level, but to get a place in an increasingly competitive and demanding market. / En el siguiente documento se expone la validez y utilidad de las distintas herramientas promocionales y de divulgación que los diseñadores industriales y estudios de diseño utilizan en la actualidad para dar a conocer sus productos y promocionar sus servicios. Desde la perspectiva que los nuevos medios de comunicación, plataformas, y redes sociales plantean así como la tecnología que viene asociada a ellos, se analizarán herramientas y acciones que tradicionalmente se han venido aplicando por este colectivo. Desde la creación de un portfolio virtual, la gestión de eventos expositivos y charlas creativas, hasta la interacción con los nuevos medios digitales y el público en general Centrado en un ámbito geográfico nacional, el trabajo de investigación aborda aspectos tales como la situación laboral de los actuales diseñadores industriales y la repercusión económica que el diseño industrial tiene en nuestra sociedad, siempre desde la perspectiva que las recientes medidas socioeconómicas llevadas a cabo por los distintos gobiernos han impuesto a este colectivo. Además se ha analizado la situación actual y la forma de operar de más de 80 estudios o diseñadores industriales en activo de los más de 380 creativos que han pasado por el certamen NUDE y que son considerados la actual cantera del diseño Español. Su realidad, el éxito o no de su forma de trabajar, y los resultados que obtienen, se han considera el referente sobre el cual basar las nuevas metodologías de actuación. Con este estudio se pretende mostrar cómo los actuales diseñadores industriales operan en una sociedad cambiante, que obliga a estar constantemente conectado, compartiendo información e interactuando, no solo para mantener un conocimiento actualizado al instante de la realidad que les rodea a nivel global, si no para conseguir hacerse un hueco en un mercado cada vez más competitivo y exigente. / En el següent document s'exposa la validesa i utilitat de les diferents eines promocionals i de divulgació que els dissenyadors industrials i estudis de disseny s'utilitzen en l'actualitat per donar a conèixer els seus productes i promocionar els seus serveis. Des de la perspectiva que els nous mitjans de comunicació, plataformes, i xarxes socials plantegen així com la tecnologia que ve associada a ells, s'analitzaran eines i accions que tradicionalment s'han vingut aplicant per aquest col·lectiu. Des de la creació d'un portfoli virtual, la gestió d'esdeveniments expositius i xerrades creatives, fins a la interacció amb els nous mitjans digitals i el públic en general Centrat en un àmbit geogràfic nacional, el treball de recerca aborda aspectes com ara la situació laboral dels actuals dissenyadors industrials i la repercussió econòmica que el disseny industrial té en la nostra societat, sempre des de la perspectiva que les recents mesures socioeconòmiques dutes a terme pels diferents governs han imposat a aquest col·lectiu. A més s'ha analitzat la situació actual i la forma d'operar de més de 80 estudis o dissenyadors industrials en actiu dels més de 380 creatius que han passat pel certamen Nude i que són considerats l'actual pedrera del disseny Espanyol. La seva realitat, l'èxit o no de la seva forma de treballar, i els resultats que s'obtenen, s'han considera el referent sobre el qual basar les noves metodologies d'actuació. Amb aquest estudi es pretén mostrar com els actuals dissenyadors industrials operen en una societat canviant, que obliga a estar constantment connectat, compartint informació i interactuant, no només per mantenir un coneixement actualitzat al moment de la realitat que els envolta a nivell global, si no per aconseguir fer-se un lloc en un mercat cada vegada més competitiu i exigent / Abarca Fernández, JM. (2017). Estudio y evaluación de las actuales herramientas de promoción y divulgación para el diseño [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/86215 / TESIS