“There is no keener revelation to a society’s soul than the way it treats its children” -Nelson Mandela In places deemed safe for our children, they are being exposed, tainted and scarred by the darkness of crime - eight times as much as our adults. In desperation, some of our children seek support within their dysfunctional families but they fail. As their cries for a way out are unheard, the soul of our nation turns to crime as an alternative. This thesis explores the physical and emotional instability of children as a result of prevailing crime. Instability that, in cases, leads children into a life of crime. The look into statistics regarding children and crime intensifies the urgency of the problem. The aim of the new justice act is to divert children away from the formal justice system (a fairly new approach launched in 2010). An interview with social worker Esmé Jacobs pointed out that the use of a diversion center was a step in the right direction. In this thesis, the use of Martial Arts is being promoted and highlighted as the diversion. Martial Arts is used as a means to allow our brittle children to be nurtured, to be integrated in a safe environment, to be guided onto the best path, and can be seen as an alternative family entity. Martial arts was uncovered through its history and philosophies, and analyzed through its structures and composition. The effects of the practice of Martial Arts are prominent in the interview with Paul De Beer – an architect and one of the highest qualified aikido practitioners. De Beer introduces the look into a Clinical Martial Arts Programme for rehabilitation for children at risk. Martial Arts and nature are one. Architecturally, the concept embodies the amalgamation of nature and architectural design: The flow from one into the other; the concepts of openness and all-inclusiveness within Martial Arts are points to respect when creating the space for the recuperation of our children, and the architectural challenge of giving our at-risk children a chance at life by creating a second home and not an incarceration facility. Dojo Stara Wiés, the world’s largest performance training centre and a home for Martial Arts and Martial Artists alike, offers a platform to experience of the spirit, atmosphere and philosophy of Japanese Martial Arts. Dojo Stara Wiés was analysed to correctly expose the connection between Martial Arts and architecture and how they both embody the same energy and philosophies. Site selection had the prerequisites of educational, recreational and community facilities. Belief systems show the importance of water in cleansing and rebirth, therefore a site with water was crucial as it would aid change. The above elements were a priority when choosing a site so that children would be fully integrated within the environment and the community. Germiston Lake was chosen and analysed as the site for the Diversion Centre. A Martial Arts Diversion Centre: a young architect’s conscious effort to heal our children through the use of architecture in conjunction with the principles of Martial Arts. “Architects today tend to depreciate themselves, to regard themselves as no more than just ordinary citizens without the power to reform the future.” – Kenzo Tange

Public concern over the occurrence of bullying in schools has increased considerably within the last decade. Although there are many programs in place that attempt to address the problem of bullying in schools, they have achieved only varying levels of success, with many failing to alleviate the problem. In addition, although some researchers have conducted studies on either the relationship between self-esteem and bullying victimization or the relationship between self-esteem and participation in martial arts, few have conducted studies seeking to understand the correlation between participation in martial arts, bullying victimization, and levels of self-esteem. The current study measured levels of self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; Rosenberg, 1965) and the frequency of bullying victimization (Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale; Mynard & Joseph, 2000) among twelve- to sixteen-year-old adolescents. The current study compared differences in self-esteem and bullying victimization between three groups of adolescents: one group consisted of students with less than two months of martial arts experience (minimal experience group; BG); one group consisted of students with 2–35 months of martial arts experience (moderate experience group; MG); and one group consisted of students with more than 36 months of martial arts experience (advanced experience group; AG). Participants (N=XX) were recruited from one county located in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. Analyses of the data included MANOVA, comparing the three groups' data on measures of self-esteem and bullying victimization. Correlational analyses and Chi-Square analyses were also conducted to show relationships between variables. No significant differences were found between the reported self-esteem scores and reported bullying victimization scores of the AG and the BG or MG. There was a significant negative correlation between self-esteem and bullying victimization. And a significant relationship was found, using the Chi-Square analysis, between length of participation in martial arts and reported self-esteem.

Auditory feedback has been shown to be highly effective at teaching new skills to athletes in a variety of sports. This method consists of targeting a routine, breaking down the specific skills required to complete the routine, and training an individual on those skills using an auditory device to provide feedback on correct responses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of auditory feedback for improving a judo technique. One set of techniques taught in judo are standing throws, which require a partner to receive the technique (uke.) These throws require specific skills to successfully implement the technique. Auditory feedback was evaluated within a multiple baseline across participants design to increase skills for one specific standing throw, ippon seoi nage (one armed shoulder throw.) The skills were scored on a seven item checklist. All participants improved their performance on ippon seoi nage at a quicker pace than what was observed during baseline.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, 1996. / "April 1996." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in microfiche.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army, 1972. / "April 1972." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in microfiche.

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.

No description available.

The Semi-gods and the Semi-devils is one of Jin Yong¡¦s most popular Martial-arts novels. Strange adventures of the main characters: Hsiao feng, Tuan yu, Hsu-chu are analogous to those of mythic heroes. This paper uses the archetypal approach to illustrate the main characters, the heroes¡¦journeys, for archetypes are universal patterns from which myths derive. My intention is that the theory of archetypes would enable us to see the literary work differently and give fresh insights to the novel in which important elements and meanings might otherwise go unnoticed.

This thesis examines Jin Yong¡¦s martial arts novels under the aspect of national consciousness. It first reviews the historical development of martial arts fiction and discusses when and under which circumstances phenomena like national consciousness, nationalism, and patriotism became essential elements of martial arts fiction. There follows an analysis of seven Jin Yong martial arts novels to point out each novel¡¦s characteristics with respect to national consciousness, and to discuss the changes of the patriotism subject in Jin Yong¡¦s works. Another focus is on the reaction and evaluation of literary critics towards Jin Yong¡¦s works. The author analyses the critics¡¦ attitude to the ¡§Chineseness¡¨ of Jin Yong¡¦s novels, and further discusses the Chinese characteristics of martial arts fiction, including a comparison of Chinese martial arts novels and Western adventure novels.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Philosophische Fakultäten I-IV--Freiburg--Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 2002. / Bibliogr. p. 358-379.