In this lecture, we will look at the mythological and historical origins of Japanese martial arts as well as the various traditions practiced today. Karate, Judo, Jujutsu, and Kendo are household names in the West and have been part of the Western imagination for decades. In both historical and pop-cultural terms, perhaps the most visible vehicles for Japanese martial arts are the samurai and ninja. They often serve as popular themes in anime, manga, and cinema in North America as much as in Japan. In addition, the concept of “bushido” sometimes translated as “the martial spirit” is still widely perceived as representative of the samurai and the martial way in Japan. Within our discussion, we will distinguish fact from fiction regarding such mainstays as samurai, ninja, and the concept of bushido. Finally, we’ll focus our lens on the international prominence of Japanese martial arts by looking at the origins and development of Judo, which served as the womb for the birth of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a truly dynamic art that continues to develop and evolve in the present.

Speaker bio:

James Baskind  https://jamesbaskind.academia.edu/

Dr. Baskind received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2006. His area of academic research is Japanese Buddhism and culture, with a focus on how Chinese models—represented by the Obaku School—were received in Edo-period Japan. Other areas of research and writing include Buddhist-Christian interaction in early modern Japan, as well as the Zen/Pure Land dialectic as it pertains to Japanese Buddhist discourse. His current project critically examines tea culture in East Asia, and how it became widely perceived as inextricably linked with Zen and its associated arts. Most recently he held the position of Associate Professor of Japanese Thought at Nagoya City University in Nagoya, Japan. While in Japan his research was supported by numerous grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Apart from his academic pursuits he has also studied and practiced the tea ceremony (both sencha and matcha) as well as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he currently teaches. In addition, he has nearly completed a book on the cultural history of jiu-jitsu, entitled, Jiu-jitsu: A History of Soft Power.

Check-in time: 9:15 am

Program starts at 9:30 am

Your prompt arrival will ensure a more pleasurable experience not only for yourself but for the other participants as well.