The Kung Fu Family: A metaphor of belonging across time and place

Abstract

Kung Fu associations are often understood as 'families' forming broader 'family trees' or lineages operating across centuries of history as well as transcultural associations. In an effort contributing to interdisciplinary martial arts studies, this paper presents data from two qualitative studies of Western practitioners of traditionalist Chinese martial arts (TCMA) in both the West and Asia by a phenomenological psychologist and an anthropological sociologist. We assess the use of the term 'Kung Fu family', what it means to the practitioners and how it impacts on their practice and their relationships with other martial artists. We argue that the conceptual metaphor of family offers a sense of belonging and solidarity within a diverse community in terms of age, ethnicity, gender, religion and social class. Meanwhile, we explore the metaphor in terms of the micro-political power dynamics that accompany martial arts collectives. Overall, the ideal of family can illuminate how identity can transcend across time ('generations' of practitioners) and place (from and to cultures an ndence of Chinese martial arts d contingents). It is thus a way of understanding the organisation, spread and transce . eywords: Collective identity; conceptual metaphor; Chinese martial arts; family; lineage; martial arts. K La familia del kung fu: una metáfora sobre la pertenencia a través del tiempo y el espacio ResumenLas asociaciones de kung fu son entendidas, a menudo, como 'familias' que forman parte de amplios 'árboles genealógicos' o linajes, que vienen funcionando desde hace siglos, y también como asociaciones transculturales. Contribuyendo al ámbito de los estudios multidisciplinares sobre las artes marciales, este artículo presenta datos de dos estudios cualitativos sobre practicantes occidentales de artes marciales chinas tradicionales (TCMA), tanto en Occidente como en Asia, realizados por una psicóloga fenomenóloga y un sociólogo antropólogo. Hemos evaluado el uso del término 'familia del kung fu', lo que significa para los practicantes y cómo afecta a su práctica y a sus relaciones con otros artistas marciales. Argumentamos que la metáfora conceptual de la familia proporciona un sentido de pertenencia y solidaridad dentro de una comunidad diversa en términos de edad, etnia, género, religión y clase social. Paralelamente, exploramos la metáfora en términos de las dinámicas micropolíticas de poder que acompañan a los colectivos de las artes marciales. En líneas generales, el ideal de la familia puede iluminar cómo la identidad puede trascender en el tiempo ("generaciones" de practicantes) y el espacio (desde y hacia culturas y grupos). Por tanto, se trata de una forma y de entender la organización, difusión trascendencia de las artes marciales chinas.Palabras clave: Identidad colectiva; metáfora conceptual; artes marciales chinas; familia; linaje; artes marciales. A família do kungfu: uma metáfora sobre a pertença através do tempo e do espaço ResumoAs associações de kung-fu podem ser entendidas como "famílias", que fo...

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“…Some researchers, however, defend the independence of this category, emphasizing that it was and is used by Chinese practitioners who needed a new term to describe their own practices. (Partikova and Jennings, 2018).…”

Sensory ethnography: a creative turn

“…What Jennings (2010) usefully characterizes as "shared cultivation". Certain styles and clubs were metaphorically like families, which gave a sense of belonging across time and place (Partikova and Jennings, 2018). Similalry, the culture of bouncing had a strong sense of camaraderie and fictive kinship (Woodward and Jennings, 2011).…”

Canton Kung Fu: The Culture of Guangdong Martial Arts

“…This person should also be able to trace back the lineage from the founder down to his own teacher (Takacs, 2003). Contrary to other martial arts like Judo, the ranking system within Kung Fu follows the traditional family system (Partiková & Jennings, 2018), where the teacher is the father and should be referred to as "Si Fu" (the pronunciation of "teacher" in Cantonese). The social system of Guangdong martial arts also implements fictive kinship down to the smallest details.…”