The Martial Arts Studies Association (MASA) is led by a Board comprised of eight officers, divided into executive and non-executive positions. Collectively, their role is to develop and implement MASA’s vision, coordinating with the wider membership to create and lead projects, foster networking, hold conferences and other events, and otherwise promote martial arts studies research.
As well as leading the academic activities of the Association, the Board is also responsible for all its administration and organisation. This includes managing budgets, communications, membership processes, and more besides.
The MASA Board will be elected by its members, with the first round of elections due to be held in the summer of 2027. You can meet the current board on this page.
Current executive committee:
Chair: Alex Channon (University of Brighton)
Communications Secretary: Wayne Wong (University of Sheffield)
Membership Secretary: Lauren Miller (Texas Tech University)
Treasurer: George Jennings (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Current non-executive officers:
Early Career Researcher Representative: Emily Dobrich (University of Toronto)
Journal Editor: Peter Katz (Case Western Reserve University)
Ordinary Member: Carlos Gutiérrez-García (University of León)
Project Officer: Martin Minarik (Georg-August-University Göttingen)
The Board elects Fellows of the Martial Arts Studies Association on the basis of sustained excellence in contributions to the field of martial arts studies. The first Fellows are due to be announced in 2026 and will be selected based on past and ongoing contributions to the development of martial arts studies, via such activities as conference organisation and participation, influential publications, and significant contributions to the Martial Arts Studies journal and other publications.
Fellows are nominated/elected annually. The procedures for nominating fellows will be announced later in 2026.
MASA members are academic researchers and students with an interest in the field of martial arts studies, as well as martial arts teachers, instructors, leaders, practitioners, and other stakeholders who see the value of academic research in improving their practice.
Members can be from any academic discipline, and/or practice or work within any form of martial art, combat sport, or related activity. It is their shared interest in the development of the field of martial arts studies that unites them as members of MASA, and all perspectives are welcomed in developing that field’s focus and direction.
MASA manages an academic experts register where qualified members can share details of their expertise and interests. All members with suitable academic experience are eligible to appear on the register. The register is intended to support connectivity and networking between scholars and various potential collaborators.
Applications for membership are open year-round. Please visit the Membership page for more details and to find out how to join.