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This Academic Expert Register is a public directory of current MASA members. It is intended as a means of connecting the martial arts studies community, as well as the wider public, with potential collaborators, consultants, contributors, reviewers, and/or supervisors.
As well as contact information, the register includes keywords that illustrate each expert’s primary areas of research; it outlines the martial arts that they are particularly interested or experienced in; the languages they can work in; and the research methods they are most accomplished in using.
All of the experts on this register are happy to be approached about their work or receive requests for various types of collaboration. Please feel free to contact them directly using the information provided.
Please use your web browser’s search function to explore the register.
Matthias Rohrig Assunção
Institution: University of Essex, UK
Email: assuncao@essex.ac.uk
Keywords: African and African-derived martial arts
Martial Arts: Capoeira; engolo; kambangula; bassula; Venezuelan juego de garrote; Brazilian jogo do pau
Languages: German; Portuguese; French; English; Spanish
Methods: Quantitative/statistical; interview; participant observation; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis; documentary film making
Website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/rohri15507/matthias-rohrig-assuncao; https://capoeirahistory.com/about-the-website/
Oleg Benesch
Institution: University of York, UK
Email: oleg.benesch@york.ac.uk
Keywords: Japan; China; samurai; bushido; nationalism; identity; invention of tradition; gender; masculinity
Martial Arts: Judo; karate; kendo
Languages: English; German; Japanese
Methods: Historical/archival; comparative literature
Website: https://www.olegbenesch.com/
Spencer Bennington
Institution: Virginia Tech, USA
Email: spencerbennington@gmail.com
Keywords: martial rhetorics; embodied knowledge; trauma-informed pedagogy; mutual aid
Martial Arts: Taekwondo; Combat Hapkido; Western Boxing
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; historical/archival methods; comparative literature; media analysis; autoethnography
Website: https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-english/faculty/spencer-todd-bennington.html; https://rhetoricalroundhouse.substack.com /
Paul Bowman
Institution: Cardiff University, UK
Email: bowmanp@cardiff.ac.uk
Keywords: Cultural studies; cultural theory; martial arts studies; media and physical culture; film studies
Martial Arts: Broad-based
Languages: English
Methods: Historical/archival; media analysis
Jeremy Butler
Institution: Northern Illinois University, USA
Email: info@jeremybutlerphd.com
Keywords: Social Cognitive Theory; Self-Efficacy; police defensive tactics; personal safety; self-defence; Self-Determination Theory; life skill development
Martial Arts: Pagoda Ryu; Filipino Martial Arts (kali/arnis/escrima); Brazilian Jiu-jitsu; Jeet Kune Do; Karate
Languages: English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical methods; interview; survey
Website: https://www.jeremybutlerphd.com/
Alex Channon
Institution: University of Brighton, UK
Email: a.channon@brighton.ac.uk
Keywords: Coaching; community; consent; education; gender; inclusion; mental health; risk; violence
Martial Arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; Kickboxing; Mixed Martial Arts
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; media analysis
Website: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/alex-channon/
Yiming Chen
Institution: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
Email: jidayiming@163.com
Keywords: Discourse analysis; audio-visual production; digital media arts; platform studies; visual culture; media representations; gender on screen
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis
Website: https://scholar.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/persons/YimingChen/
David S. Contreras Islas
Institution: Institute of Sciences of Education (Institut für Erziehungswissenschaft); Humboldt University of Berlin (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Germany
Email: davidcontc@gmail.com
Keywords: embodiment; practicing; videography
Martial Arts: Capoeira
Languages: Spanish; English; German; Portuguese
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival; qualitative videographic methods
Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hd7R-4kAAAAJ&hl=es ; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Contreras-Islas
Greet Angèle De Baets
Institution: Université Catholique de Louvain, Saint-Louis Brussels, Belgium
Email: greet@communicationdoctor.eu
Keywords: interaction; embodied pedagogy; qualitative research; professional communication; intercultural competence; applied linguistics; expert interviewing; ethnography
Martial Arts: Aikido; iaijutsu; iaido
Languages: English; Dutch; German
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; comparative literature
Emily Dobrich
Institution: University of Toronto, Canada
Email: emily.dobrich@utoronto.ca
Keywords: Education; pedagogy; feminist praxis; self-defense; women; gender; embodied learning; community health
Martial Arts: Muay Thai
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; qualitative methods; embodied ethnographic methods
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-dobrich/; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily-Dobrich
Emily FitzGerald
Institution: Utah Tech University, USA
Email: emily.fitzgerald42@gmail.com
Keywords: Embodiment; phenomenology; philosophy; religion; technology; Japanese martial arts; performance; performativity; imagination; virtuality
Martial Arts: Karate (several systems); Kickboxing
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; comparative literature; media analysis; philosophical methods
Olly Fitton
Institution: Northumbria University, UK
Email: o.fitton@northumbria.ac.uk
Keywords: Police Use of Force; Defensive Tactics; Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST); Self-Defence; Police Training; Use of force decision making
Martial Arts: Taekwondo (World Taekwondo); Kenkyo-Ha Goju Karate Kempo; Police Defensive Tactics; Judo; Brazilian Jiujitsu; Submission Grappling; Aikido
Languages: English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical methods; interview; survey
Steven Geisz
Institution: University of Tampa, USA
Email: sgeisz@ut.edu
Keywords: embodied contemplative practices; mindful movement; meditation; comparative philosophy
Martial Arts: Taijiquan; qigong; yoga
Languages: English
Methods: Comparative literature; philosophical analysis
Tomotsugu Goka
Institution: Yamanashi Gakuin University, Japan
Email: goka.tomotsugu@c2c.ac.jp
Keywords: Japan; history
Martial Arts: Budo; Kyudo; archery
Languages: Japanese; English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; historical/archival
Tammy Gordon
Institution: North Carolina State University, USA
Email: tsgordo2@ncsu.edu
Keywords: history; memory studies; visual studies
Martial Arts: Aikido
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis
Carlos Gutiérrez-García
Institution: Universidad de León
Email: cgutg@unileon.es
Keywords: Education; sport sciences; bibliometrics
Martial Arts: Judo; Leonese and traditional wrestling
Languages: Spanish; English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical; interview; survey; historical/archival
Trần Khải Hoài
Institution: VinUniversity, Hanoi
Email: hoai.tk@vinuni.edu.vn
Keywords: Vietnam; Buddhism; Daoism; spirit possession
Martial Arts: Võ Miệt Vườn (“folk Mekong Delta martial arts,” Vietnam); Thất Sơn quyền (“Seven Mountains Fist”, Vietnam)
Languages: Vietnamese; English
Methods: Historical/archival; religion studies
Website: https://vinuni.edu.vn/people/tran-khai-hoai-phd/ ; https://independent.academia.edu/TranKhaiHoai
George Jennings
Institution: Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK
Email: gbjennings@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Keywords: Sociology of sport; physical culture; ethnography; the body / embodiment; health; Chinese martial arts; Mexican martial arts; adapted martial arts; Movement Inspired by Martial Arts (MIMA) project; theories and definitions of martial arts, combat sports and related activities
Martial Arts: Wing Chun; Taijiquan; historical European martial arts (HEMA); Xilam
Languages: English; Spanish
Methods: Interview; participant observation; historical/archival; media analysis; phenomenological / autophenomenographic approaches
Website: https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/staff/george-jennings/; https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GngefwYAAAAJ&hl=en
Chris Kirk
Institution: Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Email: c.kirk@shu.ac.uk
Keywords: Physiology; training; brain trauma
Martial Arts: MMA; Brazilian jiu-jitsu; Boxing; Taekwondo
Languages: English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical analysis
Website: https://profiles.shu.ac.uk/7815-chris-kirk; https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jGzwLS8AAAAJ
Peter Katz
Institution: Case Western Reserve University, USA
Email: pkatz19c@gmail.com
Keywords: Affect; embodiment; ethics; philosophy
Martial Arts: Karate-do; American Kenpo; Aikido; Jiu-jitsu
Languages: English
Methods: Historical/archival; philosophy
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/peter-katz-bioethics; https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FAl3NckAAAAJ
David Larmour
Institution: Texas Tech University, USA; University of Birmingham, UK
Email: david.larmour@ttu.edu
Keywords: Greek combat sports; Roman arena; pankration
Martial Arts: Wrestling; pankration; BJJ; MMA
Languages: English; French
Methods: Historical/archival; comparative literature
Website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/classic_modern/classics/people/Larmour.php
Anatoliy Lozovyy
Institution: Sumy State University, Ukraine
Email: uwku.gensec.lozovyy@gmail.com
Keywords: martial arts sociology; education
Martial Arts: Karate
Languages: Ukrainian; English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical; survey; historical/archival
Nicole Maussier
Institution: University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Italy
Email: nmaussi@hotmail.it
Keywords: Autism; sport; social inclusion; primary school
Martial Arts: Judo; karate
Languages: English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical; interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis
Website: https://katautism.eu/; https://www.fijlkam.it/katautism.html
Martin Meyer
Institution: Vechta University, Germany
Email: dr.martin.joh.meyer@googlemail.com
Keywords: physical education; sociology; methodology
Martial Arts: Karate; MMA; Sumo; Iaido; Kickboxing
Languages: English; German
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival
Lauren Miller
Institution: Texas Tech University, USA
Email: L.Miller@ttu.edu
Keywords: legitimacy; travel/tourism; apprenticeship; affect; social justice; gender
Martial Arts: Capoeira; Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; historical/archival
Martin Minarik
Institution: Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
Email: martin.m.minarik@gmail.com
Keywords: Praxeology; Performativity; Theatricality; Performance; Korean Martial Arts; Embodiment
Martial Arts: Taekwondo; taekkyon; Korean martial arts
Languages: German; Slovak; English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; comparative literature
Ben Morris
Institution: Leeds Trinity University, UK
Email: b.morris@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Keywords: Behaviour modelling; attitude measurement; scale development; psychological experimentation
Martial Arts: Judo; Tai Chi; Bagua; Xing Yi; Krav Maga
Languages: English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical
Daniel Mroz
Institution: Département de théâtre, Université d’Ottawa / Department of Theatre, University of Ottawa, Canada
Email: dmroz@uottawa.ca
Keywords: Cultural History of the Chinese Martial Arts; Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Religion; Chinese Martial Arts and the Performing Arts
Martial Arts: Choi Leih Faht Kyuhn 蔡李佛拳; Dung Pihng Taai Gihk Kyuhn 東屏太極拳; Chen Taijiquan 陳氏太极拳; Wudang Jian 武当劍術; Zhi Neng Qigong 智慧氣功
Languages: English; French
Methods: Participant observation; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis; phenomenology of practice and cultural history
Website: https://danielmroz.net
R. Ben Penglase
Institution: Loyola University Chicago, USA
Email: bpengla@luc.edu
Keywords: anthropology; race; gender; masculinity; embodiment; violence
Martial Arts: Brazilian jiu-jitsu; capoeira
Languages: English; Portuguese
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; ethnography
Website: https://www.luc.edu/anthropology/facultyandstaff/facultyandstaff/profiles/penglaseben.shtml; https://bpenglase.com/
Maria Perrino Pena
Institution: Universidad de León, Spain
Email: maria.perrino@unileon.es
Keywords: Sociology; gender
Martial Arts: MMA; boxing
Languages: Spanish; English
Methods: Quantitative/statistical; survey
Augustus Roe
Institution: Independent Researcher
Email: gusroe222@gmail.com
Keywords: Martial Arts History; sociology; anthropology; Asian Studies; military history
Martial Arts: Kung Fu (Vietnamese / Southern Chinese); Muay Thai / Boran; Aikido; Jiu-Jitsu; MMA; folk wrestling
Languages: English; Vietnamese
Methods: Quantitative/statistical methods; interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival methods; comparative literature; media analysis; ethnography
Website: www.Augustusjohnroe.com; https://ymaa.com/publishing/author/augustus-john-roe
Jennifer Schachner
Institution: San Jose State University, USA
Email: jennifer.schachner@sjsu.edu
Keywords: Older adults; disabilities
Martial Arts: Taekwondo; Eskrima/Kali
Languages: English
Methods: Participant observation; survey
Jürgen Schaflechner
Institution: Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Email: j.schaflechner@fu-berlin.de
Keywords: politics; masculinity; media; Islam; social media; representation
Martial Arts: MMA; BJJ; Krav Maga
Languages: English; German; Urdu; Hindi
Methods: Ethnography
Hajrudin Solak
Institution: Loughborough University, UK; University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: shajrudin@gmail.com
Keywords: youth development; extremism; media; masculinity and gender
Martial Arts: MMA; Boxing; Karate; Judo
Languages: English; German; Bosnian; Croatian; Serbian
Methods: quantitative/statistical; interview; participant observation; survey; media analysis; participatory action research
Bradley Spurdens
Institution: Loughborough College, UK
Email: bradley.spurdens@loucoll.ac.uk
Keywords: Youth; coaching
Martial Arts: Karate; kickboxing
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; historical/archival methods; comparative literature
Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yxUEX3UAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Maciej Talaga
Institution: University of Warsaw, Poland
Email: m.talaga@al.uw.edu.pl
Keywords: martial arts anthropology; embodied historical research; late-medieval European physical culture; folk physical culture; intangible cultural heritage
Martial Arts: late-medieval swordsmanship; folk wrestling; free-style wrestling; fencing
Languages: English
Methods: Historical/archival
Marc Theeboom
Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Email: marc.theeboom@vub.be
Keywords: Sport-for-development; sociology; education; policy
Martial Arts: Chinese martial arts
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; Theory-based Evaluation (Theory of Change)
Website: https://saso.research.vub.be
Fabiana Turelli
Institution: University of Manitoba, Canada
Email: fabiana.turelli@umanitoba.ca
Keywords: Gender; embodiment; social justice
Martial Arts: Karate
Languages: English
Methods: Participatory research
Website: https://umanitoba.ca/kinesiology-recreation-management/faculty-staff/Fabiana-Turelli
Thabata Telles
Institution: University of Maia, Portugal
Email: thabatacbtelles@gmail.com
Keywords: Psychology; embodiment
Martial Arts: BJJ; MMA; karate
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival; comparative literature
Website: https://www.thabatatelles.com/ ; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thabata-Telles
Luke White
Institution: Middlesex University, UK
Email: l.white@mdx.ac.uk
Keywords: visual cultures of the martial arts cinema and media; wuxia film and literature; Hong Kong popular culture; postcolonial identities; globalisation and the transnational; masculinities; gender; aesthetics
Martial Arts: Kung fu; taiji quan
Languages: English
Methods: comparative literature; media analysis
Website: https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/researcher/8074y/dr-luke-white
Wayne Wong
Institution: University of Sheffield, UK
Email: k.wong@sheffield.ac.uk
Keywords: global martial arts and action films; east asian cinemas; film aesthetics and media philosophy; popular culture, identity politics, and gender issues; Hong Kong–UK diaspora; game studies and new media; digital humanities
Martial Arts: Wing Chun; Kickboxing; Taekwondo
Languages: English; Cantonese; Mandarin
Methods: textual analysis; comparative literature; participatory research
Website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/las/people/east-asian-studies-staff/wayne-wong
Byrad Yyelland
Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar
Email: bayyelland@vcu.edu
Keywords: ethnography; sociology; culture; multicultural
Martial Arts: Shito-Ryu karate; Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; Kobudo; Cane Fighting; Irish Stick Fighting
Languages: English
Methods: Interview; participant observation; survey; interpretive
Yun Choi Yeung
Institution: Independent Researcher
Email: ukpangration@gmail.com
Keywords: Dao Yin; spirituality; non-concentric movement; cancer support
Martial Arts: Taijiquan; Xingyiquan; Baguaquan; Yongchunquan (Wing Chun Kung Fu)
Languages: English; Cantonese
Methods: Participant observation; historical/archival; comparative literature; philology
Georgios Zangelidis
Institution: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Email: gzangel@phed.auth.gr
Keywords: judo studies; coaching and pedagogy; skill acquisition; grappling martial arts; motor learning; combat sports training; ecological dynamics; performance analysis
Martial Arts: Judo, Karate, Jujutsu
Languages: English; Romanian
Methods: quantitative/statistical; interview; participant observation; survey; historical/archival; comparative literature; media analysis
Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I2i046UAAAAJ
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