Ethnographic Studies of Martial Artists

The traditional view of martial arts for most people comes from the movies, either featuring Bruce Lee or possibly the Karate Kid. With those classic references, the martial arts of today would seem quite alien. What was once obscure has now become the mainstream with millions of martial artists of one degree or another. The violence of this sport is far beyond what boxing, or football could ever accomplish; while those sports often cause concussions and the occasional broken bone, some of the martial arts expect their students to break the bones of their opponents if the fight goes out of control or simply by accident. This brutality usually shunned by civilized society, instead served to increase the sports reputation. The popularity of mixed martial arts soared over the last couple of years mainly due to the emergence of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as the fast growing sport in America. With this popularity of the sport mixed martial art gyms are emerging up all across the country. I visited a local gym to study the fighters, with the intention to understand the mentality that goes along with this profession.

As I arrive at the High Altitude Gym located in an average looking strip mall, I am met by Brian Eastman, who setup the meeting with some of the fighters and the instructors. We head inside to a gigantic open space of over 4000 square feet. The room is well lit with rows upon rows of fluorescent lighting. While looking towards the rear of the room, there is an elevated floor a few feet in front of the door and just past the viewing area covered in tatami mats, soft flooring where the length is exactly twice the width. Brian explains “old tires are used under the flooring to provide more spring” (p...

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.... Each individual has their own reasons for learning Muay Thai either a love of martial arts throughout their life to someone who was just looking for a positive way to focus their energies. High Altitude Gym has created an inviting atmosphere that has brought people from all walks of life together and created some lasting friendships. Some, like Miguel, will go on to teach Muay Thai and begin a new subculture all their own, while others aspire to become professional fighters and test their skills against the best in the world.

Works Cited

The History of Muay Thai - The Complete Details of Muay Thai History. (2008, February 15). Retrieved April 4, 2014, from http://www.muaythai-fighting.com/the-history-of-muay-thai.html

United World Muay Thai Association (2013). Ranking systems for Muay Thai Schools. Retrieved April 4, 2014, from http://uwmta.org/ranking.html