Japanese martial arts as educators towards citizenship – viewpoint: martial arts clubs from Eastern Finland

Authors

• Mika Levy Itä-Suomen yliopisto

Abstract

The value of sports and physical education has traditionally been significant in Finland. Education towards citizenship has drawn strength influences for example from skiing, shooting and Finnish baseball. In the mid 20th century Finnish sports culture widened when Japanese martial arts started to land on Finnish soil. As they arrived, these sports brought new original values, etiquettes and methods with them. In this article, education towards citizenship is being viewed through children’s training in three Japanese martial arts: aikido, judo and karate. Research material for the article was collected with surveys. Surveys targeted on 14 coaches in 6 clubs which were located in Eastern Finland. Along with the education towards citizenship, the article also concentrates on the socialization of junior trainees. Rules that children are taught to follow in training go alongside with more general norms that society expects young people to learn. To mention same, children are taught how to co-operate, respect others and develop methods of self-control. Children’s training in the Japanese martial arts does not only consist of physical exercises. The syllabus also includes Oriental philosophy which diversifies and enriches the meaning of Japanese martial arts in the field of education towards citizenship.