Warrior Dreams The Martial Arts and the American Imagination

'œBased on evidence drawn from participatory-observation and secondary readings, Donohue argues that the myths, symbols, and organizations of the martial arts met various psychic needs and addressed basic human issues such as power, control, and identity. The martial arts offer through their symbols, historic traditions, and (inefficient) techniques of self-defense a sense of security and control, community, and a moral guide to action. Chapters include a cross-cultural analysis of martial systems, a brief history of Asian martial arts, an analysis of how the arts were adapted to fit US warrior myths, an anthropological study of the US Dojo, and an examination of US fascination with the mysterious (quasi-religious) masters.'' ChoiceDonohue, John J. is the author of 'Warrior Dreams The Martial Arts and the American Imagination', published 1994 under ISBN 9780897893466 and ISBN 0897893468.