| The reasons for the success of Japanese martial arts in the west |
 It is almost impossible today to imagine a society devoid of any reference to Japanese martial arts. If you look close enough, you can realise that these are ubiquitous in the popular imagery and its consciousness. But the Japanese martial arts have infused western societies at an even more significant level, far beyond their obvious influence on literature, cinema, or even dance. The notions of honour, respect, strictness and self-sacrifice conjugated to a pragmatic and dreadful efficacy have helped to promote an entire system of values which seems to have implanted itself deeply and that does not seem to be going to disappear any time soon. Even though every civilisation has developed its own combat forms, very few have managed to export it as successfully as the Japanese. I would like to discuss today about the implantation of Japanese martial arts in Occident and to try to shed light on what made it such an unequalled success. |
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