Symposium

The final programme will be announced by mid February.

• 12.30 Doors open and registration
   
• 13.00 Welcome 
   
• 13.15 Opening session
  
  Alex Channon - Developing and promoting good health through martial arts: Cutting with a double-edged sword 
  This lecture will critically appraise the notion that martial arts are health-enhancing activities. Exploring the positive outcomes that can be associated with martial arts, it will advocate martial arts as vehicles for positive mental, physical, and social health outcomes, providing some theoretical explanations for martial arts’ potentially unique benefits in these regards. The lecture will also point towards some important limitations and drawbacks to this, discussing issues of accessibility and inclusion, physical health risks, and pseudoscientific discourses evident within some martial arts and combat sports communities.  
   
• 13.45 Key note sessions - part 1
  Speakers to be announced
   
• 14.45 Panel discussion
  Speakers to be announced
   
• 15.15 Visit CEMAS training hall & coffee break
   
• 15.45 Key notes sessions - part 2
  Speakers to be announced
   
• 16.45 Panel discussion
  Speakers to be announced
   
• 17.15 Wrap up & closing lecture
   

  Alex Channon: Martial arts studies and the evolving discourse of “martiality”
  The final lecture will offer a concise outline of the concept of “martiality”, defined here as the special qualities and properties of martial arts that (among other things) might mark them out as worthy of dedicated study. It will then take an interactive and participatory approach, inviting the audience to engage critically in assessing the purpose and orientation of the field. It will invite discussion over what kinds of questions martial arts studies should address, and what kinds of audiences and collaborators its researchers should aim to work with, to best develop this emerging academic field.
   

• 17.45 - 19.00 Reception