Purpose: This paper examines the “embodied turn” in the study of traditional Asian Martial arts and identifies issues within this area of research. We introduce new interpretative perspectives and approaches within the framework of bodily sociology to elucidate the link between locally-informed martial arts practices and the formation of socialized individuals. The paper categorizes the current research into three main themes: self-giving, the creation of bodily value, and the construction of national identity through martial arts. It then integrates these themes with the findings of embodied sociology. Approach: We compile and analyze the existing literature on traditional Asian martial arts culture from both Asian and international scholars, offering insights into the status, rationale, and challenges of bodily sociological research. Findings: By contextualizing the concept of the embodied turn in traditional Asian martial arts culture—through concepts such as self-givenness, self-techniques, the generation of value, and the creation of collective memory—the paper discusses the impact of bodily sociology on cultural research. Research limitations: The paper advocates for further bodily sociological studies of Asian martial arts culture, which could enhance the understanding of Asian studies among Western scholars and contribute to a genuine embodied turn in this field of study. Value: Providing one of the initial explorations of embodied studies in traditional Asian martial arts, the paper reveals a transition from broad cultural interpretations and symbolic, structuralist sociology to a phenomenological approach in martial arts cultural studies. It posits that the bodily sociology approach is beneficial for martial arts studies, although current research has not yet fully realized the embodied turn.