Spencer Bennington

At the beginning of 2024, in response to a CFP from the dean of our college, thoughts of how to teach martial arts studies as a large online class at the university level, while still encouraging face-to-face practice, collaboration, and scholarship filled my head. These thoughts transformed into a single research question: how could anyone possibly deliver on a class like that? 

This presentation describes the process of creating an “Introduction to Martial Arts Studies” course for undergraduates. First, I survey existing Martial Arts Studies programs like the BA at Bridgeport University or the degree in Asian Martial Arts at Radford University. Graduate programs like the Masters of Science in Martial Arts Studies at Amerstate University and MBA in martial arts management at Horizon University will also be investigated. 

In addition, I will be analyzing related course syllabi from colleagues who have previously taught classes that would easily fit the student learning objectives in the degree programs described above, despite being previously offered as classes in various other disciplines. 

This presentation also aims to encourage a discussion of best practices and pedagogical methods useful for teaching martial arts studies. I explore the potential reasons why such courses deserve to be taught, the audiences that classes like this might serve, as well as examples of different ways instructors can incorporate their own expertise.