Graduation Semester and Year

2014

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Anthropology

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

First Advisor

Amy Speier

Abstract

There are a large number of martial art schools operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area, teaching a variety of martial arts. Of all of those schools the students at the Texas Black Belt Academy chose their school, despite a lengthy travel time for some of the students. In an effort to find out why the students chose this particular school, I joined and investigated the Texas Black Belt Academy, investigating what the students were getting out of both the lessons and environment of the school. I found that the students came most often to learn self-defense, however they stayed for three reasons: the family atmosphere, the physical and mental health benefits that they received, and a sense of inner tranquility that they developed as a result of their training which equipped them to handle the stresses of their lives.

Disciplines

Anthropology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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