ask-freeze-frame asked: So, I tried to google this one up, but couldn’t find anything but the vaguest ideas in both directions, but would the practice of a martial art foreign to your culture be something that would be culturally appropriative? (For example, if I as a Norse/Celtic-descended white person practiced Okinawan goju-ryu)

dumbthingswhitepplsay:

dumbthingswhitepplsay:

If you’re being taught by people from that culture/taught by people who were sanctioned to teach by that culture, it’s probably alright.

Or someone who was actually trained by someone from that culture.

The most important thing when it comes to that is finding a qualified dojo/gym/etc… A lot of places aren’t qualified in any way whatsoever, leading to kids just getting lessons how how to kick someone without any real martial art involved.

A lot of (usually) white “dojo” owners take advantage of the fact that so few people know what real foreign martial arts look like in order to make a quick and easy buck.

  1. Date Posted Icon 23rd February 2012
  2. Reblogged Icon Reblogged From dumbthingswhitepplsay
  3. Notes Icon Notes: 7
  1. muninandhugin said: I’d suggest to those of Euro descent to find an HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) group in your area. Europe has a long history of martial arts, and they currently being revived by many people, so if you don’t want to be appropriative, try that
  2. freeze-frame42 said: Thanks for the answer. It had been gnawing at me after your response to the ask about spiritual/religious traditions (since some martial arts are closely linked to them).
  3. kuruseiru said: That reminds me of what I meant to ask you, should taking advantage of cultural appropriation be looked down on, or discouraged??
  4. racismschool said: I feel like “You have to have the okay from people WITHIN said culture” is a super basic thing to ask. Where is all the confusion coming from?