The Academy Men, Practice and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Vesperi, Maria
Keywords
Men's Studies, Ethnography, Sports, Practice Theory
Area of Concentration
Anthropology
Abstract
This thesis is an ethnographic study of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy focusing on the practice of BJJ and the local community. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is facing a credibility crisis in the wake of its waning success in Mixed Martial Arts matches and prize fights; this development has forced the sport to radically alter the narrative used to justify its economic franchise. Specifically, I examine how the practice of BJJ is used to enable the performance and practice of gendered identities, maintain heterodox and orthodox disciplines of the body and combat, and simultaneously disguise the accompanying exchange of economic and symbolic capital. Additionally, my project explores the limitations of insider ethnography and the credibility of informant accounts.
Recommended Citation
Kahn, Walker, "The Academy Men, Practice and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" (2007). Theses & ETDs. 3811.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3811
Rights
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.