Trojan Horses: A Discussion of How Martial Arts Studies became a Legitimate Academic Field with Dr. Tom Green (Texas A&M University)

In this episode, Dr. Tom Green, professor emeritus of anthropology at Texas A&M University, shares his experiences with the field of Martial Arts Studies. It wasn’t until after establishing himself as a professional anthropologist and folklorist that Green, a lifelong martial arts practitioner, came to realize the potential for studying the martial arts through an academic lens. Green presented the first ever paper on martial arts at the American Folklore Society and thereafter became a leading figure in the anthropology of martial arts. This conversation explores some of the methodological and epistemological approaches to what has become a legitimate, interdisciplinary field.