Martial Arts Tourism of the “Europe—Far East” Direction, in the Opinion of Grand Masters

: Martial arts tourism is a form of cultural, sports and educational tourism that requires special recognition; particularly important is knowledge about martial arts. The sources of this practical knowledge are especially high-ranking masters. The scientiﬁc problem raised here involves the issue of high-ranking martial arts teachers taking trips for their own studies (to acquire knowledge and skills) and teaching others. Some of the questions addressed include how often the trips occur (single, sporadic, or multiple, regular), what their e ﬀ ects are, and what their meaning is—in the opinion of these experts. The “Martial Arts Tourism” questionnaire was addressed to N = 12 people, masters / teachers of high-rank in martial arts (level 7–10 dan / toan) who live and teach in Europe and the USA, but come from Europe. They are the holders of the highest degrees in Chinese, Japanese and Korean styles. Further questions were asked through direct correspondence. The collected statements were usedby means of qualitative analysis—as in the method of ‘expert courts’ / ’competent judges’. The respondents in most cases undertook trips from Europe to East Asia for their own learning. They teach themselves mainly in their own countries and in Europe. Stays rarely lasted over two weeks. The respondents are convinced of the legitimacy of this type of trip, and believe that the trips are very helpful on the way to mastery. None of the respondents mentioned the material forms of cultural heritage pertaining to martial arts as motives for the trips. Therefore, the ability to visit historic places is a marginal concern. The trips were directly linked to a career path and self-improvement in martial arts, learning or teaching.


Introduction
In the era of globalization, apart from crisis periods, such as wars or pandemics, members of societyeagerly travel to, visit, or explore new places, seeking new knowledge and impressions [1]. Cultural tourism, educational tourism and similar forms of non-entertainment tourism [2] (pp. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] fit into this kind of fashion or need, which is often artificially fueled. One form of cultural tourism is martial arts tourism (as a socio-cultural phenomenon).
Martial arts tourism, as a form of cultural tourism, is part of a wider discussion on the useof free time, the relationship between work and leisure, and related self-realization [3][4][5]. In this way, it is similar to sports tourism. In both cases, there is also a tension between the protection of tangible

Materials and Methods
As presented by Abel Figueiredo [18] (pp. [21][22], we can note the increasingly scientific look into various areas, from biological to socio-axiological perspectives, of martial arts and combat sportsin order to perform interpretative exercises, whereby explanation and comprehension evolves in a hermeneutic sense to a certain "praxiological hermeneutic" [19] at theorganizational level, and is usually supported by participant observation [20], which is made possible by its observer-observed relational analogue, similar tohow it was used by Wacquant [21]. The basic method used in this study is the narrative interview [22], stimulating the participants to make a certain hermeneutics of self-representation. The authors use the method of participant observation or observant participation [23], participating directly in the activity of the martial arts and combat sports environment and the phenomenon of martial arts tourism. These are the basic qualitative methods used in social and tourism research [24]. The practitioners of martial arts usually follow one or more disciplines during a certain time of practice, developing a certain recognized level of proficiencyin a specific martial art. Because we are focused on understanding touristic trips made by martial arts practitioners, and as an exploratory study, we limitedour consideration to European-based practitioners of Asian martial arts. In that way, because of the distance from the original country of the martial art and the residential country of the practitioner, we expect to explore also a certain touristic motivational energy derived from territory and cultural distancing. Furthermore, because we need to understand the interpretations of practitioners during a long period of years, we decided to find actual practitioners with high grades in their disciplines, and also with certain responsibilities in their institution's development, and because of that, we limited our consideration to participants that continue the practice and are on the last step (or near the last step) of attaining the highest ranks of the discipline. Finally, the research project found that the participants could also be invited to act as authors because of their scientific backgrounds in martial arts studies.
The "Martial Arts Tourism" exploratory questionnaire was addressed to N = 12 people, high-level martial arts teachers (7-10 dan/toan, Grand Masters), living and teaching in Europe and the USA, but coming from Europe. They are the holders of these highest degrees in Chinese, Japanese and Korean styles. They represent 10 different styles, with a predominance of varieties with Japanese and Okinawan-Japanese provenance. In these schools, styles and organizations, a system of dan degrees is used, while in the martial arts traditions of other countries (e.g., China), this is used much less often; then it is difficult to determine who is the master of the highest rank.
Asked (by email) as follows: "Please, make statements about your trips for martial arts carried out to learn or teach-where (countries, regions or cities), how many times, with what effects? I am also asking for some general comments about such trips, their directions, motives and goals. I address these questions to a group of 10 high-level experts. The answers will be used for scientific purposes only." Then the issue was specified and further questions were asked by direct e-mail correspondence or by phone. The collected statements were prepared by qualitative analysis. In the period of March-April 2020, N = 10 unambiguous answers were collected. These statements can also be treated similarly to the method of "expert courts" or "competent judges". The remaining two people referred researchers to appropriate, available materials. Since the originator of this project directly knows all these people and their general activity in the area of martial arts and combat sports, the lack of precise numerical data only slightly burdens the analysis with an error, which is also inevitable in strictly quantitative research (such as in a diagnostic surveys).
As in the method of expert courts/competent judges, we selected 7-12 people who may be considered particularly competent in a given case. We analyzed and compared their statements. This is a qualitative merit, as is the participant observation.
The next photos show the cultural context outside of martial arts (Figure 1), the practice of martial arts (Figure 2a), and a connection with material heritage-building importance for the functioning of martial arts (Figure 2b).

Trips for Learning
We provide the statements of the respondents in alphabetical order, according to surnames. Błach W.-He went to Japan mainly for learning ( Figure 1). Substantially, "The judo man could visit Japan, as a player, coach, participant of scientific conferences, repeatedly. For W. Błach it was 40 different visits, not only at the Kodokan Institute." He also visited Kodokan (Tokyo), as discussed not only in [25,26] but also in [14] (pp. 116-122).
However, in this case, each of his trips, whether as a fighter, coach or researcher, contained a strong theme of self-improvement, i.e., learning and acquiring new competences. As he says, these were as follows.
(1) Typical scientific trips, for self-study, and for practical studies of martial arts and combat sports, as follows: Japan-three times University of

Trips for Learning
We provide the statements of the respondents in alphabetical order, according to surnames. Błach W.-He went to Japan mainly for learning ( Figure 1). Substantially, "The judo man could visit Japan, as a player, coach, participant of scientific conferences, repeatedly. For W. Błach it was 40 different visits, not only at the Kodokan Institute." He also visited Kodokan (Tokyo), as discussed not only in [25,26] but also in [14] (pp. 116-122). However, in this case, each of his trips, whether as a fighter, coach or researcher, contained a strong theme of self-improvement, i.e., learning and acquiring new competences. As he says, these were as follows.
(1) Typical scientific trips, for self-study, and for practical studies of martial arts and combat sports, as follows: Japan-three times University of In total, there were trips made to many countries of the world, associated with a sports and coaching career, functions in national and international sports organizations, and work at a university. They all involved their own martial arts and combat sports studies.
Bujak Z.-Travelled twice to DPRK/North Korea ("typically for training for 2 weeks, once judging during WCh and training-1 week"). In total, 10 trips to international training (in the ITF taekwon-do this is called the International Instructor Course) in Europe (Italy and Spain (several times), Hungary, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Scotland (UK)).
About 15 times hewas refereeing at ECh in taekwon-do, and 8 times at WCh ("Judges' briefing/training was also technical training"). "I still forgot to add Argentina. Apart from Latvia (Riga), all trips were related to learning and improving technical and tactical skills. It will probably be useful to know that I have practiced 5 times in 2-day seminars with the author of the name taekwon-do Choi Hong Hi." As such, he made were trips abroad to 10 countries.
Cynarski S.-Travels around Poland often, also to four other European countries (France-11 times, Germany-3 times, Belgium-1 time, and Czech Republic-1 time). Most often they were weekly seminars with teachers from Japan, France, Belgium and Russia [14] (pp. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. For many years he has been the organizer of national and international trainings, to which he invites masters/teachers, including foreign ones. He has studied many times under the masters who come to him directly. Cynarski W.-Around Polandmany times, and to eight European countries (Germany-25 times, France-4, Czech Republic and Romania-2 each, Austria, Belgium, Slovakia and Hungary-1 each) and three Asian countries (Japan-five times, China/Shaolin and Thailand/Bangkok-one each) [27]. The durations of stays were from 2 days to 3 months. He adds: "In addition to trips for martial arts, learning or teaching, I also went to tournaments-as a fighter, coach, sports referee, activist, or as a fan. and at one large kickboxing gala, also in Warsaw. Each trip was for me a form of broadly understood martial arts studies." Drewniak A.-To the Netherlands (exam for 2 dan in karate Kyokushin) and to Japan (at least four times; the second time it was a 15-month stay). Obtained 4-6 dan in Japan [28].
Figueiredo A.-Around Portugal, for studying various martial arts, many times, then to Japan (different cities, 14 times), Brazil (Sao Paulo), USA (Los Angeles), Canada (Toronto), China (Hong Kong), and seven European countries (London, UK-many times, also Oxford, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland).
Kernspecht K.-Studied in Germany, England (UK) and Denmark, also in California (USA) and China (Hong Kong and Taiwan) [29] (pp. 335-357). Despite having a 10thdegree in WingTsun, he is still learning. As he wrote in reply to the questionnaire: "I was in Asia for 3 weeks during the outbreak of corona [virus].When I was in Singapore to investigate several Wing Chun and Wing Tsun styles there, I got the warning that I could not go on to Foshan, China, where I had an invitation to meet the first students of Yip Man who were still alive or more correctly their students. So instead of going to China proper I went with my daughter Natalie, also a WingTsun master (EWTO) and PhD in Sports Education (State University of Plovdiv. BG) to Malaysia where I researched the wing chun clubs as well as the 5 Ancestors Fist Style and the so-called Wu Mei Style, who claim to be some sort of source of Wing Chun. As is my habit, I always cross hands with the teachers of the styles I meet to find out on touch what they really have to offer. What I am after is fighting ability! Also I researched two Chinese Styles that now are extinct in China and only exist in Malaysia, one of these styles I have been studying with Nathalie for over 6 years from the Grandmaster. The style's name is I LikChuan and the best fighter and GM is Jimmy Heow. We meet a couple of times per year to train for 2 weeks or more".
Maroteaux R.-He practiced first in France. Then, he went to Japan (26 times, from a week to a month, practicing 6-8 h a day) and to China (twice). See Figure 2a,b.
Samitowski L.-Training and sports camps in Poland, Hungary and the Netherlands, then after the USA he also went to Japan (already as a coach), and many times he went to China (Shaolin). For the third dan of karate Kyokushin he had to pass the exam twice-in Papendal (Netherlands) and once again in Bialystok (Poland) during the Summer School of 1987. So, on some trips he was forced to take master's degrees where this was possible. Living in the USA, he travels to China to study qigong and Chinese traditional medicine. He believes that the master of martial arts should have such knowledge and skills [30,31].
Sieber L. and Sieber H.-After Germany, they traveled many times to Spain (five times), to the USA (once), and to Japan (a more tourist-like, 10-day stay) (once) [28,32,33].
Słopecki J.-Many times to Poland, and several times to Austria and Germany. One of his teachers was the Austrian GM Franz Strauss, 10 dan [34,35].
These are examples of different varieties of the "way to mastery". The comparison, evaluation and summary can be found further in the analysis (point 4).

To Compete, to Coach, to Lead, to Research and to Teach
Błach W.-Teaches as a trainer, especially in Poland and Belgium, and as the technical director of EJU, and is also active in other European countries. He also presents papers at scientific conferences, exchanging his knowledge in a specialist environment.
Bujak Z.-A total of n > 100 times to Poland plus trips to several countries. In particular, these were as follows: approximately 30 training trips to Poland, conducting classes with fighters and coaches at the invitation of club leaders; about 50 trips as a technical examiner (individually for student grades and as a member of the commission for grades 1-6 dan); and lectures (10 times) on taekwon-do instructor and trainer courses. "I have been running taekwon-do camps in summer and winter since 1989, which are attended by players and instructors of friendly clubs (I run technical-tactical or technical classes-mainly formal trainings for instructors)". He lectures and exams only in Poland. "I tested once in Germany, but most often I refused because of lack of time. At the ITF, you must always obtain the consent of the Technical Committee for conducting seminars and examinations abroad." Cynarski S.-He has been in Polandmany times (n < 100). He was the organizer of many training seminars, national and international, in his dojo in Tarnów (Poland).
Drewniak A.-Has been round Poland many times, to neighboring countries (Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania) and other, mainly European countries (as an examiner, trainer and activist).
Figueiredo A.-Around Portugal as a competitor, coach, expert leader, researcher and teacher (n > 100). As a karate competitor: to Belgium-one time, Japan-two. As karate assistant teacher and director: to London, UK-eight times, Greece-two times and Slovakia-one time. As scientific and technical expert of martial arts: two times to Japan (conferences), and several times to Poland, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. He has been in Hong Kong and in Canada as well. A total of seven European countries and three non-European countries, plus Japan.
Kernspecht K.-Teaches basically in Europe, especially in Germany, Bulgaria and the UK. He organizes large training seminars, firstly at Langenzell Castel, and alsoin Heidelberg and Hockenheim (Germany). Every year, people who practice WingTsun kung-fu and Latosa/Newman escrima from Europe and outside Europe come here.
Maroteaux R.-Around Francemany times (n > 100), and to Europe to most countries (most often to Romania, where he conducted international training seminars); also to 11non-European countries (Singapore, Cuba, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, USA, Canada, Guadeloupe, Madagascar, India and United Arab Emirates).
Samitowski L.-In Polandmany times (n < 100). Numerous trips to sports competitions as a coach of the Polish team, then with the US representation, also as a trainer [30,31].

Path of the Warrior: Shihan Abel Figueiredo
Dr. Abel A. Figueiredo, shihan of Goju-ryu, sent this comprehensive account, which we shall quote in full (as below). In 1993 I start teaching Adults in Viseu, because some of the children become adults and because other cities want to start karate with me, as in Tondela, and, in 1995, with partners of practice mainly students, I made foundation the "Karate Association of Viseu", and that make an institutional grow to a background for the next steps and connection with International Links and Institutions in Martial Arts practice. In 1993 I started my career as karate referee linked with National Karate Federation and I interrupted officially in 2004. A first international travel with links to learning in Seminars happen in 1995, passing 15 days in Okinawa, participating on the "1995 Okinawan Karate Kobudo World Pre-Tournament" in Naha-Okinawa, and visiting many dojo's of teachers in different cities of Okinawa, and training on them.

Martial Arts Introduction Cycle
I finish my Master Degree in Education Sciences-Methodology of Physical Education, and during those studies I helped the construction of National Karate Federation in 1992 as a federation connecting two different past karate governing bodies from previous cycles, and because my background on Sport Sciences (BSc and MSc) regarding management, pedagogy, didactics and methodology, I become responsible to propose Coach Education processes and model construction in the official National Karate Federation involving all the teachers and coaches, and started a new way of doing Coach Education Courses in karatedo, and made many seminars, courses (4 degrees of Courses) and workshops, and organized a team of researchers mainly from Sport Sciences to start a new curricular model to teach Karate Federation Coaches.
THIRD COMMENT: I feel this third cycle made me open the understanding as teacher, technician and researcher responsibilities. Travels have been made inside Portugal for one competition, for learning in seminars in different cities in Portugal but mainly in Lisbon, for teaching in another city (Tondela), for technical meetings because National Karate Federation mainly in Lisbon but also in other cities for Coach Education workshops and courses, as meetings with technical team members. Also, from 1993 on I also travelled because of referee in karate competitions in Portugal. But the first travel with much impact was going to Okinawa -Japan for Competition, Seminars and international grading to 3rd dan. International Conferences in Martial Arts and Combat Sports, looking for the connection between partners that enjoy "pen" and "sword" and those movements made me also travel to many conferences around the world important on the next cycle. SIXTH COMMENT: I feel this sixth cycle that probably will finish on a long challenging future in making me stronger learner on expertise in MA and karatedo as practitioner (working for 8th dan and hanshi challenges), technician (Coach Education responsibilities in National Sport Governing), director (President of JKF Gojukai-Europe and Director of GojuryuKaratedoSeiwakai for Europe) and

MA Expanding Experiences and Focus Practices
Professor & Researcher responsibilities. Travels are on the same groups as past ones, but cooperative studies inter personal researchers are starting.
FINAL COMMENT: The main motivation and purposes of touristic travels started inside the country with evolution to European participation because of competition. Connected with that competitive purposes, a learning and training for gradings motivation make me participate on karate seminars nationally and internationally. After, and linked with those purposes, because of political responsibilities as director, international travels assumed more frequency. Also because researcher and responsibilities as professor in university, participation on international conferences and international panels for PhD studies stimulate me on more travels around the world.
In the case of sports activities, these are cyclical trainings, camps, competitions (participation as a trainer, referee, observer, etc.). This is not tourism for pleasure, but non-entertainment, self-realizing tourism.
What is the meaning and what are the effects of these trips? In the case of teachers and trainers, it is often for tangible profit if they do it professionally/commercially. Often, however, as they themselves indicate, they are still learning themselves-they are looking for new knowledge, and masters as its source. They also try to promote their schools and organizations. Above all, however, as A. Figueiredo described it, this "martial arts tourism" is the way to become a high-level master/teacher. These trips are a form of martial arts studies, and are at the same time practical and theoretical. They enable the acquisition of knowledge and skills, also confirmed by certificates of higher master's degrees. According to the statements and declarations cited here, the respondents are convinced (expressed explicitly or implicitly) of the legitimacy of such trips.

Discussion
Lovers of various martial arts have already traveled to the sources of their martial arts -Chinese [41][42][43][44], Japanese [12,26,32], Korean [40,45] or Brazilian [46]. In this case it is similar, but some of the subjects and their martial arts have their global centers in Europe-in Munich [47] or Vienna [35,36]. Despite the fact that a trip to another continent is quite expensive for most people, as many as 10 out of 12 experts (83.33%) speaking here took up this challenge. On the other hand, East Asian masters regularly conduct training seminars, including in England, France and Germany, and at such international meetings you can improve your skills under their guidance, which is quite common.
In particular, the first trip to the country of birth of a given martial art is something similar to a pilgrimage. However, in some subcultures, other similar journeys may also have the character of a pilgrimage coupled with cultural immersion, for example to learn about the culture of capoeira dance-fighting [14,46]. In addition to acquiring skills, it is about exploring the specific socio-cultural context. It is worth learning the language and customs of your teachers, for better contact with them and to acquire first-hand knowledge, and to better understand a martial art that one is practicing. In the Japanese martial arts tradition, reaching 7-8 dan is an extraordinary feat, especially for a Westerner, even if he started practicing at the age of five. Mastery, confirmed by high degrees and titles, requires decades of systematic effort and still a lot of luck. It is good to find the best teacher/masters [47]-then the ambition pays off with diligence and perseverance. The most active student will advance, gaining the next ranks the fastest [48]. Trips to out-of-town training are part of this activity [49].
What has the greatest impact on the frequency of foreign trips of martial arts masters, caused by learning or teaching martial arts? First of all, it seems that the overall strategy for operating within the school or organization has been adopted. Mr. and Mrs.Sieber have been running their own private school for many years, which limits their ability to leave. They more often invite other masters to their school. K. Kernspecht and S. Cynarski quite often organize training seminars attended by people from many countries. Especially GM Kernspecht, as a leader of a very large organization, may not be able to visit his students in many clubs in different countries, so they come to him. In turn, GM Maroteaux, teaching the lesser known martial arts, travels alone to teach in many countries. In some cases, as in A. Figueiredo's experience, the teaching is built on the model of teamwork, and teachers start as the nominated assistant teachers of a main teacher, and they become a team of teachers that could not have a main teacher. The same also happens in testing panels for grading, which always have a directive examiner. In sport, however, trips are forced by the training of fighters, sport referees and trainers, camps and competitions. All this educates and enriches the travel-both of the student and the master/teacher [50].
In some martial arts (e.g., aikido, iaido, ITKF karate), passing the appropriate number of training seminars is required for exams for the next grade. This is probably partly due to training (care for the level of technical skills) but could also be because of commercial considerations. Such stimulated activity (the indicator of this variable is the frequency of trips here) is, for example, in favor of aikido compared to ITF taekwon-do [13]. R. Maroteaux began his martial arts with aikido. He is very active in this type of tourism-first he studied traditional martial arts, and then he taught them himself.

Conclusions
None of the respondents pointed to the material forms of cultural heritage of martial arts as motives for trips. Thus, visiting historic buildings and exercise rooms [4,5] is marginal here. This more passive form of martial arts tourism, closer to standard cultural tourism, has no direct link to career paths and self-improvement in martial arts. Cognitive goals related to martial arts practice (techniques, teaching methodology) prevail.