Research

Dr. phil. Christian Köhler-Warmbrunn in a suit while boxing
In their ambivalence, [Martial Arts and Combat Sports] hold the potential for individual and societal pacification as well as for hyper-realistically alienated exaggeration of an enlightenment escalating into madness. ( , S. 243 (). Körper, Geist Und Gewalt. Ethnographische Perspektiven Auf Leiblichkeit, Emotion Und Bildung in Den Martial Arts & Combat Sports . )

My research interest lies in bodily practices such as Martial Arts and the possibilities of transdisciplinary connection of education and movement. Particularly with regard to low-threshold ethical education through traditional and contemporary Martial Arts as well as Combat Sports, too little research has been conducted and utilized in civil society. The emic perspective (»form within«) has not yet been processed and brought into scalable, reproduicle form.

In der vorhandenen Vielzahl »kultureller Reserven« liegt ein bislang für die Zivilgesellschaft noch nicht systematisch genutztes Potenzial zum gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt und eine starke Demokratie. Das kürzlich aufgekommene Interesse an den interdisziplinären Martial Arts Studies ( , S. vgl. (). Martial Arts Studies: Disrupting Disciplinary Boundaries. Rowman; Littlefield International. ) ist eine erste Tendenz in Richtung einer wissenschaftlichen Aufarbeitung an der Schnittmenge von Körper und Gesellschaft.

In the given plurality of »cultural reserves« lies an unused potential of social cohesion and a resilient democracy. The recently emerged interest in interdisciplinary Martial Arts Studies ( , S. cf. (). Martial Arts Studies: Disrupting Disciplinary Boundaries. Rowman; Littlefield International. ) is a first trend in the direction of an academic processing on the intersection of body and society.

Current Projects

  1. Psychometric research on combat sports and resilience. In the research area of the Culture Academy we are searching for first clues to statistically proof of the hypothesis, that Martial Arts may reduce adgression rate and foster openness towards others.
  2. In the continuous seminar »Martial Arts Studies« we look into the multiple aspects of Martial Arts and their impact on education, politics and psyche.
  3. Documentation of best practices of Martial Arts didactics for civil society use.

List of Publications

  • Christian Köhler-Warmbrunn 2025 Körper, Geist und Gewalt. Ethnologische Perspektiven auf Leiblichkeit, Emotion und Bildung in den Martial Arts & Combat Sports, im Druck
  • Christian Köhler 2017 Ökonomie der Gewalt und ethisches Lernfeld - Feldbericht zur »Gewalt« in den Capoeiras und Mixed Martial Arts. In: Swen Körner and Leo Istas 2017 Martial Arts and Society. Zur gesellschaftlichen Bedeutung von Kampfkunst, Kampfsport und Selbstverteidigung. Feldhaus. Edition Czwalina. 101-110
  • Christian Köhler 2015 Capoeira. Körper, Flow und Erzählung im afrobrasilianischen Kampftanz. Tectum

Citations

  • (). Martial Arts Studies: Disrupting Disciplinary Boundaries. Rowman; Littlefield International.
  • (). Körper, Geist Und Gewalt. Ethnographische Perspektiven Auf Leiblichkeit, Emotion Und Bildung in Den Martial Arts & Combat Sports .