Exploring the Cultural and Philosophical Depths of Martial Arts
Fighting is one of the oldest activities that humans have engaged in. However, a new exhibition at Antwerp’s Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) reveals that there is a deep cultural and philosophical significance behind various fighting techniques found in martial arts. The exhibition, titled “Martial Arts,” opens on 3 April and explores the multifaceted nature of these disciplines, including their movements, identity, and role within communities both locally and globally.
The exhibition aims to gather objects, stories, and people to explore the history and heritage of martial arts, ultimately posing a simple yet profound question: why do people practice martial arts?
To address this question, the exhibition is structured around five key themes: body, mind, fight, society, and beauty. While many associate martial arts with aggression or violence, the exhibition highlights the richness and complexity of the subject. It moves beyond physical training to include mental wellbeing, from combat and competition to social identity, and finally to movement as a form of visual and expressive art.
According to co-curator Rachid Atia, these themes often overlap, showcasing the cultural depth of martial arts. He notes that by telling the history of martial arts, one can also tell the history of the city. In the early 20th century, boxing and wrestling were part of everyday life in the port city, tied to work and entertainment. Over time, new disciplines arrived through global exchange and migration, shaping the diverse martial arts scene that exists today.
Through the display of historical objects and artworks, the exhibition demonstrates the connections between fighting traditions from across the world, from Asian martial arts to African and European practices. Even in pop culture, film clips, posters from legendary fights like Rumble in the Jungle, and visual materials are presented to illustrate the diverse roles martial arts have played in society.
Martial Arts Beyond Fighting
The central idea of the exhibition emphasizes that martial arts are not solely about physical combat. There is a strong focus on the link between martial arts and mental wellbeing. According to curator Roselyne Francken, this interest is real and growing. Training builds strength, but it also fosters focus, discipline, and routine. For many practitioners, it becomes an integral part of daily life rather than something separate from it.
It is also about what happens beyond training. “It’s not just an end in itself, but a way of developing soft skills and fostering connections,” she added. This balance between body and mind runs through the exhibition, alongside deeper connections to religion, philosophy, and the self. Some martial arts are presented not just as physical disciplines, but as ways of practising self-control, spiritual focus, and personal growth.
An example is the section on the Iranian tradition of zurkhaneh, where physical training is paired with poetry, ritual, and music. The exhibition also highlights martial arts lineages in which teachers pass down not only techniques, but values, principles, and a whole way of carrying oneself.
Home Heroes
Local fight clubs and practitioners in Antwerp have contributed photographs, posters, and personal archives for visitors to explore the city’s history. These are displayed alongside contemporary images of the same communities, showing how practices are passed on and reshaped over time.
“It’s about intergenerational connections and the transfer of heritage,” says Roselyne Francken, curator of “Martial Arts.”
Currently, visitors can see “old versus new” pictures of dojos and fighting rings, not only in Europe but worldwide, through large photographs hung around the escalators at MAS.
Get Ready to Rumble
Interactivity is a key highlight of the exhibition. Visitors will be able to step into a boxing ring, try to follow a kung fu sequence using motion tracking, or train on equipment like punching bags and a wooden dummy. These interactive elements are placed alongside audio and video testimonies from practitioners in Antwerp, giving a sense of how martial arts are performed today.
The curators of the exhibition encourage visitors to come in with an open mind and experience the rich cultural, artistic, and heritage aspects of martial arts.
“Martial Arts” opens on April 3 at the MAS Museum in Antwerp. Tickets and visitor information are available on the museum’s official website.
