Fight Sports and the Church: Boxing and Martial Arts Ministries in America
by Richard Wolff
BOOK DETAILS: 
Fight sports and the church might at first seem like an unusual combination. Even so, modern fight sports ministries thrive, from martial arts programs of suburban churches, to urban boxing ministries geared towards at-risk youth. History finds substantial practice of fight sports in the church, offered for evangelism, formation, and social outreach. It also finds the church using fight sports to present itself as a masculine institution, appealing to male congregants. Popular culture reflects this relationship, as film, television and novels use fight sports to depict church leaders as both peace-loving and tough. Meanwhile, news media often sensationalize fight sports ministries, in ways that misrepresent the approach of many programs. Christian ethicists argue about whether and how boxing and martial arts are compatible with church teachings and settings. Indeed, both Biblical references to fight sports and modern models of discipleship have something to add to this discussion. This book reflects upon all of these matters. Its highlight is a series of interviews with boxing and martial arts ministry leaders, who describe their programs and reflect upon the relationship of fight sports and faith.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richard Wolff is an Associate Professor of Communication at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he advises the boxing club. He holds master’s degrees from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, as well as a doctorate from Ohio University.
Richard Wolff
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: 15 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7387-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4213-0
Imprint: McFarland
Price for paperback $45.00
Price for e-book $20.99
The book is available at Amazon.com and McFarland Publishing