Why did Western martial arts eliminate leg moves (esp kicks) as they became sportified (esp boxing)?

[Juany118]

Exoticism is certainly a factor. Another factor is WWI where many practitioners were killed and Asian MA filled the gap. Certainly if say Catch Wrestling had taken off in Europe, Judo would not have made the inroads that it did.

I always seem to forget just how severely WWI culled Europe's male population.

 

[Tez3]

I always seem to forget just how severely WWI culled Europe's male population.

Don't forget too that the influenza outbreak at the end of that war killed even more people than the war did. Current estimates are 50-100 million people died.

 

[Juany118]

Don't forget too that the influenza outbreak at the end of that war killed even more people than the war did. Current estimates are 50-100 million people died.

Oi forgot about Spanish Flu. It must have felt like the "end times" to some people.

 

[lklawson]

Exoticism is certainly a factor. Another factor is WWI where many practitioners were killed and Asian MA filled the gap. Certainly if say Catch Wrestling had taken off in Europe, Judo would not have made the inroads that it did.

Interestingly enough, about the time that "Jiu-Jitsu" was being introduced to the West, many of the "Moral Crusaders" had begun to include the concept of generalized health through diet and exercise into the world view. This was the (rather brief) rise of what is known as Muscular Christianity. This movement embraced boxing, under strict Marquis-style rules, and encouraged other sports such as "Jiu-Jitsu."

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk