The temporality of the experience of sports movements as “semantic generation”

Abstract

This study examines the temporality of the experience of sports movements. First, it makes a quantitative comparison of sports based on Nakai's argument, and discusses how qualitative objects of sports movements are transformed into quantitative objects through quantitative comparison. Second, this study considers the objective and quantitative time in sports and argues the relationship between the means and the end. Finally, this study discusses the subjective and qualitative recognition of time in sports and the experience of sports movements as “semantic generation.”
The results of this examination were as follows:
1)  Sports are indicated as quantitative concepts such as scores and records. These quantitative aspects of sports are compared quantitatively according to the elements of competition in sports. Sports movements are also measured and analyzed quantitatively based on quantitative comparisons. Even qualitative aspects of sports movements such as kinesthesises of players can be transformed into quantitative data.
2)  The tendency for quantitative transformation reflects the recognition of time in sports. Both objective and quantitative time are important. Time proceed continuously in a straight line from the present to the future. The present time becomes the means to an end (the future). Similarly, sports movements become a means to an end. The results of sports movements (i.e. the future) such as scores, records and winning, or health and socialization, are more important than practice of sports movements (the present).
3)  Differences in time recognition exist in sports. The subjective and qualitative recognition of time is called vertical time. For vertical time, the moment of practicing sport (the present) is essential and is not a means to an end (the future). In the moment of sports movements, physical experience as “semantic generation” arises.
This study concludes that the physical experience as “semantic generation” in the moment of sports movements (the present) is the essence of sports. However, this qualitative experience of sports movements is likely to be a means to an end (the future). Because qualitative aspects of sports movements are transformed into quantitative aspects, they are at all times dependent on the element of competition in sports.