TY - CHAP AB - Purpose – This chapter explores a traditional mode of ethnography referred to as ‘realist ethnography’ as it relates to sport and physical culture (SPC) research.Design/methodology/approach – The chapter discusses different approaches to ethnography, but principally addresses a realist ethnography I conducted on Ashtanga yoga in Canada.Findings – I discuss how data evolved from the realist ethnographic method, and outline the manner in which ethnographic research is as a ‘way of life’. The chapter concludes that the realist ethnographic method is not untenable, as some authors suggest, but rather a viable and exciting mode of knowledge production in the SPC field.Originality/value – The chapter is original work. It makes a case for the retention of realist ethnographies in our methodological lexicon, and illustrates the empirical process of writing culture. It also endeavours to engage students and scholars alike regarding the value of ethnographic methods more broadly. VL - 6 SN - 978-1-78052-297-5, 978-1-78052-296-8/1476-2854 DO - 10.1108/S1476-2854(2012)0000006005 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-2854(2012)0000006005 AU - Atkinson Michael ED - Kevin Young ED - Michael Atkinson PY - 2012 Y1 - 2012/01/01 TI - Chapter 2 The Empirical Strikes Back: Doing Realist Ethnography T2 - Qualitative Research on Sport and Physical Culture T3 - Research in the Sociology of Sport PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 23 EP - 49 Y2 - 2024/03/28 ER -