Problem. How can an effective teaching process be conducted within a limited timeframe to teach students real, practical skills in individual self-defense? Five research questions were posed. Method. A diagnostic survey with a survey technique (NS1 questionnaire) was conducted on a sample of 92 students of physical education and internal security, including full-time and part-time students. The numerical data were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test for independence of variables; Kramer's Phi and V; and the coefficients: Kendall's Tau-b and Tau-c. IBM SPSS 26.0 with the Exact Tests module was used. Results. It was found that students' attitudes toward self-defense and interest in the subject were independent of their field of study, physical fitness level, age, or gender. Students gave the course and the educational outcomes a very positive rating. No significant differences were found in students' opinions depending on field of study or by full-time and part-time students. There were minor differences in the most frequently cited sources of students' self-defense knowledge. Conclusions. Students are satisfied with the "Elements of Self-Defense" course. The vast majority of them positively assessed the outcomes - improved fitness and skills - and a significant portion would like to see more hours taught in this course.

Findings on aggression in martial arts and combat sports are mixed, and relatively little is known about whether associations between emotion regulation strategies and aggression differ across combat sport disciplines. The present study examined whether discipline moderated the relationships of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression with aggression among athletes practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), karate, wrestling, and mixed martial arts (MMA). In this cross-sectional paper-and-pencil study, 277 athletes aged 16–57 years (M = 28.81, SD = 10.12) completed the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Because the verbal aggression subscale showed poor reliability (α = 0.53), it was excluded from the moderation analyses. Moderation models were estimated for total aggression, physical aggression, anger, and hostility, with discipline as the moderator and age, sex, sport experience, and competition level entered as covariates. Most aggression dimensions were not significantly associated with emotion regulation strategies. In the adjusted moderation models, discipline did not significantly moderate the associations of cognitive reappraisal or expressive suppression with total aggression, physical aggression, or anger. However, discipline significantly moderated the association between cognitive reappraisal and hostility. A positive association was observed in wrestling and MMA, but not in BJJ or karate. Expressive suppression was positively associated with hostility, independent of discipline. The relationship between emotion regulation and aggression in combat sports is nuanced. Most associations between emotion regulation strategies and aggression were small or non-significant, and the only moderated association concerned cognitive reappraisal and hostility. Rather than viewing aggression as uniformly negative, the observed associations may tentatively be interpreted as reflecting functional, discipline-specific forms of aggression; the present data, however, do not directly measure tactical aggression, sport performance, competitive outcomes, or aggressive behavior. These cross-sectional findings highlight the need for sport-specific psychological support and longitudinal research to understand how different styles shape emotional management.

Perspective: Among the many martial arts, disciplines, and styles, only a few have achieved global renown. Managing a company or other martial arts organization requires promotional activities. The broader concept of marketing and the General Theory of Fighting Arts provide the theoretical foundation for this discussion. Problem: Are there any relationships between the type of promotional activities and fame, popularity, and measurable organizational success? How does presence in popular culture (films, books, celebrities) contribute to the international popularity of a given martial art style?. Method: A multiple case study was conducted for five relatively popular martial arts styles. Promotion of the style in films, books, through celebrities, international organizations, and the history of the master was considered. Included: 1) Kyokushin karate; 2) Wing Tsun kung fu; 3) American kenpo karate; 4) Jeet Kune Do kung fu; 5) Chuck Norris System. Results: International popularity is achieved only through a combination of the following promotional activities: film appearances, books, celebrity students, and organizational development. Conclusions: In the absence of such activities, the distinguished master-teacher and his school remain largely unknown or little known. Particularly in martial arts that reject competitive sports, it is difficult to achieve greater international popularity.

Background. This study investigates the values embedded in Chinese Wushu and Japanese Bud & omacr; within contemporary contexts, with a focus on practitioners' perceptions and internalization of these values. It explores how cultural heritage influences value preferences and motivations among martial arts practitioners. Materials and Methods. The research is based on a survey of 648 martial arts practitioners from Europe and East Asia. The study analyzes cultural influences, value preferences, and motivations, examining how these factors shape the practitioners' understanding and practice of martial arts. Results. The findings indicate that Chinese martial arts practitioners prioritize humility [68.2%] and righteousness [47.5%], values deeply rooted in Confucian ideals. In contrast, Japanese martial arts practitioners emphasize loyalty [31.8%] and perseverance [42.9%], reflecting Bushid & omacr; principles. Additionally, 37.2% of respondents identified the balance between body and spirit as their primary life value, highlighting the universal appeal of martial arts in promoting holistic development. The study also reveals that training frequency, duration, and proficiency significantly influence value preferences [p < 0.05]. Conclusions. This study underscores the role of martial arts as bridges between cultural heritage and modern practices. They contribute to personal growth, social cohesion, and cross-cultural dialogue. Future research should further investigate the evolving roles of martial arts in global contexts and their impact on mental and social well-being.

This study employs field theory to analyze the dilemmas faced by the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) after being incorporated into educational resources, revealing its underlying contradictions and causes.This paper reviews the process through which the Caijia Straw Dragon ICH project transitioned from the Bashu Agricultural Culture Museum into ZY Primary School. The paper describes how various stakeholders became involved in unequal power relations, unequal distribution of benefits, and divergent cultural perspectives due to resource competition and related conflicts. Based on the experiences of different countries, the study provides recommendations. This is a one-year ethnographic study where the researcher collects data through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, field notes, and recordings. The findings explore the field contradictions that emerged during the resource competition, addressing key questions such as: How are field contradictions formed? How are these contradictions manifested? How can these contradictions be effectively alleviated? This study enriches the application experience of ICH in the field of education, enhances the theoretical depth of related research, and provides valuable insights and pathways for integrating other ICH resources into schools or exploring other safeguarding approaches.

The study of the mechanisms underlying the perception of visual information, as well as the speed and adequacy of its processing, is of practical interest to martial artists. This study aims to develop and validate a methodology for assessing spatial perception in martial arts. It involved 57 participants practicing taekwondo, representing various age groups and skill levels (age: 18.6 years, SD = 3.52; qualifications: 8th Gup to 1st Dan). At the first stage of the research, the newly developed “Spatial Perception” application was preliminarily tested to determine its reliability and validity. In the second stage, the specific features of spatial perception among martial artists of different ages and qualifications were examined. The findings indicate that the rotation of objects provides additional information for object recognition, which reduces reaction time and the number of errors in response selection. The speed of processing dynamic visual cues reflects athletes’ psychophysiological capabilities, which are crucial during competitive bouts. Adult, qualified martial artists with relevant competitive experience possess a greater volume of visual images, which reduces the time of their spatial perception, thus confirming the hypothesis proposed in this study. Athletes at this level can maintain focus on objects and are less affected by distracting visual stimuli. The results obtained may assist martial arts coaches in improving the monitoring of athletes’ functional states and optimizing training processes.

Studi Purpose- Traditional martial arts, mostly originating from East Asia, are now practiced in many countries around the world, and therefore on a global scale. Method. Research methodology in martial arts and according to the General Theory of Fighting Arts, in matters of cultural analysis it is most appropriate to adopt a qualitative methodology. Result and Discussion. If a young, 30-year-old instructor boasts of having the rank of 10th dan, it is extremely strange and against tradition. These highest, non-technical degrees are awarded for merits, i.e. teaching, work for popularization, publications, ethical attitude, etc. They can rarely be achieved before the age of 60. The cases of juvenile holders of the highest degrees result from the extreme commercialization of the martial arts market. Conclusion. The novelty of research here is the idea of assessing the presence of various martial arts in the general cultural heritage of humanity according to the level of institutionalization and dissemination on a global scale. The matter probably requires further research.

Background: The scientific frameworks for this study are the General Theory of Fighting Arts and the holistic Anthropology of Martial Arts. These theories provide definitions and conceptional framework for all combat sports and martial arts (CSMA). The problem and aim of this study were to explain the perception of success in international groups of children and teens practicing various fighting arts. Methods: The Perception of Success Questionnaire (POSQ) was used for this study. 430 young martial artists from Poland, Ukraine, China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea were surveyed. Statistical methods were used to examine, for example, the significance and strength of the relationship between the perception of success and the selected variables (i.e., type of practiced martial art, nationality, etc.). Results: The results obtained in this study indicate a moderate relationship between gender and age (R = 0.27-0.32, p < 0.05) and the perception of success (R = 0.21-0.54, p < 0.05), and the relationship between nationality (R = 0.13-0.38, p < 0.05) and the type of martial arts practiced and the perception of success is statistically significant (R = 0.26-0.32, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The relatively strong correlation between the perception of success and gender may suggest that in the era of globalization, significant cultural pattern unification is taking place. However, the limited scope of the research and the small size of the groups do not allow for unequivocal generalizations.

The thing is about sambo – a fighting art between self-defence and sport. Or is it more of a form of wrestling? Is it a martial art, a combat system, or a sport? How similar is sambo to jujutsu or judo? How should this fighting art be defined? The author takes into account the statements of various specialists and seeks explanations by logical proof. Therefore, the method of research here is the analysis of the content of the literature on the subject, direct interviews, and the analysis of documents. Older publications (textbooks and other books) were also treated as sources. Then the process of logical deduction was carried out. Sambo is not homogeneous – sport sambo and combat sambo are like separate fighting arts. Sport sambo is a wrestling fight based mainly on Japanese technical and tactical patterns. It is like a combination of freestyle wrestling and judo. In contrast, other forms of sambo are a form of self-defence, a system of military hand-to-hand combat, or an eclectic mix of different fighting techniques. Sambo does not meet the criteria for martialart and martial way. It is therefore a form of fighting art, as a combat sport or training program for MMA, eclectic self-defence or combat system.

Previous research on aggression in martial arts and combat sports (MA&CS) has shown mixed results. Some studies showed that MA&CS training lowers aggression levels, while other studies found it increases aggression or has no effect. To explain better this inconsistency, this study used latent class analysis to identify distinct subgroups of MA&CS practitioners based on aggression levels and related demographic and sports factors. Previous research predominantly employed a variable-centered approach to investigate the relationships between variables and their impact on outcomes. This study adopts a person-centered approach to identify subgroups that exhibit similar patterns of aggression, thereby enhancing the understanding of individual differences through variable configurations. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 367 participants aged between 16 and 57 years old (M = 27.28, SD = 9.52), including 23% of women, and 76% MA&CS athletes in such disciplines as Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), karate Kyokushin (KK), mixed martial arts (MMA), and wrestling. Participants completed paper-and-pencil self-report psychological questionnaires, including the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and provided demographic information. Latent class analysis was performed using aggression scores, age, gender, education, economic status, MA&CS training experience, and discipline. Three latent classes were identified: MA&CS Experts (n = 182), MA&CS Newbies (n = 95), and Non-Athletes (n = 90). Among MA&CS Experts were more women [χ2(2) = 14.55, p < 0.001], older participants [H(2) = 236.42, p < 0.001], more experienced [H(2) = 8.31, p = 0.004], those with higher education [χ2(10) = 572.93, p < 0.001] and economic status [χ2(8) = 60.67, p < 0.001], and lower aggression scores [F(2, 161) = 10.443, p < 0.001], compared to MA&CS Newbies. MA&CS Newbies had higher physical aggression than Non-Athletes (p < 0.001). BJJ was overrepresented in the MA&CS Experts class, while KK and MMA were underrepresented [χ2(8) = 396.69, p < 0.001]. The MA&CS Newbies included athletes representing all four MA&CS disciplines in a similar proportion. The results highlight the role of long-term MA&CS training in potentially reducing aggression, particularly hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression. Demographic factors like age, gender, education, and economic status were also important in distinguishing the latent classes. The findings suggest aggression in MA&CS is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple socio-cultural factors. Both the type of MA&CS and socio-demographic factors should be controlled by researchers and sports coaches if the goal of training is to reduce aggression in martial arts athletes.

Background. In the world scientific literature there is a lack of information regarding the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) studies in combat sports. In our opinion, this technique can be successfully used not only for medical and rehabilitation purposes, but also for pedagogical and sports purposes. Problem and Aim. The hypothesis of this work is based on the assumption that engaging in a certain type of combat sports has its specific imprint on the performance of the Star Excursion Balance Test by combat sports athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate SEBT indicators in qualified female athletes in various types of martial arts and to identify differences between them. Material and Methods. The research was conducted at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture named after Ivan Bobersky, Ukraine in November-December 2023. Female university students aged 18-22 participated in the study: 10 representatives from Kyokushinkai karate, 6 from boxing, 8 from fencing (epee), 7 from WKF karate. Research methods: analysis of literary sources and materials from the Internet; anthropometry; SEBT; methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The hypothesis of this work is confirmed by the results of the conducted research, which indicates that engaging in a certain type of combat sports has its specific imprint (profile) on the SEBT indicators. The results of the correlations of SEBT indicators in boxing and fencing representatives indirectly indicate the asymmetric impact of these single combats on the arms and legs of a person body. The SEBT results of Kyokushinkai karate representatives indicate the symmetry and uniform development of left and right parts of the body. The indicators of the WKF karate representatives occupy an intermediate place in this comparison: the peculiarities of their SEBT indicators show that along with symmetrical manifestations, asymmetric ones are also observed under the influence of competitive activity in the left-sided combat stance. Conclusions. The results of this work can be useful to coaches and athletes when determining directions for improving the training process of their martial arts, by borrowing training methods from other sports to obtain the necessary indicators. This study shows the ratio of the upper and lower limbs of female athletes in various types of martial arts, so it can become the basis for further, more in-depth studies.

Using the framework of symbolic interactionism, this article explores the sport socialisation process, mid-career transitions, and retirement strategies of professional MMA athletes. A survey of Polish male professional MMA athletes (n = 88), complemented by in-depth interviews with 15 athletes reveal the complexity of modern professional MMA careers. The athletes navigated dual careers, balancing sport involvement with education. Their initial sport choices were often influenced by limited opportunities and familial support, while motivations for mid-career transitions to MMA ranged from the quest for excitement to the desire for fame and financial gain. Investigated athletes' retirement planning typically involved strategic personal management approaches.

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is essential in sports, including martial arts, as it can be used to evaluate general athletes’ performance and physical fitness. Reaction time (RT) is another characteristic that is of value in sports based on fast reaction instead of strength. The two measures belong to the same group of coordinative energetic abilities analyzed in sports theory. The available literature suggests that handgrip strength may depend on body weight but can also be affected by other parameters. Additionally, the athlete’s age and martial arts training can impact reaction time. Still, verifying whether the characteristics could be applied to martial arts athletes is crucial. Methods: Several characteristics, such as athletes’ body weight, age, years of training, and skills, were evaluated during a survey of 166 male jiu-jitsu athletes (modern jiu-jitsu) and karate (Shotokan, Kyokushin). HGS was measured based on the dynamometric approach, whereas reaction time was evaluated using Ditrich’s rod method. The data were analyzed using the hierarchical multiple regression method to identify the variables influencing HGS and RT. Furthermore, the classification and regression tree method was implemented to illustrate how variables used in the study influenced HGS or RT. Results: The present study demonstrated that athletes’ body weight is the most significant factor affecting the handgrip strength of male athletes trained in martial arts. It can explain 61% of the HGS variance. Regression analysis of factors influencing reaction time showed that martial arts are the factor that affects the characteristic. However, martial arts can explain up to 17% of the reaction time variance. Based on the classification and regression tree approach, it was shown that HGS depends primarily on athletes’ body weight rather than on their age, skills, and years of training. For reaction time, martial arts were the most significant factor distinguishing between jiu-jitsu and karate participants. The next factor affecting athletes’ classification was years of training. Conclusion: Based on the hierarchical multiple linear regression method and classification and regression tree approach, it was found that athletes’ body weight is the most influential factor affecting the handgrip strength of martial arts practitioners. Reaction time is affected by martial arts. However, using the classification and regression tree approach revealed that additional factors such as athletes’ age, years of training, or skills should be considered. Similarly, reaction time is also affected by years of training. Although our study showed that handgrip strength and reaction time are functions of other variables that can be easily evaluated in trainers’ practice, the two statistical methods cannot reveal the relationships between the variables, suggesting further studies in the field.

Background: The specificity of the technical actions that are performed in judo may be dependent on and vary during particular phases of the combat, thus possibly impacting injury prevalence. Therefore, towards the betterment of athletes’ safety and considering the importance of the issue of injury prevention in judo, the main goal of this study was to identify the injury occurrence during respective combat phases, i.e., the (a) first half, (b) second half, (c) last minute, and (d) golden score. Methods: A total of 26,862 elite judo athletes, including 15,571 men and 11,291 women, participated in the study. The subjects competed in 128 international tournaments of the European Judo Union (EJU) in 2005–2020. The EJU medical questionnaire was utilized to gather information from each injured athlete according to the aforementioned inclusion criteria. Results: Several statistically significant relationships were found between the differences in the number of injuries between particular combat phases and the athlete’s sex. Conclusions: A significantly higher number of injuries occurred during the combined second half and the last minute of the judo combat. Males suffered more injuries during the first and second half of the combat compared to females, however, during the last minute of the combat, the number of injuries was greater among women.

This article discusses the nature of discourse about confrontation and rivalry which takes place between women (and men) as portrayed in materials published in 50 selected Facebook profiles for/about women. The women portrayed in those profiles were competing with other women or men, on a number of levels relating to their professional careers, sports and other elements of their lives. The areas in which confrontations were identified included: promotion; management of staff and subordinates; salary increases and success. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis (BuzzSumo and Atlas. ti as a research tools) of the discourse were applied. The answers to questions regarding the tone of the materials in this sector of selected Facebook profiles were obtained.

Background: Religious faith and practice are important aspects of human life and give meaning to human existence. The development of modernity and consumerism has significantly undermined the religious foundations of a present-day global society. The aim of this study is to determine the relationships of the religious faith and practice of student youth and adults in Poland (Podkarpacie and Lesser Poland regions) and in western Ukraine (Lviv region) with their self-rated health status and attitudes toward physical culture. Methods: The study was conducted online in Poland and Ukraine from January to April 2022. A convenience sample of 1458 people was recruited. The questionnaire included 16 questions about religiosity, attitudes towards physical culture, and self-rated health status. Questions regarding self-esteem and attitudes towards physical culture were assessed on a Likert scale of 1 to 5 points. Other questions contained single-choice answers. Data were analyzed using Statistica v. 13.3. Results: The component of health that was rated highest was physical health among believers and mental health among non-believers. The results of the analysis of variance showed significant differences between the individual variables depending on the declaration of faith in God. Conclusion: While the faith of the inhabitants of southeastern Poland and western Ukraine is largely related to their regular religious practice, irregularity dominates this practice. Respondents combined ratings of their faith and/or practice with self-rated health status; more religious people had statistically lower levels of self-rated health.

This paper deals with karate activity in the areas of physical culture in the broad sense. It is a concise and clear approach to the topic, which aimed to conceptualise the inclusion of karate in areas of physical culture as a contemporarily attractive physical activity. Karate was described here as a combat sport, martial art, and self-defence system in the following areas of physical culture: physical education, physiotherapy, recreation, sports, and tourism. Reference here was made to physical activity focused on bunkai (circuit interpretation exercises), kata (circuit exercises), kihon (technical exercises), and kumite (combat exercises). It has been determined that practitioners’ involvement in karate culture affects their level of sense of coherence. In addition, the conditioning for using karate in physical culture to the maintenance of health was mentioned. Here, reference was made to the perceptual perspective of the bodily and mental practice of karate for health. It has been established that this can be effective by adopting only the objectives of karate as martial art. Based on the above, it was concluded that practising karate is present in all areas of physical culture as combat sport, martial art, and self-defence system, but practising karate only as martial art provides opportunities for maintenance of health.

Ido, in the sense of “medicine of martial arts” (bujutsu idō), is analyzed from the perspective of the General Theory of Fighting Arts inmany aspects. In particular, the social reception of this and related forms of natural medicine is interesting, which is the main topic of reflection here. The terms “health” and “human” are understood here holistically. Social reception is analyzed here indirectly, through the presence in opinion-forming weeklies and other periodicals. Selected magazines from the years 1982–2023 and direct interviews with three experts constitute the sources. There are also two more qualitative methods, i.e. long-term participant observation and analysis of the content of the literature on the subject. A set of healing or self-healing methods was characterized and a general picture of alternative medicine in mass culture was shown, based on the content published in various magazines. Sharp criticism is mixed here with interest reflected in the search for nonpharmacological methods of therapy. The diverse image of alternative medicine (natural, holistic) in mass culture is shaped by the media. It is rare to associate traditional martial artswith natural medicine.

The historical connections between swimming and the art of war are unquestionable. The ability to swim is still valuable not only in the navy, which is quite obvious. Overcoming water obstacles requires the same from a soldier of the land forces, and special forces additionally teach efficient diving. During the Japanese Middle Ages, a samurai should, for a full education in martial skills (in Japanese: bugei), learn the rules of swimming in armour and with weapons (in Japanese: suei-jutsu) and acquire appropriate practical skills. Nowadays, in the practice of martial arts and combat sports, swimming is recommended as an excellent complementary sport. Are there other connections between the history, philosophy and cultural heritage of martial arts and swimming? In further analyses, concepts from the tradition of Japanese martial arts and references to several varieties of martial arts of Japanese origin will be used. The author presents here his own concepts resulting from his own experience, observations and conducted analyses.

Problem. The first goal is to describe and evaluate a scientific event, plus digressions (on some martial arts traditions) and observations. Then we look for answers to the problem question, what is the reason why specialists come to such a meeting, what attracts them. Is it the charm of the place or is it a strictly scientific purpose? Moreover, what does the analysis of the photographic material show? This is a contribution to knowledge about martial arts tourism. Method. The authors used visual sociology as the qualitative analysis method, analyzing approximately 200 selected photos. In addition, the qualitative methods recommended in the General Theory of Martial Arts were used: participant observation and broad discourse analysis. Results. The analysis of the photos confirms that the standard of the scientific event is maintained as well as its established, specific character. The scientific goal clearly dominated, but the arrival (or absence) of participants was influenced by many factors, the influence of which was not sought. The following were taken into account: the specific symbolism of the place, ritual roles and functions, scientific discourse, cultural dialogue, and social and organizational dimensions, which are typical for scientific and congress tourism. Conclusions. This is a factual report of another scientific event for fighting arts researchers. It was a successful conference with a high scientific level. Novel items) included: 1) parallel analysis of the example of martial arts, scientific and strictly cultural tourism; 2) description of the conference organized with direct participation after the pandemic break; 3) exchange of the latest knowledge - results of empirical research and theoretical findings from various scientific centers.