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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 [χ 2 (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 [χ 2 (10) = 572.93, p  < 0.001] and economic status [χ 2 (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 [χ 2 (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.

The study involved Paralympic wheelchair fencers (N = 7) in two disability categories, and able-bodied female epee fencers (N = 7), members of the polish paralympic fencing teams. The performance of postural muscles and sword arm muscles in both groups of fencers, and of the front and rear leg muscles in the able-bodied fencers, was examined using surface electromyography with an accelerometer and the OptiTrack motion analysis system, as well as ground force reaction platforms. The activation sequence of individual muscles was determined and the structure of movement patterns in able-bodied and wheelchair fencers was formulated. A statistically significant correlation was found between the complex motor reaction time and latissimus dorsi muscle activation (p = 0.039, Z = −2.062) in wheelchair fencers. High correlations between the vertical force and EMG signal values of the gastrocnemius caput laterale muscle (0.85 for p = 0.022) were found in able-bodied fencers. A heuristic analysis indicated the significance of postural muscles in the movement patterns of wheelchair and able-bodied fencers. These muscles play a crucial role in the anticipatory postural adjustment of the trunk during technical fencing actions, including attacks on the opponent’s body.

Traditional martial arts continue to be interesting and inspiring to many people around the globe. Some of their contemporary adaptations attract enthusiasts for whom they are especially important. In this article, the author bases his observations on his own long-term participation. The analysis takes into account the influence of the perspectives of Jigoro Kano and several other creators of modern varieties of Japanese budo. It can be concluded that regular, even daily, practice—cultivating martial arts and internalizing its values—co-creates the lifestyle of instructors and advanced students.

In the perspective of the General Theory of Fighting Arts, an analysis of socio-cultural factors that determine the opposition of the role of a teacher of martial arts (Jap. sensei) to the role of a sports trainers was undertaken. The structural cultural context, cultural patterns, and social institutions resulting from divergent goals were taken into account. The roles of teachers and trainers result from these conditions. The existence of the separate roles of the master-teacher in martial arts and the sports trainer was established. These roles manifest themselves in different relations with students or players. Democratic and egalitarian interactions in sports teams include player and coach relations. In traditional martial arts, the dominance of the teacher is more accepted. However, there is also a social position combining the features of the sensei and the trainer that is typical for combat sports that are also martial arts (participating in sports competitions). As there are relationships of subordination in the hierarchical societies of Japan and Korea, there is no problem with recognizing the primary role of the sensei in these cultures. The position of the master-teacher is also sanctified by tradition. Reducing educational systems, which are the paths of martial arts, to oriental varieties of sports would be a serious factual mistake.

Jujutsu is a close-contact grappling combat sport. Karate is a long-distance combat sport, primarily using strikes and kicks. Well-designed strength characteristics should be capable of differentiating between participants of martial arts and combat sports, especially if, due to training preferences, they develop particular preferences for grappling or striking that differentiate them, as is the case in jujutsu and karate. One hundred and seventy-eight participants were tested for their age, weight, years of training, style (modern jujutsu, Polish and German groups, karate Kyokushin, karate Shotokan), skill level (Kyu or Dan grade), gender, and handgrip strength (HGS). An analysis of variance utilizing age, weight, years of training, martial art, gender, and skill in explaining HGS showed that variance in skill level and the interaction between skills and weight were significant. Furthermore, a post-hoc Tukey’s HSD test based on skills separated practitioners with the second Kyu from those with the sixth Dan grade. There were two groups identified when a similar analysis was conducted for the interaction between skill and weight. The first one encompassed all athletes below the fifth grade, whereas the second one comprised the remaining practitioners. Principal component analysis with gender as a grouping variable showed that women formed a partly separated group of athletes, with the most differentiating factors being age and years of training. When the grouping variable was skill level, the most influential variables were weight, HGS, and age. Finally, utilizing martial arts as a grouping variable showed that age, years of training, and skill were the essential variables. Our study has demonstrated that by utilizing HGS in combination with such characteristics as weight, age, years of training, gender, Dan grade, and martial arts, it is possible to identify differences between people training distinct martial styles, those with varying skills, and those representing opposite sexes. However, the differentiation is only sometimes apparent.

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.

Background: Each combat sport carries different risks of injury due to the specifics of the sport (including the weight categories and sex) and the fighting techniques used according to different sports regulations. The purpose of this study is to examine injury symmetry in judo. Methods: Injuries recorded in 195 people (93 women, 102 men) suffered during top-level judo tournaments were verified. Using the European Judo Union medical questionnaire, information on injuries was obtained from each injured athlete. Results: Based on the analysis of the results, it can be concluded that injuries are almost evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the body in both men and women. In women, there were 129 injuries to the left side (41.2%), 134 injuries to the right (42.8%), and 50 (16.0%) to the middle part of the body. Conclusions: injuries in judo are evenly distributed and slightly more common on the right side. Injuries occur at a greater rate during defending maneuvers than attacking maneuvers in judo. Identification and monitoring of who (tori or uke) and which side of the body sustains an injury are crucial and important in injury prevention. This knowledge makes it possible to modify existing sports regulations by eliminating behaviors (e.g., certain types of defense) to improve the safety of athletes participating in top-level competitions and the training process in terms of ensuring safety in both attack and defense.

Background: The need for a strong grip in ‘ground’ martial arts is undisputed, but it is not obvious in karate. It may be expected that in the case of advanced karate fighters where dynamic combat movements dominate, the level of speed skills will be high. However, does the karate style affect the Ditrich rod dexterity and the strength of the players’ handshake? Methods: 39 participants were analyzed, all of whom were elite karate fighters—21 in the Kyokushin style (age: 31.4 ± 6.3; body weight: 77.2 ± 18.2 kg) and 18 in the Shotokan style (age: 23.3 ± 11.8 years; body weight: 70.9 ± 14.2 kg). They performed the following: a test of reaction speed and dexterity with a Ditrich rod, and a hand grip strength test with a dynamometer. Results: The data shows that there is no difference in the Ditrich rod test for both the left and right hand among the analyzed Kyokushin and Shotokan fighters. Significant differences were recorded in the grip strength of both hands (p < 0.05). There is a positive correlation between the strength of the grip on both hands (r = 0.593; p < 0.05). Discussion: Kyokushin-style karate players have a higher grip strength than those trained in the Shotokan style. Perhaps this is due to differences in the preparation for fights. The analysis showed no statistical significance in the Ditrich rod test. It is probable that the level of dexterity in karate is independent of the training canon.

Martial arts tourism is a form of cultural, sports and educational tourism that requires special recognition; particularly important is knowledge about martial arts. The sources of this practical knowledge are especially high-ranking masters. The scientific problem raised here involves the issue of high-ranking martial arts teachers taking trips for their own studies (to acquire knowledge and skills) and teaching others. Some of the questions addressed include how often the trips occur (single, sporadic, or multiple, regular), what their effects are, and what their meaning is—in the opinion of these experts. The “Martial Arts Tourism” questionnaire was addressed to N = 12 people, masters/teachers of high-rank in martial arts (level 7–10 dan/toan) who live and teach in Europe and the USA, but come from Europe. They are the holders of the highest degrees in Chinese, Japanese and Korean styles. Further questions were asked through direct correspondence. The collected statements were usedby means of qualitative analysis—as in the method of ‘expert courts’/’competent judges’. The respondents in most cases undertook trips from Europe to East Asia for their own learning. They teach themselves mainly in their own countries and in Europe. Stays rarely lasted over two weeks. The respondents are convinced of the legitimacy of this type of trip, and believe that the trips are very helpful on the way to mastery. None of the respondents mentioned the material forms of cultural heritage pertaining to martial arts as motives for the trips. Therefore, the ability to visit historic places is a marginal concern. The trips were directly linked to a career path and self-improvement in martial arts, learning or teaching.

Combat sports and martial arts have gained popularity in mainstream culture and are recognized in various realms of physical culture [...]