Background/Purpose Studies have showed martial-arts are very useful physical education curriculum because of its combat techniques, self-defense skills, and full range body exercises. When participants reach certain level of skill they would obtain healthier and safer life. Increasingly benefits on practicing martial-arts (e.g., positive response to physical challenge, self-esteem, reductions in anxiety and depression) were also reported; as whole martial-arts practices have provided meaningful and health relate physical exercises for millions of participants (Cai, 2000; Cynarski, 2012; Fuller, 1988). Purposes of this study were to investigate young martial-arts athletes' (YMAA) motivation, practice times, and healthy relate behaviours in Changzhou, China; and to provide meaningful information for developing quality martial-arts programs and improving the effectiveness of teaching and managing martial-arts programs in their schools.
Method Participants were 80 YMAA (ages 10-16+1.5; boys = 55 and girls = 25) from five different martial-arts programs. Health Behaviours of Martial-Arts Athlete Questionnaire (HBMAAQ, Cynarski et al, 2011) with 50 items concerning YMAA's Motivation, Practice-times, Diet-Nutrition, Fitness, Travelling, Risk, and Hygiene Behaviours were used for collecting data. Frequency and percentage techniques were used for data analyzing.
Analysis/Results Results/findings were summarized into nine tables that reflected six unique themes included: Factors of Motivation, Times for Practicing, Fitness, Diet/Nutrition, Travelling, Alcohol/Drug Use, and Hygiene Behaviours of the YMAA.
Conclusions Participants' motivation and health relate behaviours were discovered and categorized. Some aspects appear to be done well (e.g., motivation, practice-times, and risk-behaviour), while some aspects need to be improved (e.g., hygiene, nutrition, and fitness). Reasons behind each of these findings were discussed.
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