nakayama.michel@gmail.com

karlagoessler@gmail.com

marcelo.alberto@usp.br

gabrielsavonitti@gmail.com

donizete.oliveira@uftm.edu.br

*Graduated in Business Administration (Bachelor)

from Universidade Norte do Paraná (UNOPAR)

Graduated in Physical Education (Bachelor)

from Centro Universitário Filadélfia (UNIFIL)

Karate coach affiliated to the Brazilian Karate Confederation (CBK)

and Paraná Karate Federation (FPrK). Assistant coach

f the Londrina Karate Team. Professor coordinator

of the bodybuilding sector (Academia OFF). Personal trainer

**Graduated in Physical Education

from the State University of Londrina UEL

Master’s degree and doctorate in Physical Education

from the graduate program of the UEL and UEM

She holds a Post-Doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences

from the Catholic University of Leuven

Interdisciplinary Post-Doctorate

from the Postgraduate Program in Environment and Health

***PhD Student in Education

at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters

of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP)

Master of Science from the School

of Physical Education and Sport at USP (EEFE-USP)

Degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR)

Scholarship Researcher at the Higher Education Personnel

Improvement Coordination of the Brazil (CAPES)

Member of the Study and Research Group

on Sociocultural and Pedagogical Aspects of Sport (GEPESPE-USP)

Former substitute professor at UTFPR

at the University of Tsukuba (Japan)

He studied International Development through Sport

Black Belt 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate

He worked as a sports coach in university karate teams

Co-author of the book ‘Diário de Karateca’

+Doctor in Physical Education from the University of São Paulo

Researcher CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement

of Higher Education Personnel)

Master in Information Technology and Digital Design (TIDD)

from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo

++Graduated in Physical Education and Postgraduate

in Scientific Bases of Sports Training

from the Paulista State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ (UNESP)

Master’s in Human Movement Sciences from Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL)

PhD in Physical Education at the State University of Londrina (UEL/UEM)

Professor at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) in Uberaba

(Brazil)

Recepção: 13/12/2021 - Aceitação: 20/11/2022

1ª Revisão: 03/10/2022 - 2ª Revisão: 18/11/2022

Accessible document. Law N° 26.653. WCAG 2.0

Citação sugerida: Nakayama, M.S., Goessler, K.F., Oliveira, M.A. de, Savonitti, G.A., & Oliveira, D.C.X. de (2022). Karate Practice Motives as Physical Exercise: A Study in Londrina, Brazil. Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, 27(295), 53-71. https://doi.org/10.46642/efd.v27i295.3312

 

Abstract

    Karate has changed over time, with consequent changes in the motives for its practice. As a general objective, this study sought to understand the reasons that lead an individual to practice Karate, as a form of physical exercise in Londrina (Brazil) gyms. As specific objectives, this study sought to investigate how these motives are manifested and from what sources. A validated portuguese version of the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2) was applied, with questions related to the main motives that would lead people to practice Karate as physical exercise. The sample consisted of 97 individuals (81 male and 16 female), with ages ranging from 18 to 50 years old. The results showed that the most cited motives were Fun/Well-Being, Stress Control, Physical Condition and Disease Prevention. No significant differences were found between these motives and in relation to the domains, the most cited were psychological and physical conditions. The least cited motives were health rehabilitation and social recognition.

    Keywords: Karate. Motives. Exercise.

 

Resumo

    O Karatê mudou ao longo do tempo, com consequentes mudanças nos motivos de sua prática. Como objetivo geral, este estudo buscou compreender os motivos que levam um indivíduo a praticar o Karatê, como forma de exercício físico nas academias de Londrina (Brasil). Como objetivos específicos, este estudo buscou investigar como esses motivos se manifestam e de quais fontes. Foi aplicada uma versão validada em português do Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2), com questões relacionadas aos principais motivos que levariam as pessoas a praticarem o Karatê como exercício físico. A amostra foi composta por 97 indivíduos (81 homens e 16 mulheres), com idades entre 18 e 50 anos. Os resultados mostraram que os motivos mais citados foram Diversão/Bem-Estar, Controle do Estresse, Condição Física e Prevenção de Doenças. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre esses motivos e em relação aos domínios, os mais citados foram condições psicológicas e físicas. Os motivos menos citados foram a reabilitação em saúde e o reconhecimento social.

    Unitermos: Karatê. Motivos. Exercício físico.

 

Resumen

    El Karate ha cambiado con el tiempo, con los consiguientes cambios en los motivos de su práctica. Como objetivo general, este estudio buscó comprender las razones que llevan a un individuo a practicar Karate como forma de ejercicio físico en gimnasios de Londrina (Brasil). Como objetivos específicos, este estudio buscó investigar cómo se manifiestan estas razones y de qué fuentes. Se aplicó una versión portuguesa validada del Inventario de Motivación para el Ejercicio (EMI-2), con preguntas relacionadas con las principales razones que llevarían a las personas a practicar Karate como ejercicio físico. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 97 individuos (81 hombres y 16 mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 50 años. Los resultados mostraron que las razones más citadas fueron Diversión/Bienestar, Control del Estrés, Condición Física y Prevención de Enfermedades. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre estos motivos y en relación a los dominios; los más citados fueron las condiciones psicológicas y físicas. Las razones menos citadas fueron la rehabilitación de la salud y el reconocimiento social.

    Palabras clave: Karate. Motivos. Ejercicio físico.

 

Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, Vol. 27, Núm. 295, Dic. (2022)

---

 

Introduction 

 

    In the wake of sociocultural studies, the terms fights, martial arts or combat sports may have different understandings, namely: the first term as body fighting aimed at self-defense; the second as combat systems endowed with intellectually organized attack and defense that may be linked to mystical Eastern-philosophical values, sometimes with Buddhist and/or Confucian references (Pimenta, & Marchi Júnior); and the third term as combat sports modality (Barreira, 2012), having characteristics found in most sports (institutionalized/legitimized rules and regulations by sports institution). Karate, for example, can be associated with all these terms.

 

    In addition, this modality carries with it several benefits to the body, since it is able to promote improvement in the motor and cognitive development of individuals (Alesi et al., 2014). Karate is also considered one of the disciplines of Budo (karate do, kyudo, iaido, judo, among others) which are bodily manifestations that originated in particular contexts, that is, they were crossed by political, social and cultural issues. (Ferreira et al., 2022; Oliveira et al., 2019a; Oliveira et al., 2018b)

 

    In this context, at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Karate underwent a series of technical and terminological transformations, which had as a backdrop the rise of Japanese imperialism, as well as an effervescent nationalist feeling (Oliveira, Telles, & Barreira, 2019b). In sequence, with the passing of the second half of the 20th century, contours of sport began to appear in Karate, considering that there were agents in its history interested in promoting the first tournaments. In this context, as the popularization of this practice got more and more accentuated, Karate started to be practiced not only in the sports field, but also gave support to other areas - security, education, health, public policies, among others (Oliveira et al., 2018b), which suggests different reasons for its practice in different social contexts.

 

Source: Pexels.com - Photo Olia Danilevich

 

    Nowadays the demand for the practice of physical exercises, among them the martial arts - whether for the search for a healthier lifestyle, reducing stress, or improving physical performance - has been growing significantly (Bravo, Torres, & Herrero, 2018; Callau, 2018; Sánchez Cañizares et al., 2022; Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Martínez, Orozco, & Bazán, 2017; Skryja, 2018; Turelli, Tejero-González, Vaz, & Kirk, 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022). Therefore, the understanding of the reasons that lead children, youth, adults and the elderly to engage in physical exercise has been a source of research in several professional areas (Bavoso, Galeote, Montiel, & Cecato, 2017; Melo, Boletini, Mares, & Noce, 2017; Sanches, 2007) and also of Karate scholars. (Aires, 2015; Nakayama, 2018; Oliveira, 2020)

 

    That said, the practice of physical exercise has been presented very often in the various media as a great solution to many ills that affect the Brazilian population, “bringing in recent years great benefits in relation to the physical and mental health of practitioners” (Bavoso, Galeote, Montiel, & Cecato, 2017). However, despite this media appeal, that is, a “growing dissemination of information and images about health, body and all forms of movement” (Melo, Boletini, Mares, & Noce, 2017), it is understood that many people are unable to start or remain in practice for long periods, and end up abandoning it without actually experiencing the real benefits of continued physical exercise. (Bravo, Torres, & Herrero, 2018; Callau, 2018; Sánchez Cañizares et al., 2022; Martínez, Orozco, & Bazán, 2017; Santos, & Knijnik, 2006)

 

    Karate is found in schools large and small, leisure clubs, universities, in the armed forces and as a sport that debuted at the Tokyo Olympics (Oliveira, 2021; Oliveira et al., 2019a). Knowing this, what would motivate the practice of Karate and the permanence of its practitioner? According to Oliveira (2020), there are several reasons such as, for example, the creation of a habit by the practitioner, the feeling of well-being after training; and the idea of constant evolution. In this context, it is also necessary to take into account that the practitioner's motivation, sometimes, is conditioned to phases of development that, in turn, works in harmony with external stimuli, causing different reasons. (Aires, 2015; Bravo et al., 2018; Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Skryja, 2018; Turelli et al., 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022)

 

    In this context, it is observed that there are few studies with this theme and, even more, with the adult age group. Therefore, as a general objective, this study sought to understand the reasons that lead an individual to practice Karate, as a form of physical exercise in Londrina (Brazil) gyms, as the practice of this modality has proved to be an alternative to traditional modalities such as gymnastics and weight training, as well as popular sports (football, volleyball, basketball, among others). Furthermore, the practice of martial arts has shown positive effects in combating sedentary lifestyle, obesity, improving balance, muscle strength and flexibility (Woodward, 2009). In this way, as specific objectives, this study sought to investigate how these motives are manifested and from what sources.

 

Methods 

 

Experimental design 

 

    The present research was of the Transversal Study type, where a questionnaire with closed questions was applied using a descriptive research technique called Survey. This technique consists of descriptive research, which seeks to determine practices or opinions present in a specific population (Thomas, Jack, & Silverman, 2007). This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University Center Philadelphia, under opinion number 2,450,545.

 

Participants 

 

    For the selection of participants, the following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) competitive or not Karate practitioners; (2) both sexes; (3) age over 18 years. Participants were excluded from the study if they did not complete all questions in the instrument. Finally, 97 individuals participated in the study, with an average age of 32.02 (± 9.89).

 

Questionnaire application 

 

    Initially, the volunteers were informed about all the research objectives and procedures and then signed the Free and Informed Consent Form. Subsequently, a questionnaire was applied that contained questions such as age, date of birth, sex, weight, time of practice, graduation in Karate and if them participate in competitions, all questions aimed at delimiting and controlling the variables that could influence the analysis of the primary outcome (reasons). Then, the participants filled out the translated and validated version of the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2). (Guedes, & Mota, 2016)

 

    The questionnaire contains 44 questions related to the main reasons that can lead people to practice physical exercise. These 44 objective questions are divided into 5 domains (psychological, physical condition, health, aesthetic and interpersonal) and these are subdivided into 10 reasons (fun/well-being, stress control, physical condition, disease prevention, affiliation, body weight control, competition, physical appearance, health rehabilitation and social recognition). The scores for each reason were obtained by the average observed in each question and grouped by reasons and later by domains, as described in. (Guedes, & Mota 2016)

 

    The questionnaire was always applied after the end of classes. The measurement instrument was applied in a single moment, individually for the practitioner of the modality and by the same researcher. Each practitioner answered individually to the instrument with guidance from the same researcher. Participants received the questionnaire with instructions and recommendations on how to complete it. There was no time limit for completing the questionnaire. The researcher who followed the data collection promptly clarified any doubts about filling out the questionnaires.

 

    The reason for applying the questionnaire after classes was at the request of the teachers, so that the students could train and answer the questionnaire after the class ended. In addition, it was applied in the presence of the teacher. In this context, the presence of the professor did not interfere with the progress of the research.

 

Statistical analysis 

 

    The data were processed and analyzed using the SPSS statistical program, version 2.0. Quantitative variables are presented in median (minimum - maximum) and categorical variables in absolute and relative frequency. After exploratory analysis, the Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to verify the normality of the data. Then, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied, in order to identify differences between the domains and the reasons. When necessary, Dunn's post-hoc was used. The level of significance adopted was p<0.05 for all comparisons.

 

Results 

 

    The students and/or athletes in this study are linked to the gyms in Londrina (5), Cambé (1) and Rolândia (2). The study included 97 individuals aged between 18 and 50 years. Among the sample of Karate practitioners, 16 individuals (16.5%) were female and 81 individuals (83.5%) were male.

 

Gender	Age	Belt		Gender	Age	Belt
Feminine	18	Black		Feminine	23	Purple
Feminine	18	Brown		Feminine	23	Purple
Masculine	18	Purple		Masculine	24	Black
Masculine	19	Yellow		Masculine	24	Black
Feminine	19	White		Masculine	25	Brown
Masculine	19	Black		Masculine	25	Purple
Masculine	19	Black		Masculine	26	Yellow
Masculine	19	Purple		Masculine	26	Green
Masculine	19	Orange		Masculine	26	Brown
Feminine	19	Purple		Masculine	26	Purple
Feminine	20	Brown		Masculine	26	Brown
Masculine	20	Orange		Masculine	26	Black
Masculine	20	Purple		Masculine	26	Green
Masculine	20	Blue		Masculine	27	Orange
Masculine	20	Green		Masculine	28	Black
Masculine	21	Purple		Feminine	28	Purple
Masculine	22	Black		Masculine	28	Green
Masculine	22	Green		Feminine	28	Yellow
Masculine	22	Brown		Feminine	28	Yellow
Masculine	22	Black		Masculine	29	Blue
Masculine	22	Purple		Masculine	30	Brown
Masculine	22	Blue		Masculine	30	Green
Masculine	23	Yellow		Masculine	31	Orange
Masculine	23	Purple		Masculine	31	Purple
Feminine	23	Brown		Masculine	31	Green
Masculine	31	Black		Masculine	41	Black
Feminine	32	Purple		Masculine	42	Black
Feminine	32	Black		Masculine	42	Blue
Masculine	33	White		Masculine	43	Black
Masculine	33	Black		Masculine	43	Yellow
Masculine	34	Orange		Masculine	43	Black
Masculine	35	Green		Masculine	44	Black
Masculine	35	Purple		Masculine	44	Black
Masculine	35	Black		Masculine	44	Black
Masculine	35	Black		Masculine	44	Blue
Masculine	35	Brown		Masculine	45	Black
Masculine	36	Purple		Masculine	45	Yellow
Masculine	37	Yellow		Masculine	46	White
Masculine	37	Red		Feminine	46	White
Masculine	37	Green		Feminine	47	Brown
Masculine	37	Blue		Masculine	47	Black
Masculine	38	Orange		Masculine	48	Black
Masculine	38	Brown		Feminine	49	Blue
Masculine	39	Black		Masculine	50	Black
Masculine	39	Green		Masculine	50	Brown
Masculine	40	White		Masculine	50	Purple
Masculine	40	White		Masculine	50	Black
Masculine	40	Black		Masculine	50	Green
Masculine	41	Yellow
		Average Age		32,02
		Age Sd		9,89

Source: Research data. Sd: Standard Deviation

 

    Table 2 shows the sample composition by time of practice, the number of practitioners of the modality by graduation and participation or not in competitive events. The mean time of practice of the modality was 9.14 ± 8.57 years and when separated by categories, it was observed that only 9 (9.3%) individuals practiced the modality for less than one year and 30 (30.9%) individuals practiced for more than 10 years. Taking into account the number of practitioners of the modality by graduation, where the individual starts the sport in the white belt and reaches a higher graduation in the black belt, a higher frequency was observed for the black belt (28.9%). Regarding competitive modalities, 76.3% of the interviewees stated that they did not participate in competition events.

 

Practice time	N	%	Average age (sd)
<1 years	9	9.3	35.67 (±9.63)
1-3 years	23	23.7	34.61 (9.49)
4-6 years	15	15.5	28.47 (±8.37)
7-10 years	20	20.6	25.20 (±7.70)
>10 years	30	30.9	35.27 (±9.92)
Total	97	100
Grading	N	%	Average age (sd)
White	6	6.2	37.33 (±10.19)
Yellow	9	9.3	32.22 (±9.44)
Red	1	1	37
Orange	6	6.2	28.17 (±7.63)
Blue	7	7.2	34.71 (±11.25)
Green	11	11.3	31.27 (±8.59)
Purple	17	17.5	26.53 (±8.23)
Brown	12	12.4	30 (±10.41)
Black	28	28.9	35.29 (±10.36)
Total	97	100
Competition	N	%	Average age (sd)
Yes	23	23.7	30.04 (±10.22)
No	74	76.3	32.64 (±9.78)
Total	97	100

Source: Research data

 

    According to Table 3, the most cited reasons for practicing Karate as a form of physical exercise were fun and well-being, stress control, physical condition and disease prevention, respectively, with no significant difference between them (p> 0.05). The least cited reasons were health rehabilitation and social recognition, with a significant difference for all other reasons (p<0.05).

 

Motives	Median (minimum-maximum)
Fun and well-being	4,17 (1,50 - 5,00)e,f,g,h,i,j
Stress control	3,75 (0,00 - 5,00)e,f,g,h,i,j
Physical condition	3,75 (1,00 - 5,00)g,h,i,j
Prevention of diseases	3,50 (0,17 - 5,00)g,h,i,j
Body weight control	3,00 (0,00 - 5,00)a,b,h,i,j
Affiliation	3,00 (0,00 - 5,00)a,b,h,i,j
Competition	2,60 (0,00 - 5,00)a,b,c,d,j
Physical appearance	2,25 (0,00 - 5,00)a,b,c,d,e,f,j
Health rehabilitation	2,00 (0,00 - 5,00)a,b,c,d,e,f
Social recognition	1,00 (0,00 - 4,00)a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h

Source: Research data

 

    The letters shown in the table represent the significant differences (p <0.05) between each reason. Subtitles: a = p <0.05 vs. fun and well-being; b = p <0.05 vs. stress control; c = p <0.05 vs. physical condition; d = p <0.05 vs. prevention of diseases; e = p <0.05 vs. control of body weight; f = p <0.05 vs. affiliation; g = p <0.05 vs. competition; h = p <0.05 vs. physical appearance; i = p <0.05 vs. health rehabilitation; j = p <0.05 vs. social recognition.

 

    Table 4 shows the data in relation to the domains most cited by the interviewees, where the motives were grouped in the domains that led them to search for Karate as a form of physical exercise. The most mentioned domains were the psychological domains and physical condition, with no significant difference between them (p>0.05). The least mentioned domain was the interpersonal domain, with a significant difference for the psychological, physical condition and health domains (p<0.05).

 

Domains	Median (minimum- maximum)
Psychological	4,10 (1,40 - 5,00)c,d,e
Physical condition	3,75 (1,00 - 5,00)c,d,e
Aesthetic	3,10 (0,11 - 5,00)a,b
Health	2,75 (0,00 - 4,75)a,b,e
Interpersonal	2,31 (0,00 - 4,38)a,b,d

Source: Research data

 

    The letters shown in the table represent the significant differences (p <0.05) between each domain. Subtitles: a = p <0.05 vs. psychological, b = p <0.05 vs. physical condition, c = p <0.05 vs. aesthetic, d = p <0.05 vs. health, e = p <0.05 vs. interpersonal.

 

Discussion 

 

    The present study sought to identify the motives that lead individuals to seek the martial art Karate as a way of exercising physically. The motives most cited by practitioners were fun and well-being, stress control, physical condition and disease prevention. The most cited domains (grouping of motives) were the psychological and physical domains.

 

    The analysis of the motives that lead individuals to seek physical activity, can be used as a tool to increase their adherence, and perhaps minimize the possibility of abandoning the practice over time. (Bravo, Torres, & Herrero, 2018; Callau, 2018; Sánchez Cañizares et al., 2022; Guedes, Legnani, & Legnani, 2012; Martínez, Orozco, & Bazán, 2017)

 

    Nowadays there’s great incentive towards pursuing a healthy and more physically active life (Liz, & Andrade, 2016; Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Skryja, 2018; Turelli, Tejero-González, Vaz, & Kirk, 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022). Physical inactivity or low level of physical activity is strongly associated with the main chronic diseases that affect the world population, such as cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and metabolic diseases, cancer and depression (Callau, 2018; Sánchez Cañizares et al., 2022; Pontes et al., 2019; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022), therefore, more and more people are looking for ways to stay more active and thus improve their quality of life.

 

    Regarding the effects of physical exercise, studies indicate that the martial arts practiced with this connotation, have positively significant effects in psychological, immunological, morphological and neurological aspects. (Bravo et al., 2018; Bu et al., 2010; Fleisher et al., 2020; Skryja, 2018)

 

    Positive effects of martial arts practice were also found in a systematic review article, where an attempt was made to assess the health benefits of adult martial arts practitioners (Origua Rios, Marks, Estevan, & Barnett, 2018), where most of the studies (which assessed balance, cognitive function, skeletal musculature, psychological status, cardiovascular conditioning and metabolic effects) reported positive effects resulting from the practice of martial arts. This information can justify the indication of the participants of this study as the main motives for the practice, being, the fun and well-being, the stress control, the physical condition and mainly the prevention of diseases.

 

    In another study conducted with Jiu-jitsu practitioners (Ferreira, Ferreira, Bezerra, Silva, & Ceriani, 2018), the data corroborate those found in this work, and the motives related to mental health (stress relief) were described as the main reason for the practice of combat sport, being a means of channeling stress, which is associated with the motives of fun and well-being.

 

    However, others, in a way diverge from the results found in the present study, where the objective was to evaluate the motives for participating in different martial arts and combat sports (Jones, Mackay, & Peters, 2006), and the motivations most cited were by order, affiliation, physical conditioning, skill development and friendship. The divergences can be explained by the fact that practitioners of other combat modalities were evaluated and a different assessment instrument, the Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ), was applied, in addition to the motivation factor being what keeps the individual in practice and not what leads the same to start (motives).

 

    In a similar study, whose objective was to identify the motives for practicing judo in a sample of young athletes according to sex, age (12 to 18 years) and training history (Guedes, & Missaka, 2015), the results found pointed out that the motivational factors that obtained higher rankings were skill development and competition, with the motivational factor cited as least important being fun. The difference in the results, when compared with the results of the present study, can be explained, perhaps, by the difference in the analyzed age group (12 to 18 years), where young people have a greater tendency to value attributes related to the challenge and the personal competence of so that it is perfectly understandable that young people when deciding to practice a sport, do so for reasons that are closely linked to the success of their practice. (Grunwald, 2021; Guedes, & Netto, 2013; Oliveira et al., 2018a)

 

    Another factor that can contribute to the difference in the results seems to be explained by the fact that the sample of the present study is of a large majority of non-competitors with an average age over 30 years, where the concern of this age group with health is inherent to the advancement of age (Guedes et al., 2012; Oliveira et al., 2018), which can also help explain the motives for personal recognition and the interpersonal domain being the least cited in this study.

 

    The study in question presented in its results fun and well-being and stress control (grouped in the psychological domains) as important motives for the practice of Karate. Studies confirm the existence of positive correlations between physical activity, improvement in quality of life (fun and well-being) and reduction in stress levels. (Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Puciato, Rozpara, & Borysiuk, 2018; Skryja, 2018; Turelli et al., 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022)

 

    These results are ratified by another study available in the literature (Rosimeide, & Santos, 2011), whose objective was to identify the motivational factors associated with the practice of physical exercise in university students, where the results found pointed to exactly the same motives found in our study as factors relevant to the practice of the exercise. Thus, both studies seem to state that regular physical exercise can lead to significant psychological benefits in individuals (Almeida, Pereira, & Fernandes, 2018), or at least, this seems to be a reason that leads people to seek the practice of physical activity, as in the case of the present study, the Karate modality.

 

    Other motives cited as relevant to the practice of Karate by the interviewees, were physical condition and disease prevention. The practice of regular physical exercises and consequently the improvement in physical condition, can prevent the early onset of illnesses, acting in the treatment of several metabolic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes and interfering positively in the functional capacity, increasing energy expenditure, muscle mass and strength, cardiorespiratory capacity, flexibility and balance (Bravo et al., 2018; Coelho, & Burini, 2009; Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Skryja, 2018; Turelli et al., 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022), in addition to acting as a non-pharmacological treatment of established diseases, improving the quality of life of individuals (Batista, & Oliveira, 2015).

 

    In a study comparing the reasons for entering and staying with young practitioners in kung-fu classes (Mocarzel, Ferreira, & Murad, 2014), it was observed that the motives associated with health promotion were cited by 70% of the sum as important and very important. However, when the individual practiced the modality for more than a year, the percentage of important and very important increased to 92%, being observed that in the present study, 91.3% of the evaluated ones practiced Karate for more than one year.

 

    For this research, individuals were not separated by sex, as occurred in a study where the motivations for participation were verified for practitioners of martial arts (Jones, Mackay, & Peters, 2006), with no significant differences for the motives in relation to sex.

 

    Therefore, these observations allow us to understand the reasons for the practice of physical exercise, being able to provide relevant information that allows more objective and effective interventions, with the purpose of promoting the practice of Karate. (Bravo et al., 2018; Coelho, & Burini, 2009; Fleisher et al., 2020; Grunwald, 2021; Skryja, 2018; Turelli et al., 2021; Vveinhardt, & Kaspare, 2022)

 

    Some limitations were observed in this study, one of which is the fact that the questionnaire applied is limited to Karate practitioners only in the city of Londrina and the metropolitan region. Thus, it is not known to what extent our findings represent other universes of practitioners of the sport.

 

    Practitioners of the sport under 18 and over 50 were not included in the present study. Thus, the inclusion of other age groups would be an important factor, aiming, for example, to compare the motives for practicing Karate as a form of physical exercise in adolescents and the elderly.

 

    However, the findings found in the present study can be understood as exploratory data and contribute to the design of future investigations aimed at deepening this issue, such as, perhaps, investigating the adherence or motivation that lead practitioners to remain in the sport.

 

    The results found in this study may contribute to new research to be conducted aiming at increasing knowledge related to the motives that lead different populations to practice Karate-Dô as a form of physical exercise.

 

Conclusions 

 

    The most cited motives for practicing karate as a form of physical exercise were: Fun / Well-Being, Stress Control, Physical Condition and Disease Prevention, with no significant difference between these reasons, with the least mentioned motive being health rehabilitation. and social recognition. The most frequently mentioned domains (grouping of motives), by the interviewees were the psychological and physical fitness domains and the least mentioned domain was the interpersonal domain.

 

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Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, Vol. 27, Núm. 295, Dic. (2022)