Leandro Paiva*

professorleandropaiva@gmail.com

Leonardo Vidal Andreato**

vidal.leo@hotmail.com

João Carlos Alves Bueno+

contato.edufisica@hotmail.com

Andrey Ferreira da Silva++

andrey.ferreira@hotmail.com

*PhD student in Social Anthropology (UFAM)

Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

**Temporary professor at the University of Amazonas State

PhD in Human Movement Sciences (UDESC)

Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

+PhD student in Human Movement Sciences (UDESC)

Researcher at the Laboratory of Sport and Exercise Psychology (LAPE)

Linked to the Research Group on Metabolism, Nutrition

and Strength Training (GPMENUTF)

Brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Specialist in Exercise Physiology and Sports Training (UCB)

Graduated in Muay Thai

++Department of the Program in Social Anthropology

Federal University of Amazonas

(Brazil)

Reception: 05/28/2014 - Acceptance: 01/01/2025

1st Review: 11/04/2024 - 2nd Review: 12/27/2024

Accessible document. Law N° 26.653. WCAG 2.0

Suggested reference: Paiva, L., Andreato, L.V., Bueno, J.C.A., & Silva, A.F. da (2025). Effects of Motivational Strategies on Specific Performance of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes. A Pilot Study. Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, 29(321), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.46642/efd.v29i321.7691

 

Abstract

    Psychological interventions are related to improved performance in many sports. However, studies evaluating the effect of motivational interventions on the performance of mixed martial arts athletes are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of motivational strategies on the specific performance of mixed martial arts athletes. For this, 22 adult male mixed martial arts athletes were evaluated at two conditions: 1) control condition, without any intervention; and 2) experimental condition, which received motivational strategies before the assessments. Athletes were divided into pairs with similar body mass and were instructed to perform a takedown, using the double leg technique, as quickly as possible after watching a motivational video and receiving a verbal command. As results, when comparing the conditions, a difference was found in the execution time of the takedown (p<0.001, d= 0.88, moderate), with lower values for the experimental condition compared to the control condition. Based on results, the acute application of motivational strategies was efficient to improve the specific performance of mixed martial arts athletes. However, the outcomes are preliminary resulting from a pilot study.

    Keywords: Combat Sports. Martial arts. Sport Psychology.

 

Resumo

    As intervenções psicológicas estão relacionadas com a melhoria do desempenho em muitos esportes. No entanto, faltam pesquisas que avaliem o efeito de intervenções motivacionais no desempenho de atletas de artes marciais mistas. Diante disso, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de estratégias motivacionais no desempenho específico de atletas de artes marciais mistas. Para tanto, foram avaliados 22 atletas adultos de artes marciais mistas do sexo masculino em duas condições: 1) condição controle, sem qualquer intervenção; e 2) condição experimental, com aplicação de estratégias motivacionais antes das avaliações. Os atletas foram divididos em duplas com massa corporal semelhante e instruídos a realizar uma projeção, utilizando a técnica double leg, o mais rápido possível após assistirem a um vídeo motivacional e receberem um comando verbal. Como resultados, ao comparar as condições, foi encontrada diferença no tempo de execução da queda (p<0,001, d= 0,88, moderado), com valores inferiores para a condição experimental em relação a condição controle. Com base nos resultados, a aplicação aguda de estratégias motivacionais foi eficiente para melhorar o desempenho específico de atletas de artes marciais mistas. No entanto, os resultados são preliminares resultantes de um estudo piloto.

    Unitermos: Esportes de Combate. Artes marciais. Psicologia do Esporte.

 

Resumen

    Las intervenciones psicológicas están relacionadas con la mejora del rendimiento en muchos deportes. Sin embargo, faltan investigaciones que evalúen el efecto de las intervenciones motivacionales en el rendimiento de los atletas de artes marciales mixtas. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de las estrategias motivacionales sobre el rendimiento específico de atletas de artes marciales mixtas. Para ello, se evaluaron 22 atletas masculinos adultos de artes marciales mixtas en dos condiciones: 1) condición control, sin ninguna intervención; y 2) condición experimental, con aplicación de estrategias motivacionales antes de las evaluaciones. Los atletas fueron divididos en parejas con masa corporal similar y se les indicó que realizaran un lanzamiento, utilizando la técnica de doble pierna, lo más rápido posible después de ver un video motivador y recibir una orden verbal. Como resultado, al comparar las condiciones se encontró diferencia en el tiempo de ejecución de la caída (p<0,001, d=0,88, moderado), con valores menores para la condición experimental en relación a la condición control. Con base en los resultados, la aplicación aguda de estrategias motivacionales fue eficiente para mejorar el rendimiento específico de los atletas de artes marciales mixtas. Sin embargo, los resultados son preliminares y provienen de un estudio piloto.

    Palabras clave: Deportes de Combate. Artes marciales. Psicología del Deporte.

 

Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, Vol. 29, Núm. 321, Feb. (2025)

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Introduction 

 

    Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is currently one of the most popular sports in the world (Bueno et al., 2022). MMA is a combat sport that combines the techniques of striking (e.g., punches, kicks, knees, elbows) and grappling (e.g., takedowns, immobilization, chokes, and joint locks) (Andrade et al., 2019). The competition rules can vary according to the organizers, but the majority include a weight division system, and the combat is divided into rounds (e.g., three rounds with a one-minute rest between them). (Bueno et al., 2022)

 

    Given these characteristics, performance in MMA, as well as in combat sports, depends on several factors (Kirk et al., 2020), such as physical conditioning (Andrade et al., 2019; Andreato, & Branco, 2016; Chernozub et al., 2022), technical-tactical skills (Coswig et al., 2016; Miarka et al., 2018; Miarka et al., 2016), and psychological preparation and control (Andrade et al., 2021; Andrade et al., 2020; Bueno et al., 2022). Among the important psychological aspects for performance in combat sports, motivation stands out. (Andrade et al., 2020; Andreato et al., 2022)

 

    In this sense, previous studies included psychological interventions related to increased motivation (e.g., mental imagery, motivational self-talk), seeking to improve physical or psychological performance in combat sports, such as kickboxing or karate, and found positive results (Cooper et al., 2022; Fontani et al., 2007; Slimani et al., 2014; Piepiora et al., 2017). However, studies evaluating the effect of motivational interventions on the performance of MMA athletes are lacking (Andreato et al., 2022).

 

    Thus, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of motivational strategies on the specific performance of MMA athletes.

 

Methods 

 

Participants 

 

    The study included 22 adult male MMA athletes, with an average age of 25 years, and an average of 3 years of experience in combat sports. The sample was evaluated at two moments: 1) control condition (CC), without any intervention; and 2) experimental condition (EXC), which received motivational strategies before the assessments. This study was performed following the 466/2012 resolution of the Brazilian National Health Council, and the procedures were approved by the Local Ethics Committee, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All athletes signed a written and informed term of consent prior to participation.

 

Assessment of specific performance 

 

    Athletes were divided into pairs with similar body mass (difference less than 5%) and stature, and were instructed to perform a takedown, using the double leg technique, as quickly as possible after a verbal command (“ready” and “go”). An initial distance of 1.5m between the athletes was standardized, with demarcation with adhesive tape on the mat. Each athlete performed three attempts, with a 1 min interval between them. As a performance measure, the time between the verbal command and the moment when the projected athlete leaned their back on the mat was manually timed by a single evaluator (the same one who issued the verbal command). The average of the three attempts was considered.

 

Control and motivational strategies 

 

    Initially, all athletes had 5 minutes of free warm-up and were evaluated in the control condition, without any intervention before the application of the takedowns. After a 30-minute rest, the athletes were submitted to the experimental condition, in which they watched a 7-minute motivational video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctcHy4jFESk). In sequence, they were asked to perform a mentalization, focusing and imagining themselves in a competition. They were then allowed 5 minutes of free warm-up and before each takedown, athletes received verbal encouragement, with phrases such as: “go there, do your best!”, “do the best you can!” and “be the best!”.

 

Statistical analysis 

 

    The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to verify the normality of the data. Data with Gaussian distribution are presented as mean and standard deviation, and nonparametric data are described as median and 25-75% interquartile range. For comparisons between conditions (control x motivational strategies), the Wilcoxon test was used. To evaluate the magnitude of the difference, the Cohen’s d was calculated (Cohen, 1988), with the following threshold values: trivial= < 0.2; small= 0.2 and < 0.6; moderate= 0.6 and < 1.2; large= 1.2 and < 2.0; very large= 2.0 and < 4.0; nearly perfect= > 4.0 (Hopkins, 2006). The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 26.0®.

 

Results 

 

    When comparing the conditions, a difference was found in the execution time of the takedown (Z= -4.1, p< 0.001, d=0.88, moderate), with lower values for the experimental condition (median: 1.21; 25-75% interquartile: 1.15 - 1.25 s) compared to the control condition (mean: 1.51 s; standard deviation: 0.21 s) (Figure 1).

 

Source: Research data

 

Discussion 

 

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of motivational strategies on the specific performance of male MMA athletes. The results showed that the motivation strategies were able to improve specific throw performance after the “double leg” technique when compared to the control condition. Reductions were observed in the time between the verbal command and the moment when the projected athlete touched their back on the mat.

 

    These results positively corroborate previous research on the positive effects of mental strategies on improving the performance of kickboxing and karate athletes (Piepiora et al., 2018; Slimani et al., 2017). Although in the present study only motivational strategies (motivational video + verbal command) were used, the results were similar to the positive effects of those who used a mental-training package (MTP) (Slimani et al., 2017). Perhaps more important than the motivational strategy method used is its use by those who lack motivation to perform tasks. Piepiora et al. (2017) highlight the importance and benefits of practicing mental training, which should be trained in the same way as other goal-oriented training, and must be systematized, repeated, and practiced over the long term. This could suggest that long-term mental training programs could be particularly beneficial for athletes who face motivational challenges during intensive training phases or competition preparation, as suggested in other sports. (Weinberg, & Gould, 2017)

 

    The use of motivational strategies appears very promising in combat sports, aimed at improving performance. Previous research reports additional positive effects in physical training after applying mental training methods on different variables associated with performance of fighters (e.g., muscle power evaluated by countermovement jump and medicine ball throw; maximal strength evaluated in bench press and half-squat), besides improvement in physiological and hormonal variables, such as increases in the concentration of resting testosterone levels and the testosterone/cortisol ratio. (Slimani et al., 2017)

 

    Additionally, the study by Slimani et al. (2017) described improvements in physiological responses due to the use of mental strategies, such as reductions in heart rate and blood pressure responses after mental training for more than 11 weeks.

 

    It should be noted that the sample size used in this experiment was relatively small, providing little statistical power; therefore, the data should be interpreted with caution. Another limitation of the present study was the lack of randomization between the different conditions. It is suggested that future studies investigate other methods with greater accuracy to analyze performance, in order to investigate not only acute effects, but chronic effects of psychological interventions. In addition, it is suggested that samples with a population of women and adolescents be investigated.

 

    Finally, mental training programs focused on motivational strategies should be organized and adjusted so that they include practice associated with physical training programs, as their use may be an important tool in the face of the high degree of stress on the part of athletes and, consequently, their use could reduce hormonal and physiological stress and possible overtraining, while demonstrating a possible effect on the processes of increasing physical performance.

 

Conclusions 

 

    Acute application of motivational strategies was efficient to improve the specific performance of MMA athletes. However, the results are preliminary resulting from a pilot study.

 

References 

 

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Andrade, A., Dominski, F.H., & Andreato, L. V. (2021). Many medals, but few interventions: the paradox of sports psychology research and Olympic combat sports. Sport Sciences for Health, 17, 481-485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00733-y

 

Andrade, A., Flores, M.A., Andreato, L.V., & Coimbra, D.R. (2019). Physical and training characteristics of mixed martial arts athletes: systematic review. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 41(1), 51-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000410

 

Andreato, L.V., & Branco, B.H.M. (2016). Different sports, but the same physical and physiological profiles? Sports Medicine, 46(12), 1963-1965. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0587-9

 

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Piepiora, P.A., Witkowski, K., & Piepiora, Z. (2018). Personality profiles of karate masters practising different kumite styles. Archives of Budo, 14, 231-241. https://archbudo.com/view/abstract/id/12143

 

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Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes, Vol. 29, Núm. 321, Feb. (2025)