2020, Volume 16, Issue 1
Self-defence as a utilitarian factor in combat sports, modifying the personality of athletes at a champion level
Paweł Piepiora1, Kazimierz Witkowski1
1Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
Author for correspondence: Paweł Piepiora; Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland; email: pawel.piepiora@awf.wroc.pl
Full text
Abstract
Background & Study Aim: Combat sports, in relation to other sports groups, are distinguished by a utilitarian factor, which manifests itself in the use of acquired skills in self-defence. The cognitive aim of this study was to answer the question: whether the personality of combat sports fighters at the championship level distinguishes them in some sense from other sportsmen.
Material & Methods: Polish champions (N = 118) from three groups of sports disciplines were examined: combat sports (n = 49), individual sports (n = 56), and team sports/games (n = 13). The five-factor model of personality (Big Five) the NEO-FFI questionnaire was used. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.
Results: There was only one statistically significant difference for neuroticism, and a trend was observed in conscientiousness. Combat sports champions showed a statistically significantly lower level of neuroticism in relation to the champions of individual sports.
Conclusions: Combat sports champions showed a statistically significantly lower level of neuroticism in relation to the champions of individual sports. It was presumed that it depends on the specificity of sports groups. A utilitarian factor influence – self-defence – became apparent, characteristic only for combat sports.
Key words: theory of combat sports, personality, Big Five, mastery
