IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology

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Abstract - Motivation and Value Orientation of Combative Systems Trainers

Introduction. The issue of motivation of trainees for sport activities is an important part of sports pedagogy and didactics. An important part of the research on reality of sports environment is nothing less than motivation to work of trainers. We were interested in motivation, value orientation and a view on life philosophy of martial arts teachers and combative sports trainers.
Aim. To assess motivation and value orientation of combative systems trainers.
Materials and methods. For gaining qualitative data about motivation, value orientation and life philosophy of trainers of combative systems we used a modified version of a structured questionnaire according to Cynarski [2006]. At first the research tool was translated into Czech language, than it was adjusted for Czech environment and finally administered in various martial arts and combative sport clubs on the whole territory of the Czech Republic. The questionnaire consisted of 51 open, semi-open and close questions. The main group was comprised of total 87 respondents, 81 men and 6 women. The average age of the respondents was 37.6 years. The average trainers practice length was 13.2 years.
Results. Respondents notified the motives that led to initiation of their trainers’ and teachers’ work. The most frequent motive (n = 35), surprisingly enough, was necessity to take the function over after their trainer or the need to become a trainer in a newly founded club. For some of these respondents it was a natural result of their sport career after the decrease of their performance. The second most frequent impulse was a desire to transmit their experience to future generations and to work with youth (n = 25). The third highest consensus answer could be characterised as satisfaction from trainer’s work (n = 6). In the first place in the life values ladder reached the highest consensus family and care of it. The second most important value is represented by health of the respondents and of their families. Friendship possesses the third most important place in the lives of trainers and teachers. Respondents n = 87 did self-evaluation of their knowledge in philosophy of martial arts, combative sports and self-defence. On the five-grade scale (in descending order) they evaluated their knowledge as very good (n = 18), good (n = 30), sufficient (n = 27) and weak (n = 12). One of the respondents chose both the grade “weak” and the last grade “not interested in philosophy”. Total of 67.8 % (n = 59) trainers and teachers use combination of more or all of the possibilities (literature, own teachers, own experience) as a source of information of philosophy. As many as 17.2 % of respondents rely only on their own experience, 10.3 % draw information just from their teachers and the rest of 4.6% gain the information entirely from the literature.
Conclusions. Among the highest life values of combative sports trainers and teachers belong the family, health and friendship. These values are reflected in their training activity as an effort of positive influence on youth and development of healthy sport collective. The majority of teachers and trainers are interested in philosophy of combative systems and actively search for information from different information sources. More than a half (55 %) of teachers evaluates their knowledge of combative systems philosophy as very good or good.