JLBC Martial Arts and Disability
A sixteen-item questionnaire was developed to answer the following research questions.
Does participation in martial arts training reduce the functional limitations caused by an individual's disability?
Does participation in martial arts improve self-esteem and instill confidence in people with cognitive, developmental, and physical disabilities?
Can martial arts improve an individual's perceived quality of life
through the development of physical and mental fitness?
To address the above questions, the survey asked for reflection on
physical and emotional status before and after training for some time. Notable changes in self-esteem, physical capacity, and acquired training in self-defense were also requested. In addition, the survey included questions about the type of martial arts practiced and the length of movement (in months and years). JLBC Cadets Demographic information was collected on each subject, including age, gender, type, and severity of the disability.
Procedures
Subjects were recruited by contacting martial arts schools that advertised their inclusion of persons with disabilities in their programs. One hundred individual sites were identified as potential sources of recruitment.
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