Abstract
Aim
Due to the steady increase in health care costs, a greater focus on maintaining wellness and preventing health issues has been established. Historically, Asian martial arts were closely associated with maintaining healthfulness. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to determine if people who practice Asian martial arts gain any health-related quality of life benefits compared to the general population.
Subject and methods
Therefore, 343 martial artists practicing 8 varieties of martial arts answered the German standardized questionnaire 36 in a controlled setting at 24 martial arts schools (3 schools per martial art) between February 2008 and July 2008. These participants were not given information regarding the purpose of the study. Additionally, between July 2008 and December 2008, 2,512 martial artists completed an online version of the German standardized questionnaire 36.
Results
The results of those completing the questionnaire in person differed from those responding to the online questionnaire. Compared to the general public, both martial arts groups rated their health-related quality of life to be better. Of the parameters evaluated, the greater differences were observed for physical aspects of health than for psychological aspects.
Conclusion
Thus, these results indicate that participation in martial arts provides health-related quality of life benefits associated with the prevention of health problems. However, further studies are needed to understand the complex relationship between the practice of martial arts and improved health.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Binder B (2007) Psychosocial benefits of the martial arts: myth or reality? Int Ryuku Karate Res Soc J
Bitzer-Gavornik G, Unterrainer H (2006) Karate-Do und Resilienz/Kohärenz als Ausdruck psychischer Gesundheit. (Karate-Do and mental health – The salutogenetic effects of training karate). http://www.karate-stmk.at/aktuelles/neuigkeiten_detail.php?id=00100. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
BMBF (2006) Richtlinien zur Förderung der Präventionsforschung zur Gesundheitsförderung und Primärprävention von älteren Menschen im Rahmen des Regierungsprogramms: Forschung für den Menschen. Federal Ministry of Education and Research. http://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/de/1316.php. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
Bullinger M, Kirchberger I (1998) Handanweisung SF-36 Fragebogen zum Gesundheitszustand. Hogrefe, Göttingen
Burke DT, Barfoot K, Bryant S, Schneider JC, Kim HJ, Levin G (2003) Effect of implementation of safety measures in tae kwon do competition. Br J Sports Med 37(5):401–404
Dolin A, Popow G, Tolstikow W (1988) Kempo - Die Kunst des Kampfes - Ostasiatische Kampfsportarten. Sportverlag Berlin
Dorschner BW, Preuß HR (2005) Kampfsport – Stärkung für Geist und Seele – Religiöse und spirituelle Aspekte verschiedener Kampfsportarten. Seminar skilled work at the Christian Secondary School in Jena
Federal Statistical Office (2007) Health Expenditure 2007. Federal Statistical Office Bonn 2006. http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Navigation/Statistiken/Gesundheit/Gesundheitsausgaben/Gesundheitsausgaben.psml. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
Grabert KI (2001) Karate-Do und Gewaltverbrechen. Report–Psychologie 26(10) Deutscher Psychologen, Bonn
Head Organization of Health Insurances (2008) Collective fields of action on primary prevention. http://www.physio.de/zulassung/pp4.htm. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
Held A (2004) Traditionelles Taekwondo: eine Kampfkunst und ihre Wirkungen. Dissertation, Department of Sport Science, Technical University Munich. Books on Demand, Norderstedt
Hoffmann H (2006) Untersuchung auf Aggressionswerte unter Berücksichtigung sozilogischer und sportpädagogischer Aspekte in Kampfstilen mit Trefferwirkung. Dissertation, Philosophical Department IV, Institution of Sport Science, Humboldt University, Berlin
Kongsved SM, Basnov M, Holm-Christensen K, Hjollund NH (2007) Response rate and completeness of questionnaires: a randomized study of Internet versus paper-and-pencil versions. J Med Internet Res 9(3):e25
Kral K (2009) Gesundheitsbezogene Wirkungen von asiatischen Kampfkünsten am Beispiel der Sportart Karate in Österreich. Dissertation, Sport Science Faculty, University of Vienna
Mandel P (1990) Energetische Terminalpunkt-Diagnose. Esogetics, Sulzbach
Parzeller M, Raschka C (2003) Auswertung von 2969 Todesfällen im Vereinsport anhand einer 20jährigen Erhebung. Dtsch Z Sportmed 54(7/8):144
Riemann K, Gläser K (2001) Evaluation der präventiven Kurse der IKK Baden-Württemberg. Prävention 1/2001
Rosenbrock R (2008) Primärprävention – Was ist das und was soll das?“ Serial of the group of researchers Public Health, Center of Science Berlin for Social Research (WZB). http://skylla.wz-berlin.de/pdf/2008/i08-303.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
SPD/Greens (2005) Draft bill of the factions Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and BÜNDNIS 90/Die Grünen (Greens) in case of fortification of sanitary prevention from 15 Feb 2005, printing 15/4833
Szabo P (2001) The psychological impact of training deprivation in martial artists. Psychol Sport Exerc 2(3):187–199
Terry CL (2006) Examining the relationship between global self-worth and the domain-specific perceptions of competence for children in karate. Dissertation, Alliant International University, Fresno
TKK (2006) Informationen über Prävention- Gesundheitskurse- Angebote- Qualität- Kostenerstattung. Techniker Krankenkasse (TKK), Health insurance of engineers, Flyer 10.2/243 10/06V
Weiser M, Kutz I, Kutz SJ, Weiser D (1995) Psychotherapeutic aspects of the martial arts. Am J Psychother 49:118–127
WHO (1986) Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. World Health Organization. http://www.euro.who.int/AboutWHO/Policy/20010827_2. Accessed 14 Feb 2010
Zetaruk MN, Violán MA, Zurakowski D, Micheli LJ (2005) Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles. Br J Sports Med 39(1):29–33. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2003.010322, PMID: 15618336 (PubMed–indexed for MEDLINE)
Acknowledgement
We thank Christoph Roth for his assistance in performing the statistical evaluation, Simon Herdt for IT support related to online research, and Katrin Görg for translation support.
Conflict of interest
The corresponding author is a martial artist and declares that there are no conflicts of interests.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Draxler, T., Ostermann, H. & Honekamp, W. Relationship between Asian martial arts and health-related quality of life in Germany. J Public Health 19, 57–64 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0343-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0343-9