2020, Volume 16
Personality profile of combat sports champions against neo-gladiators
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
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Abstract
Background and Study Aim: The problem, which has long been the area of interest of sport psychologists, trainers and athletes, concerns the determination of the personality factors of the master in sport. This specific task would have to be to determine the personality traits of athletes that are necessary for their success in sport. It is accepted to assume that sport shapes the personality of athletes (players), and this is characteristic of specific sports disciplines. A new phenomenon is the acceptance by certain social circles of neo-gladiatorialism (an example of mix martial arts – MMA) and camouflaging this pathology as part of combat sports. The aim of the research is the personality profiles of combat sports champions and neo gladiators based on the methodological criteria of the Big Five model.
Material and Method: Three hundred and thirty fighters (30 men in each sample) from 11 combat sports disciplines and 30 neo gladiators (MMA) took part in the study, There are 45 champions in this population with significant sporting achievements (medallists of the World Championships, European Championships etc.) and 4 neo gladiators (the winners of prestigious international tournaments). The age of the respondents is between 20 and 29 years of age. The research used the NEO-FFI Personality Questionnaire.
Results: Statistically significant differences between combat sports athletes disciplines in the dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness were demonstrated. In each sport discipline a slightly different intensity of personality dimensions was found and the dominant dimension was different. There were deviations from the personality profile of the Brazilian ju-jitsu athletes from the athletes of other combat sports athletes. The profile of neo gladiators did not differ from most athletes. In addition, there were differences between champions and other fighters. There were differences in the factors of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness.
Conclusions: Combat sports athletes are distinguished by personality profiles specific to the sport they train. The personality profile of combat sports champions (in general) is significantly different in four personality dimensions in relation to the rest of martial arts adepts.
Key words: sports experience, master, martial arts, Big Five model