Abstract
Using in-depth interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, this study explores how the pedagogy of highly skilled martial arts instructors is shaped by their own transformative learning experiences in the martial arts.Participants share their experiences overcoming challenges, forging new identities, and applying the life lessons of martial arts beyond the dojo walls, and how those experiences have informed their work as martial arts instructors. The findings highlight how a martial arts community can nurture individual growth and also operate as a microcosm of broader societal values, promoting connection, inclusivity, empowerment, and lifelong learning. Situated within the broader literature on transformative, experiential, and embodied learning, this study reveals how a martial arts community functions as a powerful tool for personal and pedagogical transformation. It invites the reader to view martial arts as not simply physical discipline, but a way of life capable of shaping minds, bodies, and spirits.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Global Sports Local Cultures
KEYWORDS
Martial Arts, Karate, Transformative Learning, Embodied Learning, Instructional Design
