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From Dawn to Dan: The Journey of Karate Masters.

Maynard, Brandon W
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0093-5052
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1495216685379078

Abstract Details

2017, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology.
The contributions martial arts training can make to mental health treatment have scarcely been explored by researchers in psychology. Practitioners of martial arts, such as karate, report that the training improves self-esteem, concentration, and emotional well-being. Several studies have provided empirical evidence in support of these anecdotal reports, but very few have utilized participants who have advanced training in martial arts to examine the emotional impact such training has across time. This study takes a phenomenological approach to studying the emotional effects training has had on master-level martial artists (fourth-degree black belt or higher) in the discipline of karate. Eight participants were interviewed to identify how karate has impacted their personal lives as well as the lives of the students they have trained. The themes identified verify that practicing martial arts increases self-esteem, emotional well-being, memory, prosocial behaviors, and humility. These expert participants also voiced that many of their students – who suffered with a range of emotional conditions – experienced similar benefits from even brief (three to six months) practice of their martial art. The eight karate masters interviewed all report that their martial arts training positively impacted their emotional lives and mental functioning, but empirical research is needed to verify and quantify the positive effects karate training can have on emotional health. This Dissertation is available in Open Access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu and OhioLink ETD Center, http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd.
Daniel Schwartz, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Christopher Howard, Psy.D. (Committee Co-Chair)
Christine DiBlasio, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
125 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Psychology; Spirituality
Karate; Martial Arts; Exercise; Self Esteem; Phenomenology; Masters; Mental Health; Kata; Kumite; Dan; Black Belt; Emotional Regulation; Qualitative

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Maynard, B. W. (2017). From Dawn to Dan: The Journey of Karate Masters. [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1495216685379078

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Maynard, Brandon. From Dawn to Dan: The Journey of Karate Masters. 2017. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1495216685379078.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Maynard, Brandon. "From Dawn to Dan: The Journey of Karate Masters." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1495216685379078

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1495216685379078
2,383
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.