The validity of utilizing karate in youth safety education.

This article aims to present a new argument on the validity of utilizing karate in youth safety education. First, the important role of safety education and the need to seek new means of influencing young people is presented and the significant role of sport in this area. The field of Far Eastern combat sports was underlined here as being particularly important because they contain internal codes of moral conduct. Therefore, the new argument is to take the perspective of karate as a combat sport, martial art, and self defence system in one. Karate as a combat sport refers to fighting skills in the following directions: traditional, sport and Olympic; and in the following systems: semi contact, knockdown, full contact, mix fighting. Karate as a martial art has a health-promoting character and emphasises the psycho-physical development of practitioners and the recognition of ethical codes. And karate as a self defence system is concerned with proficiency in out-of-sport confrontations, but also in risk assessment. Karate has been found to be an effective means in educating young people to safety, but in order for it to be effective, it needs to be adopted in its entirety. Because the combat sport perspective activates youth in physical culture, the martial art perspective educates according to norms and rules; and the self defence system perspective teaches how to act in difficult situations.

Evaluation of measurement reliability for selected indices of postural stability based on data from the GYKO Inertial Sensor System.

The main aim of this study is to use comprehensive statistical analyses to evaluate measurement reliability of selected variables that characterize postural stability. The study examined twenty-nine healthy non-athlete students. The examinations were performed twice, with a one-week interval. The Microgate GYKO inertial sensor system was used to evaluate the reliability of variables that characterize postural stability. The relative reliability of the repeated test was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Next, the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were computed. Relative reliability of the repeated test for all analysed variables of ICC ranged from 0.31 to 0.75. For four variables, ICC values were ca. 0.7, i.e., they can be considered as good. For four other variables, ICC ranged from 0.41 to 0.54, with these values considered fair. Satisfactory reproducibility of postural stability measurements using the GYKO inertial sensor system demonstrates that it can offer an inexpensive and efficient alternative to measurements that use force balance platforms.

Personality Traits vs. Sports Classes of Polish Representatives in Junior Sports Acrobatics.

The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of adolescence, training discipline, and training regime on the personality formation of adolescent sports acrobats. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to study the relationship between the personality traits and the sports classes of Polish junior sports acrobatics representatives. The respondents (N = 90) were juniors aged 18-19 and were divided into three samples: (1) n = 30 Polish representatives in sports acrobatics with a first or master sports class; (2) n = 30 kata athletes from Kyokushin karate and Shotokan karate as a reference sample from another sports discipline with gymnastic movement expression; (3) n = 30 high school students as a reference sample of non-athletic persons. The Big Five model was used, and the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire was used as a research tool. For the analyses of basic descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test were performed to determine statistical significance (α = 0.05). It was noted that all athletes (the first and second samples) had personality traits at the same levels: low neuroticism, high extraversion, moderate openness to experience and agreeableness, and high conscientiousness in relation to non-athletes. In contrast, there were differences among the subjects in personality traits, except for agreeableness. Among the sports acrobats, master-class athletes showed lower neuroticism, greater openness to experience, lower agreeableness, and greater conscientiousness in relation to first-class athletes. It was found that there were differences between the personality traits and sports classes of junior sports acrobatics representatives in Poland in the four Big Five dimensions. But in general, sports acrobats and karate athletes had personality traits at similar levels, and at the same time, different from non-training people.

Relationships between selected indices of postural stability and sports performance in elite badminton players: Pilot study.

The main aim of this study was to determine the relationships between postural stability and the place in the ranking of badminton players. The study examined 10 elite players from Polish national badminton team. The scope of the study included basic somatic characteristics, such as body height, body weight, BMI, and training experience. A Microgate GYKO inertial sensor system was used to assess the postural stability of athletes. Using Spearman's rank correlation, cause-and-effect relationships between the place in the sports ranking and the analyzed variables characterizing postural stability were recognized. Depending on the distribution and homogeneity of variance, the significance of differences in variables that characterize postural stability between players of different sports skill levels (two groups) was calculated. The Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney's U-test was used for this purpose. In general, the athletes with higher positions on the ranking list presented a higher level of postural stability in both tests, which is also confirmed by the normalized values. However, for all variables of postural stability, no statistically significant correlations with sports ranking were observed. Higher values of Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were found for the test performed in the one-foot standing test compared to the two-foot test. The results obtained indicate that particular attention in badminton training should be paid to the development of the level of postural stability in order to improve sports performance.

Comparison of personality differences of Polish mountaineers.

A noticeably increased interest in mountain climbing, both as the form of extreme sport and a form of tourism, has been observed in Poland recently. The assumption of this study is that practicing different varieties of mountaineering influences the personality of Polish climbers in a different manner. The aim of the research was to compare the personality differences of Polish mountaineers. To this aim, the population of Polish high-performance mountaineers was studied (N = 81; including 39 women and 42 men). Due to the type of mountaineering practiced, the respondents were divided into Alpine climbers (n = 48) and Himalayan climbers (n = 33). The average age of the surveyed climbers is 33.85 years. The Big Five model was used including the NEO-FFI Personality Questionnaire and the analyzes were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics statistical method package, version 27.0. Statistically significant differences were noted only for agreeableness F(1.77) = 5.05, p = 0.027. The Alpine climbers showed a higher level of agreeableness than the Himalayan climbers. After taking into account the Sidak amendment, significant differences in the level of agreeableness were found only among women. Comparisons between other personality traits were not statistically significant. There is a significant difference between the personalities of Polish Alpine climbers and Polish Himalayan climbers in the dimension of agreeableness only among women: female Alpine mountaineers are more agreeable than Himalayan mountaineers. It was presumed that in terms of ethics in the high mountains, the social competences of Alpine mountaineers are much more developed than that of Himalayan mountaineers.

Personality and Age of Male National Team of Ukraine in Kyokushin Karate-Pilot Study.

This article is a continuation of the research on personality in combat sports in karate. The authors' goal was to verify the relationship between personality and age of kyokushin karate practitioners. The male national team of Ukraine in karate kyokushin (N = 7) participated in the personality study with the use of the Big Five model. The NEO-FFI (NEO Five-Factor Inventory) Personality Questionnaire was applied as a research tool and the package of statistical methods IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 (IBM Polska, Warszawa, Poland) was used to compute the research results. The study showed that there were differences in the intensity of openness to experiences between individual samples only at the level of the statistical trend. Masters showed a higher level of openness to experiences in relation to juniors (p = 0.081) and seniors (p = 0.097). Also, a negative and strong correlation between the intensity of neuroticism and conscientiousness among the respondents was noted. A conclusion was drawn that, with age, karatekas probably manifest greater openness to experience, which is the result of their sports experience, high sports level and pro-health values of karate. On the other hand, good emotional adaptation of karatekas is strictly related to conscientiousness.

Personality and Sport Experience of 20-29-Year-Old Polish Male Professional Athletes.

More and more research reports assert that sport experience has an influence on shaping the personality of athletes. This paper aims at validating the connection between personality and sport experience. The research subject of were young Polish male athletes (N = 1,260) aged 20-29, out of 42 sports disciplines, with sport experience ranging from 3 to 12 years. In order to test the personality of the research subjects, a five-factor model of personality called the Big Five was applied. Statistical calculations and analyses were carried out with ver. 25 of the IBM SPSS Statistics software. The research has shown that all personality traits correlate in a statistically significant way with sport experience (p < 0.001): there is a negative correlation of sports experience with neuroticism and a positive correlation with traits such as extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Thus, we have identified a relationship between sport experience and personality traits of the researched Polish male athletes-the longer the sport experience, the lower level of neuroticism and higher levels of extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Duration of sport experience has a considerable influence on forming the personality of Polish male athletes. However, the interpretation of just the results regarding high level of extraversion and conscientiousness distinguishes Polish male athletes (20-29 years old) from the Polish male population of non-training people.

Influence of training and selection on postural stability and its relationship with sport level in judo practitioners aged 11-14 years.

The aim of this study is to determine the influence of training and selection on postural stability and its relationship with the sports level of judo practitioners aged 11-14 years. The study group consisted of 21 children judokas, aged 11-12, and 80 of their non-training peers, as well as 19 adolescent judokas, aged 13-14, and 76 of their non-training peers. The judokas were surveyed during regional championships. The level of achievement was determined by the place taken in the tournament. The balance was assessed with the use of a CQ Stab 2P stabilographic platform (CQ Elektronik System, Poland). The device recorded the position of the foot center of pressure (COP) from 6 sensors; 3 of them being located in each platform plate. The following parameters describing the movement of the foot COP were analyzed: total path length calculated in both axes (SP); mean COP inclination (MA), size of the surface area delineated by COP (SA); mean COP frequency (MF). Significantly higher values of SP, MA, and SA were noted in non-training children (aged 11-12), while MF values were significantly higher in young judokas. The same regularity was found in the older age group. Upon comparing the means between children judokas and adolescent judokas, significant differences were noted in the case of SP and MF. In both cases, higher mean values were found in the younger judoka group. A similar comparison in the non-training group indicates statistically significant better values of all analyzed indicators in the 13-14 year-old group, except for MF. Upon examining the relationship between the values of the parameters characterizing the balance level and the sports level, both in the group of training children and adolescents, insignificant values of correlation coefficients were obtained.

Sports Level and the Personality of American Football Players in Poland.

Research on personality in sport is very popular as it allows prediction of the behavior of players in the starting situation. Hence, verifications of players due to their sports level may turn out to be crucial. Due to the dynamic development of American football in Poland, we undertook research to verify the relationship between the sports level and the personality of these players. The Big Five personality study that we carried out involved players aged from 20 to 29-the representatives of American football clubs in Poland (N = 140) from three league games levels: LFA 1 (n = 75), LFA 2 (n = 40), and LFA 9 (n = 25). The NEO-FFI personality questionnaire was used as a research tool. The players from the top-level games were characterized by their openness to experience, the level of which decreases along with the decrease in the players' sports levels. The differences in openness to experience were revealed, first of all, in divergent thinking and creativity. It was ascertained that openness to experience is a characteristic personality trait for American football players in Poland. Therefore, systematic conduct of personality tests among American football players in Poland, in the process of selecting candidates for the highest levels of football competition, would be recommended. This might significantly affect the development of the sports level of this discipline in Poland. The obtained results of research on personality may, moreover, prove to be useful in selecting players and improving the predictions of important sports behaviors in American football in Poland.

Personality Determinants of Success in Men's Sports in the Light of the Big Five.

The aim of the study is to describe personality profiles and determinants of success in sports in relation to the Big Five Personality Model. In order to achieve this aim, personality profiles of players from various sports disciplines was set against the personality profile of champions-players who are considerably successful in sports competitions. Subsequently, an attempt was made to determine which personality traits significantly determine belonging to the group of champions-and therefore determine success in sport. The participants were men aged between 20 and 29 from the Polish population of sportsmen. A total of 1260 athletes were tested, out of whom 118 were qualified to the champions sample-those athletes had significant sports achievements. The research used the NEO-FFI Personality Questionnaire. Basic descriptive statistics, a series of Student's t-tests for independent samples using the bootstrapping method, as well as a logistic regression model were performed. In relation to other athletes, champions were characterized by a lower level of neuroticism and a higher level of extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. An important personality determinant was neuroticism: the lower the level of neuroticism, the greater the probability of an athlete being classified as a champion. There are differences between champions and other athletes in all personality dimensions in terms of the Big Five. Based on the result of the research, it can be stated that personality differences should be seen as a consequence of athletes' success, rather than as a reason for athletes' success, based on their age between 20 and 29.

Assessment of Personality Traits Influencing the Performance of Men in Team Sports in Terms of the Big Five.

The purpose of this article is to define the perspective from which a coach should analyze and evaluate personality traits that influence sports performance in team sports. The subjects of the research are Polish players (N = 300) in senior age (20-29 years) from 10 team sports (each n = 30). A sample of champions (n = 13) was selected from the study population, and the Big Five model was applied to examine their personality with the use of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 25. The study revealed statistically significant differences between team sports in four personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Champions of team sports were characterized by a lower level of neuroticism, a higher level of extraversion, and openness to experiences in relation to other sportsmen. It was also confirmed that the personality traits distribution levels depend on the sport discipline. Therefore, an important role must be assigned to those mental training techniques that favor emotional balance, team communication, and tactical thinking skills and are manifested in triggering start-up readiness.

Personality profile of individual sports champions.

BACKGROUND: Research on personality in sport is popular because it allows you to forecast the greediness of actions in sports competition situations. The purpose of this paper is to determine which personality traits characterize individual sports champions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of the research were Polish athletes (N = 600) between 20 and 29 years of age from 20 individual sports disciplines (each n = 30). Then, a sample of champions (n = 56) and other individual disciplines athletes (n = 544) was selected from the study population. The Big Five model was used to examine their personality (NEO-FFI). RESULTS: Individual sports champions were characterized by a lower level of neuroticism, a higher level of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness in relation to other athletes. CONCLUSION: Each sports discipline is characterized by slightly different psychological requirements for athletes. The undertaken sports activity shapes the personality, and the shaped personality traits have an impact on taking solutions in the starting situation. The level of intensity of neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness may determine the result in competition in individual sports.

Indicators of Targeted Physical Fitness in Judo and Jujutsu-Preliminary Results of Research.

(1) Study aim: This is a comparative study for judo and jujutsu practitioners. It has an intrinsic value. The aim of this study was to showcase a comparison of practitioners of judo and a similar martial art jujutsu with regard to manual abilities. The study applied the measurement of simple reaction time in response to a visual stimulus and handgrip measurement. (2) Materials and Methods: The group comprising N = 69 black belts from Poland and Germany (including 30 from judo and 39 from jujutsu) applied two trials: "grasping of Ditrich rod" and dynamometric handgrip measurement. The analysis of the results involved the calculations of arithmetic means, standard deviations, and Pearson correlations. Analysis of the differences (Mann-Whitney U test) and Student's t-test were also applied to establish statistical differences. (3) Results: In the test involving handgrip measurement, the subjects from Poland (both those practicing judo and jujutsu) gained better results compared to their German counterparts. In the test involving grasping of Ditrich rod, a positive correlation was demonstrated in the group of German judokas between the age and reaction time of the subjects (rxy = 0.66, p < 0.05), as well as in the group of jujutsu subjects between body weight and the reaction time (rxy = 0.49, p < 0.05). A significant and strong correlation between handgrip and weight was also established for the group of German judokas (rxy = 0.75, p < 0.05). In Polish competitors, the correlations were only established between the age and handgrip measurements (rxy = 0.49, p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Simple reaction times in response to visual stimulation were shorter in the subjects practicing the martial art jujutsu. However, the statement regarding the advantage of the judokas in terms of handgrip force was not confirmed by the results.