Academic production in the field of combat sports: the case of judo and the studies of the principles and values of the sport

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to carry out a survey and analysis of the scientific production of judo, specifically the contents that discuss the principles and values of this sport, to understand the contexts of its production at the national and international levels. Methods: A "state of the art" literature review was used to analyze seven national journals of Physical Education and five specialized in the area of combat sports, from their first editions up until the year 2021. Results: The results indicated that judo production has grown mainly in the last decade. In both national and specialized journals, the analyzed productions (n = 69 and n = 410, respectively) were concentrated in biodynamics (57.97% and 72.93%), followed by the sociocultural (30.43% and 23.41%) and pedagogical areas (11.60% and 3.66%). Articles on principles and values accounted for only 8.35% of judo production, of which 47.50% were written entirely in English, 42.50% in Japanese with only abstracts in English, and a measly 10% in Portuguese, confirming the difficulty in finding information on the topic. This aridity may be the result of the technical-sports perspective that drives scientific research in the area of biodynamics and the language barriers of publications concentrated in English and Japanese. Conclusion: It is suggested that actions by the regulatory institutions be taken to encourage both research and greater access to the conceptual and attitudinal knowledge of judo, extrapolating the offer of bodily knowledge and approaching the democratic and integral educational process that is expected.

Intergenerational Judo: Synthesising Evidence- and Eminence-Based Knowledge on Judo across Ages

“…However, judo itself has evolved, facing the challenges of universalisation and sportisation in new historical contexts". The studies also highlighted the considerable variety in judo athletic levels: from novice recreational practitioners playing judo for leisure reasons to competitive beginners and elite athletes, the literature seems to echo the diversity of the judo population around the globe [19]. Nine reviews delved into wellbeingrelated themes, particularly bone health and injury epidemiology and prevention, as well as the psycho-physical effects of judo training.…”

“…Considering their focus on self-discipline, balance, the mind-body connection, and adaptability to different populations, martial arts offer a unique blend of physical and mental health, making them well suited as physical activities fostering solidarity and holistic wellbeing in both younger and older generations [9,[16][17][18]. As a modern martial art and inclusive combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, judo (jū: gentle; dō: way) has been recognised for its multifaceted nature, including physical and mental benefits [19][20][21][22][23]. Judo promotes physical efficiency and mutual respect through gymnastics (i.e., taiku), free practices (i.e., randori), prearranged techniques (i.e., kata), and combats (i.e., shiai) [24,25].…”