IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Background. Martial arts are characterized as a cultural-historical manifestation. The coach’s role is essential for teaching different modalities to children in several contexts.
Problem and aim. To investigate difficulties in the teaching process based on the perspective of martial arts coaches.
Methods. This is a qualitative, descriptive study; 11 coaches were interviewed, and the interviews were analyzed using the content analysis technique.
Results. The results were organized into three categories: 1) difficulties with students and guardians, from which coaches reported difficulties regarding delays in the motor development of students, indiscipline, aggressiveness, distraction, lack of respect, and the negative influence of the family in certain situations; 2) difficulties with the teaching of the modality related to lack of materials, organization of students by age groups, adequacy of the learning content for different age groups and ranks in the modality, and divergence between entities that rule the sport; and 3) personal difficulties, in which teachers reported the scarcity of courses aimed at children’s practice, the lack of higher education degrees, anxiety about competitive results, and difficulty leaving their comfort zone.
Conclusion. The authors conclude that to meet these needs, it is essential that the institutions that rule the modalities develop training courses for coaches, addressing not only the technical aspects of martial arts but also situations of the coaches’ daily lives. Moreover, such courses should provide information that supports professional performance, such as class organization, planning of learning content, motor development, sports pedagogy, didactics, management, and entrepreneurship.