IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Background. Martial arts, a global phenomenon with a history that spans centuries, have had a significant impact on various cultures and continue to gain popularity worldwide. This trend underscores the importance of understanding the scientific knowledge that encompasses martial arts and combat sports.
Problem and aim. The purpose of the study is to provide valuable information on key contributors, prominent research topics, and emerging trends, thus contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the impact of martial arts and combat sports studies.
Material and methods. The research involved a search on SCOPUS and Web of Science using the terms ‘martial arts’ or ‘combat sports’ up to 2022. Bibliometric indicators were analyzed using the bibliometrix package in R.
Results. The search yielded 7,208 publications from 15,125 authors, showing a mean annual growth rate of 14.9% from 1973 to 2022. These documents appeared in 2,410 scientific sources (journals, books, etc.), predominantly in the Archives of Budo and Ido Movement for Culture – Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology. Keyword analysis focusing on martial arts modalities revealed ‘judo,’ ‘mixed martial arts,’ ‘taekwondo,’ and ‘karate’ as the most used terms. Network analysis revealed a wide thematic field with three clusters: concussion/violence, health, and athletic performance. The thematic map highlighted athletic performance as a motor theme.
Conclusions. Bibliometric analysis reveals a growing interest in martial arts and combat research, encompassing a diverse range of topics and indicating its status as a multidisciplinary field of knowledge.