IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Background. As a scientific framework we have chosen, on the one hand, the holistic anthropology of martial arts within the sphere of humanistic values, and on the other, the traditionally-understood theory of attitudes with its components of knowledge, emotions and behaviors.
Problem. The problem of the attitude of members of the Polish national team in the cadet age category, to karate, as well as an analysis of their world of values have been addressed. What does karate mean to the athletes’ lives? What is their perception of karate? What is their general hierarchy of values?
Methodology. The main method of empirical research is a diagnostic survey. The tools are: a direct extended questionnaire by Cynarski; auxiliary questionnaire; survey questionnaire “Perception of martial arts by practicing youth: Motives and effects of training, values of martial arts against other values”, and the Rokeach scale of values. The research material is based on the responses received from members of the Polish Traditional Karate Association national squad, in the junior / cadet category (14-15), N=29. The study used statistical coefficients, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, the mean, median, standard deviation, chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test.
Results. The subjects strive for mastery in martial arts and in sport; they want to earn higher ranks (kyu / dan) and win in prestigious competitions. Women more often than men pointed to the “habit of continuous pursuit of the goal” as the most important value in their lives, while men more often pointed to “family and friends”. “Family safety” is better appreciated by those who consider the constant habit of pursuing a goal to be the most important value in their lives. Also, these subjects assess “responsibility” higher. The respondents who did not recognize “the habit of continuous pursuit of the goal” as the most important value in life evaluate “logic” more highly on the scale of instrumental values.
Conclusions. The subjects’ attitudes to karate were active and generally affirmative. The perception of karate stretches from the traditionally-understood martial art, through fighting sports, to a set of self-defense techniques. For many, karate is a passion for life; in its cultivation they perceive numerous values and a positive influence on personality. However, indications for family and friends are typical of the axiology of the entire Polish society.