Abstract - University extension and the diffusion of Chinese martial arts The shuaijiao case
Problem and Aim. The problem addressed by the present study is how a university extension course can impact the perception and knowledge of Chinese martial arts. The aim of this research was to investigate the expectations and perceptions of the participants on a Chinese Martial Arts extension course in a public university in Brazil.
Method. In order to achieve the goal, two questionnaires were applied to the participants of the extension course that approached the Shuaijiao, with the first one at the beginning of the course and the second at the end of it. The data were analyzed starting from Bardin’s [2011] method of content analysis.
Result. The results point to a greater understanding about the extension activities and their social impact, an increase in understanding of Martial Arts and Shuaijiao, and a deepening of students’ reflections on the didactic and pedagogical aspects of the Martial Arts course and its teaching in current times. Common assumptions about concepts such as theory and practice relationship; traditional and teacher-student relationship; as well as the perception of the social role of combat sports had increased.
Conclusion. The study concludes that pedagogical experiments conducted in a university environment can display ways of collaboration between researchers, professors, and combat sports professionals in the sense of an improvement of their pedagogical practices to serve a more and more diverse public who seek this modality.