Microsoft Word Training the body and mind Examining psychological correlates of Taekwondo docx

State psychological motivations.
Participants perceived Taekwondo as a way to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, or relax, 
reporting that "[Taekwondo] helps me to de-stress,” and "it helps me deal with stress and 
anxiety.” Participants also reported improvements in their wellbeing and mood and reported 
feeling “better after leaving Taekwondo.” Relatedly, others discussed liking, being drawn to, 
or being able to “see the beauty of the art”. One participant stated that “[Taekwondo is] the 
only exercise I enjoy.” Some conceptualized Taekwondo participation as a means for avoiding 
boredom, reporting that it gave them “some place to go.” 
Social motivations.
Many participants discussed family involvement in Taekwondo. Practitioners frequently 
reported that they had first enrolled their children in the sport, and later decided to begin 
training. Many viewed Taekwondo as a family activity or as a bonding experience: “I started 
because my son also does Taekwondo…I could relate more to my son by sharing the 
experiences.” Other participants reported that they liked the social engagement they 
experienced during their training classes, and discussed the friendships they had developed 
with other students. Participants frequently reported that they enjoyed both the “comradery” 
and the “group experience.” Relatedly, some enjoyed sharing their experience by teaching 
newer students, and others reported that they had “tremendous respect” for their teacher, and 
felt “privileged to study under his tutoring and mentoring.” 
Enduring psychological motivations.
Although this was not the most frequently cited theme by the sample as a whole, it is 
worth noting that this category alone was used more frequently by more advanced practitioners.
The longer a participant had been training in Taekwondo, the greater number of subthemes 
they reported from this theme. Some participants reported viewing Taekwondo as a means to 
increase focus and discipline. Others believed that it impacted morality and helped them to 
increase their respect for themselves and for others. Participants reported statements such as 
“[Taekwondo] has taught me respect for myself and for others, humility, patience, and inner 
strength as well as outer strength.” Taekwondo was also associated with improved confidence.
For example, one participant reported, “I participate [in Taekwondo] because it gives me more 
confidence in daily life.” 
A small number of participants reported that they had come to conceptualize Taekwondo 
as a way of life. These responses are notable in that they seemed to reflect a sincere belief that 
this sport had become a valuable component of these participants’ identities and exerted a 
strong influence on the ways in which they viewed themselves. Participants discussed how 
Taekwondo participation had “shaped” areas of their lives. They described the active role it 

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International Journal of Martial Arts 
played in their lifestyles, such as giving them a “sense of purpose.” For these practitioners, 
Taekwondo was perceived as providing “discipline and principles to life.” It was portrayed as 
an integral part of themselves: “Taekwondo makes me a better me, and without Taekwondo 
my life was worthless. I learned that for me life is Taekwondo, and Taekwondo is life.”