Cross-sectional examination of a presumed connection between long-term Shotokan karate training, body awareness, and spirituality

Abstract

AbstractKarate has been theoretically linked to the development of body awareness and spirituality. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine these constructs in long-term (at least five and then at least 10 years) Shotokan karate practitioners (n = 77) and a control group (n = 49). The participants completed the Body Awareness Questionnaire and the Spiritual Connection Questionnaire in a martial-arts training camp. In the karate group, there was no correlation between the past history of karate (months of training) and body awareness or spirituality. Further, there was no statistically significant difference between the karate group and the control group on either of the two dependent measures. Finally, a contrast between the short- (5–10 years of experience) and long-term (25+ years of experience) practitioners has revealed a statistically significant difference in spirituality, which was due to age (used as covariate) rather than the karate practice. These findings suggest that Western karat...