Sticking With It: A Qualitative Analysis of the Factors That Motivate Instructors to Teach the Filipino Martial Arts

This qualitative study investigated the motivational factors that influence instructors to teach Filipino martial arts. The study was designed to address teaching from the perspective of the instructors’ experiences, and allowed them to tell their story in their own words. The following research question guided this study: 1. What factors motivate Filipino martial arts instructors to teach the Filipino martial arts? Eight instructors were selected to participate in this qualitative study. The instructors were interviewed via telephone and Skype. Each instructor was also observed teaching. Additionally, documents pertaining to each instructor and the Filipino martial arts were collected and analyzed. Two selective codes emerged from the data. The first selective code was Legacy. Legacy was supported by three axial codes: Preserve the Legacy, Provide for Personal Expression, and Enhance Personal Development. The second selective code was Sharing. Sharing was supported by three axial codes: Prepare for Self-Defense, Increase Pleasure, Provide Opportunities for Benefits and Achievements, and Become Part of a Family. Findings revealed that monetary gain was not a major factor influencing the instructors to teach the Filipino martial arts

Development of the Cultural Appreciation of Martial Arts Scale

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid Social sciences instrument designed to measure the construct of Cultural Appreciation of Martial Arts. Data were collected from 114 adult martial arts participants. Study participants represented Taekwondo schools located in Arkansas and Filipino martial arts schools located in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Development of the instrument involved the use of an expert panel, a Q-sort, test-retest reliability test, Exploratory Factor Analysis, and Cronbach\u27s alpha. The study resulted in a 20-item, 3-factor scale that measures Cultural Knowledge, Cultural Sensitivity, and Cultural Awareness and is named the Cultural Appreciation of Martial Arts Scale. Results indicate the scale is reliable and valid. Reliability for each of the three factors based on Cronbach\u27s alpha were á = .962, .918, and .873 respectively. Initial validation of the instrument was established. However, further validation needs to occur. Future studies should be conducted with additional populations including other well-known martial arts styles from countries such as Japan and China. The construct of Cultural Appreciation of Martial Arts could also be studied for its potential relationships to other leisure constructs. Study and instrumentation for other activities or endeavors that are associated with a particular culture would be another avenue for further study