Thesis concerns of creation and verification of Aikido basic techniques training programme, which is applied on children attending first to four year of elementary school. Diploma work consists of theoretical and research part and is completed with photographic documentation. Theoretical part of the work covers history, methodology and didactics of Aikido training. This part of the work is further focused on analysis and methodology of fall techniques, which are necessary for managing aikido techniques. Research part of the work concerns on programme application on pupils attending first to four year of elementary school. Lenght of the programme is three months and pupil´s physical ability is after it verified by Eurofit test.\\

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-06T17:07:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 resumo Rodrigo Batalha.pdf: 124696 bytes, checksum: 43256abd6110a66d342ab174fc3f660b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Introduction: Among the sports of combat (MEC) in the present, one has stood out by mixing techniques from other martial arts. This kind of sport is given the name of mixed martial arts (MMA). The large training load and the danger that the sport provides, can generate significant psychological changes in these athletes. It is important that arise further research on the psychological aspects of MMA athletes. Objectives: To investigate the mood and motivation of professional and amateur mixed martial arts athletes in training; and, through systematic review, analyze (a) the scientific production in the Sports Science on mixed martial arts and, (b) the scientific production of Psychology of Sport related to mixed martial arts. Method: This dissertation consists of studies of systematic and empirical reviews. The study included 46 athletes of mixed martial arts aged between 18 and 36 years. The instruments used were the Questionário de caracterização geral de atletas de MMA, Brunel Mood Scale and the Sport Motivation Scale. Data were collected in gyms with the athletes always at the beginning and end of the training, with a total of one to three training sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 through the normality tests Shapiro-Wilk and in accordance with the proposed distribution, the Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. The significance level of p <0.05 was adopted. Systematic reviews followed the Prisma Protocol and searches occurred in SciELO, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases. Results: It was found that the amateur and professional athletes are characterized by high school, they have another job besides being an athlete and most professionals compete in national or international events. The athletes showed the mood profile similar to the "iceberg profile". The training increased the fatigue of athletes as well as the fact that sponsored atletes changed their vigour. Athletes with scheduled fight showed changes in tension and anger of the athletes before and after training. Athletes with worse quality of sleep had altered levels of depression, vigour and fatigue. MMA athletes had high intrinsic motivation, average levels of extrinsic motivation and low amotivation. The identified regulation was higher in professional athletes. The amotivation was higher in athletes who reported having regular health. Conclusions: The athletes presented mood profile similar to the "iceberg". The training decreased the fatigue of athletes as well as the fact that sponsered athletes had an increase in vigour. The fact that athletes with scheduled fight had an increase in tension and anger before and after training. Athletes with worse sleep quality got worse in the levels of depression, vigour and fatigue. In motivation, MMA athletes are characterized to have a high level of intrinsic motivation, especially internal motivation for stimulating experiences, low amotivation and medium levels of extrinsic motivation, especially the identified regulation. / Introdução: Dentre as modalidades esportivas de combate (MEC) existentes na atualidade, uma vem se destacando por misturar técnicas de outras lutas. A esse tipo de esporte dá-se o nome de artes marciais misturadas ou mixed martial arts (MMA). A grande carga de treinamento e o perigo que a modalidade proporciona, pode gerar alterações psicológicas importantes nesses atletas. É importante que surjam novas investigações sobre os aspectos psicológicos de atletas de MMA. Objetivos: Investigar o humor e a motivação de atletas profissionais e amadores de mixed martial arts em treinamento; e, através de revisões sistemáticas, analisar (a) a produção científica nas Ciências da Esporte sobre mixed martial arts e, (b) a produção científica da Psicologia do Esporte relacionada ao mixed martial arts. Método: Esta dissertação é composta por estudos de revisão sistemática e empíricos. Participaram do estudo 46 atletas de mixed martial arts com idades entre 18 e 36 anos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de caracterização geral de atletas de MMA, Escala de humor de Brunel e a Escala de Motivação Esportiva. Os dados foram coletados nas academias junto aos atletas sempre ao início e ao final dos treinos, com o total de um a três sessões de treinamento. Os dados foram tratados pelo programa estatístico SPSS versão 20.0, através dos testes de normalidade Shapiro-Wilk e de acordo com a distribuição apresentada, foram utilizados os testes Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Foi adotado o nível de significância p< 0,05. As revisões sistemáticas seguiram o Protocolo Prisma e as buscas ocorreram nas bases de dados Scielo, ScienceDirect e Web of Science. Resultados: Verificou-se que os atletas amadores e profissionais se caracterizam por ter Ensino Médio, possuírem outra profissão além de ser atleta e a maioria dos profissionais competem em eventos nacionais ou internacionais. Os atletas apresentaram o perfil de humor semelhante ao de iceberg . Os treinamentos aumentaram a fadiga dos atletas, bem como o fato de possuir patrocínio alterou o vigor. Atletas com luta marcada apresentam alteração na tensão e raiva dos atletas antes e depois do treinamento. Atletas com pior qualidade do sono apresentam alterações nos níveis de depressão, vigor e fadiga. Atletas de MMA possuem elevada motivação intrínseca, níveis médios de motivação extrínseca e baixa amotivação. A regulação identificada foi maior nos atletas profissionais. A amotivação foi maior nos atletas que relatam ter saúde regular. Conclusões: Os atletas apresentam perfil de humor semelhante ao de iceberg . Os treinamentos diminuíram a fadiga dos atletas, bem como o fato de possuir patrocínio foi um fator de aumento do vigor. O fato de os atletas estarem com luta marcada, aumentou a tensão e raiva dos atletas antes e depois do treinamento. Atletas com pior qualidade do sono apresentam piora nos níveis de depressão, vigor e fadiga. Na motivação, os atletas de MMA se caracterizam por possuir um elevado nível de motivação intrínseca, com destaque para a motivação interna para experiências estimulantes, baixa amotivação e níveis médios de motivação extrínseca, com destaque para a regulação identificada.

Traumatic brain injury, concussion, and subconcussion are different clinical conditions associated with head injury. These conditions share a common origin, mechanical forces directly or indirectly transmitted to the head. In sports, modalities with high exposure to head traumas require further investigation, especially those in which strikes directly to the head are allowed and a determinant of success, such as combat sports. The causes and effects of brain injuries in combat sports such as Mixed Martial Arts, boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing are complex and require a comprehensive investigation of many factors. The objective of this dissertation was to explore the main causes that justify combat sports as the main sport sample when it comes to head injury and the effects of chronic exposure to head trauma in this population. Original studies were developed to assess the head injury risk in competition and in training, the level of knowledge of athletes and coaches, and the consequences of chronic exposure to head traumas in the balance function, brain activity, and spinal cord excitability. The risk of a fight ending due to head strikes in competition is directly related to the weight category, and the risk seems to be exacerbated in female athletes. Combat sports athletes are exposed to numerous strikes to the head in simulated fights on a weekly basis in training, when healthcare professionals are absent. During this time that makes up the bulk of exposures, therefore, athletes and coaches are the ones managing potential cases of concussion. However, coaches are not familiar with assessment tools and don’t often seek out concussion knowledge. Alarmingly, coaches, often prior athletes themselves, are the main source of concussion knowledge for their athletes. High exposure to head trauma both in competition and training in addition to iv poor knowledge and behavior are liable to cause consequences in the nervous system. Athletes chronically exposed to head trauma presented subtle deficits in static balance in the most basic human stance, which is the double-leg over a firm surface. Moreover, while the literature consistently shows impairments in brain function, our study expanded the association between head trauma and nervous system deficits to the least studied component of the nervous system, the spinal cord. While athletic training promotes neuroplastic benefits in spinal cord excitability, these were hindered in a sample of athletes chronically exposed to head traumas. The studies in this dissertation demonstrated that athletes in combat sports are chronically exposed to intentional and repetitive head traumas, and that this exposure is likely associated with long-term functional detriments in balance and spinal cord excitability. / Graduate

背景: 近代不少西方的實證心理治療方法都開始採納東方源來已久的身心治療，來醫治常見的情緒病，例如：抑鬱症，效果最為顯著。這個發展趨勢正好回應現存醫療制度及資源的限制，或其他社會文化及個人所造成的障礙。本研究旨在檢視一種促進身心健康的中國禪宗身心治療方法 － 以「德建身心療法」對比於 「認知行為治療法」及「等候對照組」，在治療一羣抑鬱症患者的抑鬱情緒、腦功能的改善及其身体健康等的療效。 / 研究方法: 在一個精神科門診部內，研究員召集了75 名成人的抑鬱症患者。他們都是有不同程度的抑鬱情緒或身體健康問題，同時有興趣參加為期十節的「德建身心療法」或「認知行為治療法」。 在對照基本資料後 (如年齡、學歷、抑鬱程度，初患或復發) ，他們被隨機分派到「德建身心療法」、「認知行為治療法」或「等候對照組」中。治療前及治療後，抑鬱症患者都會接受情緒、腦功能、健康狀況及腦電波的評估。 / 結果: 整體而言，相對於「等候對照組」，「德建身心療法」及「認知行為治療」更有效地減低患者的抑鬱症狀。此外，「德建身心療法」更帶來一些其他組別所末見的療效；包括有效地提昇患者的專注力、記憶、執行功能、腸道功能及睡眠質素。再者、研究亦發現「德建身心療法」的參加者，在有關正面情緒和專注力的兩個客觀量化腦電波(QEEG)指數上有顯著的攀升。意外地，在短短的十星期後「德建身心療法」參加者使用抗抑鬱药的份量亦有效地減少。 / 總結: 本研究的結果顯示中國的禪宗身心治療方法 －「德建身心療法」在治療抑鬱症患者的情緒捆纏、腦功能失衡、睡眠及腸道功能、提升正面情緒及專注力的量化腦電波指數都有明顯的功效。 / BACKGROUND: There are growing interests and encouraging findings of adapting and developing Mind-Body Intervention into evidence-based group treatment for common mental disorders such as depression. The advancement is a partial response to the limitations on the availability and accessibility of the existing treatment in the current health care system for depression, and/or a partial response to the socio-cultural and personal reasons in different communities. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed Chinese Chan-based treatment the Dejian Mind-Body Intervention (DMBI), as compared to the groups of Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Wait-list control, in alleviating depressive mood and improving physical health of adult depressive patients. / METHOD: Seventy-five patients with the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder were recruited in the current study. They were stratified for age, education, level of depression, course of illness before random assignment to receive either 10-session DMBI or CBT, or placed on a wait-list. Pre-post measurements included primary outcome measures on psychiatrists’ rating and self-evaluated mood scores (HRSD and BDI) and secondary outcome measures on performance in different neuropsychological assessment (Executive function, Attention, Memory). The three groups also compared among different sleep (SOL, TST, and WASO), gastrointestinal parameters as well as neurophysiological QEEG indices. / RESULTS: Both the DMBI and CBT groups demonstrated significant reduction in depressive psychopathology after intervention. However, the DMBI group but not the CBT or Wait-list control groups demonstrated significant improvement in attention, verbal memory, executive function, gastrointestinal health and overall sleep quality. Besides, Dejian Mind-Body Intervention brought about significant increase in objective QEEG measures of positive affect and attention that were not evidenced in the other two groups. Participants in the DMBI group also demonstrated significant reduction in the use of anti-depressant after the end of 10-week treatment. / CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the current study suggested that a Chinese Chan-based Dejian mind-body intervention has positive effects on improving the mood and health conditions of individuals with depression. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wong, Yun Ping. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-109). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; some appendixes also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.v / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / LIST OF TABLES --- p.x / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xiii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xii / Chapter CHAPTER I: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / PURPOSES OF THE PRESENT STUDY --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER II: --- METHODS --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER III: --- RESULTS --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER IV: --- DISCUSSION --- p.68 / GENERAL DISCUSSION --- p.70 / CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS --- p.76 / LIMITATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE DIRECTION --- p.77 / REFERENCES --- p.79 / TABLES --- p.110 / FIGURES --- p.124 / APPENDICES --- p.128

This project is an examination of the Hong Kong film industry, focusing on the years leading up to the handover of Hong Kong to communist China. The influence of classical Chinese culture on gender representation in martial arts films is examined in order to formulate an understanding of how these films use gender issues to negotiate a sense of cultural identity in the face of unprecedented political change. In particular, the films of Hong Kong action stars Michelle Yeoh and Brigitte Lin are studied within a feminist and cultural studies framework for indications of identity formation through the highlighting of gender issues.

Orientador: Edison Duarte / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Fisica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T08:43:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alves_MariaLuizaTanure_M.pdf: 1979610 bytes, checksum: 1d12951383435402fdf08843e8e2067c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: O processo inclusivo na escola não diz respeito somente à oportunidade em desempenhar as atividades propostas pelo professor em sala, mas também em participar e estruturar uma rede de relações sociais junto aos seus colegas de classe. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o processo inclusivo de crianças com necessidades educacionais especiais nas aulas de educação física escolar, identificando seus obstáculos e facilidades para acompanhamento dos conteúdos propostos e construção de uma rede social com seus pares. Participaram como sujeitos do estudo alunos com e sem necessidades educacionais especiais de uma escola pública brasileira durante o ano de 2007. Foram realizadas observações sistemáticas das aulas de educação física durante todo o período letivo, bem como a aplicação do teste sociométrico em dois momentos. As observações sistemáticas tinham como meta identificar as facilidades e obstáculos encontrados pelo aluno com necessidade educacional especial em relação aos conteúdos propostos, relações com os colegas e professora e o ambiente de aula. O teste sociométrico buscou avaliar a estrutura social desenvolvida pelo mesmo durante as aulas de educação física. Os alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais não demonstraram dificuldades para compreender e executar as atividades propostas, porém apresentaram dificuldades para estruturação de relações sociais recíprocas com os colegas de classe. Os resultados indicam que o processo inclusivo desses alunos não ocorreu de forma concreta, impedindo que a criança com necessidade educacional especial atingisse plenamente os objetivos e metas educacionais propostos nas aulas de educação física. / Abstract: The school inclusive process regards not only the opportunity of performing teacher-proposed activities in the class, but also with students participating in and creating a social relationship network with their classmate. The aim of this study was to analyze the inclusive process of children with disabilities in physical education class, identifying their obstacle and facilities to keep up with classes contents and with building a social network with their peers. Students from a Brazilian public school with and without disabilities served as subjects of this study during 2007. Systematic observations of physical education classes were performed during school year, as well as application of a sociometric test in two different moments. Systematic observations aimed to identify obstacles and facilities related to the classes contents, peer and teacher relationship and with class environment that students with disabilities found. Sociometric test was designed to assess social structure developed during physical education classes. Students with disabilities did not show difficulties to understand and perform proposed activities. However, they did show difficulties in building reciprocal social relationships with their peers. Results indicate that inclusive process with these students did not really happen, hindering children with disabilities to fulfill educational goals proposed for physical education classes. / Mestrado / Atividade Fisica, Adaptação e Saude / Mestre em Educação Física

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-01T12:44:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-01T12:46:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-01T12:46:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-10 / The following study consists in a sociological analysis about the production of manhood styles in the universe of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), from an ethnographic research made with a group of physical fight practitioners in the city named Goiânia-GO. Thus, it points out to the relevance of consumption and the interference of the market in the construction of some symbolic repertoire about manhood seen as essentials and/or primordials, discussing how the subjects seize and embody such an imaginary thing amidst stress, ambivalences and disputes. The document is organized into five chapters. In the first, I talk about the questionable utilization of physical fights and martial arts as an invented tradition, as an orientalist play, in the configuration of imaginary communities. In the second, I talk about the appearance of MMA coming from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), giving focus to historical and sociological aspects that takes part in the symbolic economy in which establishes some manly speeches that are important for involved agents with the dynamic of manhoods in question. The third chapter brings thoughts about implied codes to the expression of manhoods in the universe of fighters where it was realized the field research, emphasizing the usage of signs associated to the genre relations with the production of relevant styles of the habitus of fighters. I develop discussions about the acceptance of the speech of order and the discipline of the contributors in the fourth chapter, in order to determine how interactions with women and other manhoods go through the influence of conservative opinion; and how much this dynamic is responsible for the creation of conflicts in this universe. The fifth chapter talks about the biographies of iconic fighters in several levels of the field topology embodied by fighters and referees that take part of the cultural goods market around MMA and UFC. So I posit that the fight that brought the thoughts about manhoods in this study highlights the stress around the sexuality, of questions related to family and to work; and before it means a sportivization, it indicates an intense civilizing process, as it allows the fruition an uncontrolled control of the emotions and makes evident tools of social control. The respect and affection of traditional institutes like family and heterosexuality, like the possibility of social ascension through MMA, require from the fighters a self-sacrifice that reinstalls in the contemporaneous scenario the perspective of the individual discipline as a resource to the success. This process allow us to imply that dynamics and rhetoric of market (re)products styles of manhoods seen as “non corruptible” by the present day, such elements being appropriate by interested agents in the symbolic capital that is inherent in the form of disputes for hegemony. Keywords: Mixed Martial Arts, manhoods; uncontrolled control; imaginary communities; market of symbolic goods. / O presente estudo consiste em uma análise sociológica da produção de estilos de masculinidades no universo do Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a partir de uma pesquisa de caráter etnográfico realizada junto a um grupo de praticantes de lutas corporais na cidade de Goiânia-GO. Aponta, assim, para a pertinência do consumo e para a interferência do mercado na construção de certo repertório simbólico sobre masculinidades tidas como essenciais e/ou primordiais, discutindo como os sujeitos apropriam-se e corporificam tal imaginário em meio a tensões, ambivalências e disputas. O texto está organizado em cinco capítulos. No primeiro, discorro sobre a problemática das lutas corporais e das artes marciais enquanto tradição inventada utilizada, enquanto peça orientalista, na conformação de comunidades imaginadas. No segundo, abordo o surgimento do MMA a partir do Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), focando aspectos históricos e sociológicos que participam da economia simbólica dentro da qual se instalam discursos e retóricas viris importantes para agentes envolvidos com a dinâmica da masculinidade em questão. O terceiro capítulo traz reflexões a respeito de códigos implícitos à expressão de masculinidades no universo de lutadores onde foi realizada a pesquisa de campo, realçando o manejo de signos associados às relações de gênero com a produção de estilos relevadores de habitus de lutadores. Desenvolvo discussões sobre uma apropriação do discurso da ordem e da disciplina por parte dos colaboradores no quarto capítulo, no sentido de apontar como interações com mulheres e outras masculinidades sofrem a influência de disposições conservadoras; e o quanto tal dinâmica é responsável pela produção de conflitos nesse universo. O quinto capítulo aborda a questão das biografias de lutadores emblemáticos em diversos níveis da topologia do campo constituído por lutadores e mediadores que participam do mercado de bens culturais em torno do MMA e do UFC. Postulo que a luta de que se lançou mão para as reflexões sobre masculinidades nesse estudo realça a tensão em torno da sexualidade, de questões relacionadas à família e ao trabalho; e antes de significar uma desportivização, indica um acirramento do processo civilizatório, na medida em que permite a fruição de um descontrole controlado das emoções e evidencia ferramentas de controle social. A valorização de instituições tradicionais como a família e a heterossexualidade, bem como a possibilidade de ascensão social através do MMA, exigem de lutadores um auto sacrifício que reinstala no cenário contemporâneo a perspectiva da ascese individual como recurso para o sucesso. Este processo permite inferir que dinâmicas e retóricas de mercado (re)produzem estilos de masculinidades tidos como “não corrompidos” pela modernidade, sendo tais elementos apropriados por agentes interessados no capital simbólico que lhes é inerente sob a forma de disputas por hegemonia. Palavras-chave: Mixed Martial Arts; masculinidades; descontrole controlado; comunidades imaginadas; mercado de bens simbólicos.

Studien är ett examensarbete som undersöker frågeställningen: hur vi med hjälp av produktdesign kan bjuda in fler kvinnor till kampsport? Studien undersöks utifrån designteorien användarcentrerad design och inslag av metoder från co-design. Det teoretiska ramverket undersöker designteori i samband med normer, genus och kampsport samt relaterade studier om kvinnor och kampsport. Kampsport har alltid varit mansdominerat och trots att idrott generellt är mer jämställt idag är det fortfarande brist på kvinnliga deltagare. Genom att undersöka användarnas behov genom intervjuer, deltagande observation, kreativ workshop och en slutgiltig prototyp kan forskningsfrågan besvaras. Eftersom studien utgår ifrån användarcentrerad design har användarna varit med under hela processen och tagit fram ett slutgiltigt designkoncept som innefattar en interaktiv produkt för kvinnor som vill börja utöva kampsport eller fortsätta utöva kampsport. Produkten fyller behovet av kvinnlig gemenskap och samhörighet genom att bjuda in varandra via interaktionen som finns i produkten. Studiens slutsats innebär ett designbidrag som kan stötta kvinnor att tillsammans utöva kampsport trots historiska samhällsnormer som till viss del kan finnas kvar i samhället. / The study is a bachelor thesis that investigates the question: how we by the aid of product design can invite more women to martial arts. The study is examined based on the design theory, usercentered design with elements from co-design. The theoretical framework examines design theory in conjuction with norms, gender and the related studies with women practicing martial arts. Even though sports in general are more gender equal today, the martial arts still lack female participants. By examining the users needs through interviews, observation through participation, creative workshops and by using a final prototype, the question can at last be answered. Since the study is based on user-centered design, the users have been involved throughout the entire development process and contributed to a final design concept that includes an interactive product for women that want to start or continue practicing martial arts. The final product fulfills the need for female community and affinity by inviting each other through the interactive elements in the product. The conclusion of the study implies a design contribution that have the ability to support women to practice martial arts together despite historical social norms that might be, to some extent, still remaining in our society.

This thesis examines the gender-subversive potential of mixed-sex martial arts. The research problem takes its significance from the well-documented linkages drawn within feminist research between combat sports and hierarchal gender differentiation. It is posited that from a feminist perspective, gender-subversive physical practices are desirable because they instigate a shift towards fairer and freer bodily discourse, and as such they are deserving of critical academic attention. Furthermore, sex-integrated sports have the potential to lead participants towards embodying and propagating such subversive gender discourses, and when these changes take place within highly masculinised activities such as combat sports, the significance of this subversion is amplified. While existing literature has addressed these themes with reference to women s participation in these kinds of activities, there is a relative paucity of sociological work explicitly examining mixed-sex participation, which this thesis is intended to redress. Using semi-structured interviewing, qualitative data were gathered from a group of male and female martial artists across the English East Midlands. The interviews were transcribed and then subjected to discourse analysis. Findings suggested that mixed-sex martial arts does involve gender subversion but that the practice also remains structured by dominant, hierarchal gender discourse in several significant ways. It is therefore suggested that mixed-sex training can present the possibility of gender subversion under particular conditions, such as: martial arts being accessible to both men and women at multiple levels of participation; a normalised presence of women, particularly at higher levels such as being coaches and competitors; participants coming to share an identity as martial artists which is irrespective of sexual difference; and ultimately training being integrated as much as possible, particularly with regard to the more intensely physical, combative aspects, such as sparring. The participants indicated that under these conditions they were able to conceive of and practice their gender differently, in ways which portrayed little or no hierarchal distinction between the sexes, and as such is considered subversive . Following these findings, the thesis ultimately concludes with a brief outline of some recommendations for good practice in martial arts clubs. In this way, the thesis contributes towards feminist understandings of the body and of physical culture, by highlighting one possible way in which to conceive of the sexed body differently from the prevailing norms of hierarchal sexual differentiation.

"Combat Dance" is an eclectic blend of combat and dance art forms combined and taught from the Fall 2001 to Spring 2003. As defined here, combat dance is a blend of techniques and principles gleaned from both unarmed and armed aspects of stage combat, martial arts (such as aikido and kung fu), modern dance and other expressive movements used to tell a story of conflict. Its primary purpose is to provide both actors and non-actors greater awareness and control of their bodies and to provide a range of creative avenues of expression. Combat dance gives the performers a unique and holistic set of exercises and skills that leave no part of the body, mind, or - even deeper - the spirit uninfluenced. The thesis begins with the vision and birth of the class, a description of the preparatory research, an analysis of the reasons for the class, and reflection, revelations, and realizations gained through teaching the class. The ultimate focus of this thesis is to aid anyone interested in any type of combat or dance-related movements: dancers, non-dancers, actors, non-actors, movement coaches, and even those in the fields of dance or drama therapy.