Motivational dynamics and training experiences among female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners

Abstract

The practice of martial arts has historically been a maledominated endeavour. Although this is beginning to change, many female practitioners still face unique challenges in their martial arts journey. The present study explored the motivational dynamics in active female practitioners, aiming to shed light on the factors that drives their continued involvement in martial arts. To this end, we assessed achievement goal orientations, perceptions of the motivational climate, and experiences during training in 137 female Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioners from 28 countries. Additionally, we used previously published data on male practitioners in comparative analyses. Our findings revealed that female BJJ practitioners shared a similar emphasis on mastery approach goals compared to their male counterparts. A notable difference was observed for perceptions of the motivational climate, with female practitioners perceiving the climate as more mastery-oriented than males. We also found relationships between motivational dynamics and factors such as rank, training duration and experience, instructor status, and competition participation. Overall, female BJJ practitioners exhibit a strong emphasis on mastery goals and generally perceive the training climate as mastery-orientated, suggesting an inclination towards adaptive behaviour in challenging situations. These results demonstrate similarities in the goal orientations of male and female practitioners, yet differences in how the training climate is perceived, which may have implications for how training sessions should be structured. Moreover, they reaffirm the compatibility between mastery goals and competitive martial arts practice and provide a novel characterization of the motivational dynamics of active female grapplers.