Analysis of motivation for sports participation among highly skilled martial arts athletes

Aim. This study provides an analysis of the motivational component in the training of highly skilled martial arts athletes. Materials and methods. The study involved an analysis of scientific and methodological literature and a questionnaire survey of athletes. The athletes’ motivation for sports participation was assessed using the methodologies of A.V. Shaboltas and I.V. Tropnikov. Results. The primary motives for sports participation among kickboxers are the need for material benefits, followed by the need for skill and knowledge acquisition and the desire for fame. Athletes from other martial arts exhibited the following leading motives: the pursuit of enjoyment, the rational-volitional motive, and the need for self-affirmation. For continuing participation, the leading motive for respondents in both groups is the need for material benefits. Among kickboxers, this is followed by the need for skill and knowledge acquisition and the desire for fame. For other martial arts athletes, the same motives for continuing were recorded but in a different order, with the desire for fame being superior to the need for skill and knowledge acquisition. Conclusion. The analysis of motivation reveals distinct needs, both in content and priority, among athletes from different martial arts disciplines. Nonetheless, all identified motives indicate a fundamental, discipline-independent need for self-actualization and enhanced well-being.