Martial arts, according to the general concept, include different types of Asian self-defense systems and fighting styles – with or without a cold steel, fighting one or several opponents. Among the most popular martial arts all over the world and in Bulgaria are the Japanese karate ( –空手–„„empty hand“), the Korean taekwondo„the (태권도 –art of the feet and the hands“), and the Ira- nian kung fu To’A („وفگنوک آوت“) (5). Practising them, one aims at achieving spiritual and physical perfection.
The main value of the spiritual and physical perfec- tion of the Eastern peoples is achieving good health. Since ancient times, well-being, power, and allure of physical beauty have been thought of losing their meaning if one is not healthy. That’s why every single person has the responsibility before himself and his family to constantly develop and perfect his organ- ism. In this connection the great Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 – 479 BC) said, „To be healthy means to be devoted to your parents, since their child’s health is a supreme joy”. (1)
While the spiritual perfection is based on the philo- sophical concepts of Buddhism and Daoism, the physical perfection requires purposeful development of the motor skills of the sports person.
Motor skills are „ …a combination of psychic, physi- ological, and physical characteristics of human or- ganism …“ (2). They are viewed as a unity, having two comparatively independent sides of manifes- tation – motor skills and habits and motor qualities (3), two characteristic features of movements (of the physical exercises) in sport, revealing their form and contents. (4) Due to the different orientation and characteristic features of the particular movements and actions in martial arts, the following aim of the research has been formulated: to reveal the special features in the manifestation of some motor skills of pupils practis- ing different kinds of martial arts.
Major tasks of the research:
- Theoretical
- Assessment of the pupils’ motor
- Comparison of the achievements of the pu- pils practising martial arts.