Martial arts and physical education in higher education : fostering discipline, motivation, and student success

Abstract

This study investigates combat sports and physical education (PE) as powerful tools to boost student engagement, address academic underperformance, and alleviate mental health issues in higher education. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT) and embodied learning (EL), the research explores how physically intensive activities such as judo and boxing can holistically foster motivation, discipline, and persistence. SDT provides the framework for how physical activity satisfies the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are essential for sustained engagement. EL frames the body as central to cognition and identity, recognising that structured movement is a site of knowledge construction. Combat sports, often misrepresented, are shown to instil crucial non-cognitive values paralleling academic success: discipline, resilience, goal-setting, and emotional regulation. Routine physical training reflects the persistence needed for academic achievement. Purposeful PE further supports cognitive development, improving concentration and self-regulated learning. Informal combat sport sessions have particularly aided first-year students with academic adjustment, stress coping, and time management. The findings advocate for integrating these structured physical activities into higher education curricula and student support strategies. Doing so promotes physical health while significantly enhancing students' academic attitudes and outcomes. This study calls for adaptive programming to ensure accessibility and gender inclusivity, ultimately repositioning combat sports and PE as transformative, EL practices crucial for holistic student development in global, and especially South African, higher education.