Finding ways to support the transition to accessible martial arts services across Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation dojos

Abstract

Karate is a relatively popular activity that improves self-esteem, self-discipline, and cognitive functioning. It serves as an outlet for aggression and improves social skills and emotional regulation. Additionally, it provides significant health benefits and fosters community, spiritual growth and acceptance of others. Studies indicate a gap in accessible, adaptive physical activity programs across Canada. Since there are already thousands of karate clubs operating in Canada, a conclusion can be made that finding ways to support accessible karate services is a feasible and sustainable approach to reducing gaps in services. The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) is a not-for profit, national karate organization that has over seventy registered karate clubs operating in Canada. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, thirteen SWKKF karate club business owners and / or instructors were interviewed to better understand the barriers and facilitators to providing accessible karate services in their own communities. The inductive analysis generated three overarching themes that are: Keeping the legacy alive: What would Shintani do? The Floor: Spaces that foster relationships and belonging; and Unresolvable tensions: Maintaining Shintani values. The deductive analyses were generated using Disability Studies (DS) literature-driven typologies and a Human Systems Theory (HST) lens. The DS typologies confirmed by the deductive analysis were Able-ism, Enlightened ableism, Dis-ableism, and Mundane dis-ableism. The HST generated themes include regional disparities, barriers and facilitators from different points of view, and barriers and facilitators across different levels. The discussion integrates the findings from the inductive and deductive analyses with cultural change management concepts and concludes that the SWKKF can offer strategies that have the potential to empower instructors to support and facilitate organization wide instructor training that includes knowledge and application in the following areas regarding accessibility: policy, adapting instruction and karate, adapting services, targeting and promotion of services, accessing resources and building alliances with community members and organizations.