WORLD EDUCATION CONNECT MULTIDISCIPLINARY E-PUBLICATION
Vol. V Issue IX (September 2025)
International Circulation
This is an open-access, peer-reviewed, and refereed international publication in online & printed versions that features research papers, abstracts, theses, dissertations, and journals. It is registered to the ISSN National Center of the Philippines, and ISSN International Center, the Global Index for Continuing Resources with ISSN (Online) 2799-0842 and ISSN (Print) 2799-130X.
World Education Connect Multidisciplinary e-Publication, Vol. V, Issue IX (September 2025), pp.239-246
Pan Jiang
PHDPE Student, EAC, Manila
Abstract
To clarify the positioning and role of martial arts courses in college physical education and their correlation with students' physical fitness, this study adopted a descriptive, comparative, and correlational research design. A total of 377 college students from Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics in China were selected as research subjects using stratified random sampling. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data on students' self-assessment of physical fitness test results (covering cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and their assessment of the positioning and role of martial arts courses (including contribution to physical fitness and health, development of mental discipline and focus, cultural and historical awareness, skill development and self-defense, and impact on social and community building). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0. The results showed that students' self-assessment of physical fitness was generally at a low to moderate level (overall mean = 2.24), with cardiovascular endurance scoring the lowest (mean = 1.79) and flexibility and body composition scoring relatively higher (both mean = 2.49). Students perceived martial arts courses as relevant to their development (overall mean = 2.51), with cultural and historical awareness rated the highest (mean = 2.52) and skill development and self-defense rated relatively lower (mean = 2.39). Age had a significant impact on students' self-assessment of body composition and overall physical fitness (p < 0.05), while gender only showed a significant difference in the perception of martial arts courses' contribution to physical fitness and health (p = 0.016). No significant differences were found in other demographic variables. Importantly, there was no significant correlation between students' self-assessed physical fitness and their evaluation of martial arts courses (all p > 0.05). This study concludes that martial arts courses have multidimensional value in college physical education but need targeted optimization. A martial arts-based fitness program is proposed to enhance their practical effectiveness.
Keywords: Martial Arts; College Physical Education; Physical Fitness; Course Positioning; Curriculum Design
