Speaker
Description
Objectives
The main goal of the project was describing sport careers of Polish professional Mixed Martial Arts athletes and analyze the culture of risk they act within.
Methods
88 MMA athletes were surveyed. In-depth interviews were carried out with 15 athletes from the surveyed group. Mean age of respondents was 27,5 years. Over half of athletes completed graduate studies. All investigated athletes had competed in at least 3 professional fights (with maximum of 40 fights). Most of the investigated athletes had been practicing combat sports prior to their MMA involvements. 80% of survey respondents declared successful careers in sport disciplines practices before MMA.
Findings
Investigated athletes commonly reported high level of organizational, financial and health risk related to their professional MMA careers. It meant precariat style work with low salaries, unstable work contracts and social security. This culture of risk was accepted by the athletes, socialized to the roles of masculine “warriors”. The athlete reported health problems related mainly to overuse injuries and frequent experience of pain. Low quality of health care and team doctoring practices were reported. Investigated athletes they had to manage and cover costs of their medical treatment, rehabilitation and sport-specific diet by themselves.
Discussion and conclusion
Media drive commercial character of MMA and low state control over professional MMA in Poland distinguish this discipline from other more traditional disciplines and increase risks to the athletes. MMA popularity makes athletes prone to accept high level of multidimensional risk of practicing this sport discipline.