Abstract:
The study focused on communication strategies employed among selected martial art training centers in encouraging youth involvement into combat sports in La Trinidad, Benguet. The study was conducted to determine the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, the communication strategies employed by martial art training centers in encouraging youth involvement into combat sports, the information sources of the respondents on combat sports, the effects of combat sports involvement to the respondents in terms of attitude and practice, the challenges encountered in the implementation of the communication strategies and the suggestions and recommendations of the respondents in promoting combat sports.
The study was conducted in February to April 2016. The respondents of the study were the selected youth trainees and the head coaches of the four martial art training centers. The data were gathered through an interview schedules. Further, the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentage.
Majority of the respondents belong to 15 to 20 age bracket; are male, single, amateur fighters and were still studying.
Social media print media, broadcast media, non-formal education, event, and some collateral items are the communication strategies employed by the selected martial art training centers in encouraging youth involvement into combat sports. Moreover, sources of information on combat sports of the respondents were interpersonal communication, broadcast media, social media and print media.
Combat sports involvement has a lot of positive effects to the attitude and practice of the respondents such as self-confidence, respect to others, self-discipline, self-restraint, patience, improved communication skills, responsible in decision making, less involvement in street fight, and minimized drinking of liquor.
Lack of money and time management were the major challenges encountered by the martial art training centers in implementing the communication strategies. Moreover, support from media, support from Department of Education (DepED), partnership in business sectors, income generating project (IGP), and full support from the parents were suggested and recommended by the respondents in promoting combat sports.
The study recommends that training centers may consider communication strategies that may encourage youth women to engage in combat sports. Moreover, martial art training centers should continue to enhance and strengthen their communication strategies used in promoting combat sports. Also, martial art training centers are encouraged to partner with government and non-government organizations as they may provide different supports for the promotion and development of combat sports.
