The psychological impact of training deprivation in martial artists

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the psychological impact of a one-week deprivation period from training in martial artists, training at brown and black belt levels in Shotokan karate, and to observe whether the effects are different for men and women.Method: Twenty martial artists were tested in two counterbalanced study-waves one consisting of pre-, during- and post-deprivation periods and the other of a baseline period. Each wave lasted for two weeks. The participants completed the “Well-Being Questionnaire” (WBQ) (J. Sport Exercise Psychol. 14 (1992) 361) and the Profile of Mood States Inventory (Int. J. Sport Psychol. 23 (1992) 93) every evening before their bedtime. All participants took part in both waves of the study and they refrained from all physical activity during the deprivation period.Results: Considerable increases were seen in anger, depression, negative affect, tension, and total mood disturbance. The latter increased by 249% during the deprivation period. More modest, but significant, decreases were observed in positive affect and vigour. No differences were found between the responses of men and women.Conclusion: Advanced martial artists in Shotokan karate report severe mood disturbance during a one-week period of abstinence from training, which is independent of the sex of the individual.