Boomgaard, Pepijn  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0678-7586 and Kawashima, Kohei ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2196-0556
2026.
A lifelong journey: Cross-cultural perspectives on motivation among Japanese and Dutch kendo practitioners.
Martial Arts Studies
21
, pp. 108-119.
10.18573/mas.372
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Abstract
In recent years, the Japanese kendo population has been shrinking, while popularity abroad has grown. These trends highlight the need for a deeper understanding of what drives practitioners to engage in kendo. This study explored how Japanese and Dutch practitioners interpret and experience motivation throughout their kendo careers. 21 in-depth interviews with practitioners from both countries were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three overarching themes were constructed: (1) The first step, which discusses how and why participants started kendo, (2) Becoming stronger, which examines competition and mastery as major motivators, and (3) Identity as a kendoka, which highlights how kendo has become a fundamental part of participants’ social and personal identity. Findings indicate that despite different starting points, motivational orientations across both participant groups appear to converge towards motives aligned with the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, consistent with self-determination theory.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure |
| Publisher: | Cardiff University Press |
| ISSN: | 2057-5696 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 1 September 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 30 June 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2026 14:27 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189324 |
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