The growing recognition of combat sports as a means to promote physical, mental, and social well-being presents an opportunity for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners to explore its multifaceted impact on health and inclusion. Traditionally linked with high-intensity performance and competition, combat sports like judo, karate, taekwondo, boxing, and mixed martial arts have evolved into platforms fostering personal development, resilience, and social integration, especially among diverse populations, including those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.This Research Topic aims to examine how combat sports promote well-being and enhance inclusion for athletes and practitioners, both with and without disabilities. The complex nature of combat sports—integrating physical and mental demands—offers a unique perspective on health, mental resilience, and social cohesion. Training in combat sports promotes fitness, motor coordination, and discipline while requiring mental engagement, cognitive flexibility, and emotional control. These factors make combat sports especially relevant for understanding their broader implications on mental health, stress management, and overall quality of life.Moreover, the inclusive nature of many combat sports programs allows participation from people with disabilities, fostering a sense of belonging, community, and empowerment beyond traditional sports participation boundaries.This Collection invites original research, reviews, and theoretical perspectives on the intersection of combat sports with health, well-being, and inclusion. Topics may include but are not limited to:• Psychological benefits of combat sports, such as reduced anxiety, stress, and depression, or enhancements in self-esteem, resilience, and emotional regulation.• Physical health outcomes of combat sports, particularly for those facing barriers to traditional physical activity, like people with disabilities or chronic health conditions.• Combat sports as tools for social inclusion and community building, with a focus on marginalized groups, including individuals with disabilities, ethnic minorities, or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.• Adaptive combat sports programs for individuals with disabilities, examining their impact on well-being and social integration.• Risks and challenges of combat sports participation, including injury prevention, long-term health implications, and the mental toll of competition.• Interdisciplinary approaches to integrating combat sports into therapeutic, educational, and rehabilitation settings for well-being and inclusion.We encourage contributions from various fields, including sports science, psychology, rehabilitation, education, and sociology. Manuscripts should offer empirical findings, innovative practices, or theoretical advancements that deepen the understanding of how combat sports can enhance well-being and inclusion.This research topic invites submissions from authors worldwide, emphasizing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives. Our aim is to generate a comprehensive dialogue that enriches academic understandings of combat sports and informs practical applications for promoting health, mental well-being, and social inclusion. By advancing knowledge in these areas, this special issue seeks to provide insights that benefit a wide range of athletes, practitioners, and their communities.
The growing recognition of combat sports as a means to promote physical, mental, and social well-being presents an opportunity for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners to explore its multifaceted impact on health and inclusion. Traditionally linked with high-intensity performance and competition, combat sports like judo, karate, taekwondo, boxing, and mixed martial arts have evolved into platforms fostering personal development, resilience, and social integration, especially among diverse populations, including those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.This Research Topic aims to examine how combat sports promote well-being and enhance inclusion for athletes and practitioners, both with and without disabilities. The complex nature of combat sports—integrating physical and mental demands—offers a unique perspective on health, mental resilience, and social cohesion. Training in combat sports promotes fitness, motor coordination, and discipline while requiring mental engagement, cognitive flexibility, and emotional control. These factors make combat sports especially relevant for understanding their broader implications on mental health, stress management, and overall quality of life.Moreover, the inclusive nature of many combat sports programs allows participation from people with disabilities, fostering a sense of belonging, community, and empowerment beyond traditional sports participation boundaries.This Collection invites original research, reviews, and theoretical perspectives on the intersection of combat sports with health, well-being, and inclusion. Topics may include but are not limited to:• Psychological benefits of combat sports, such as reduced anxiety, stress, and depression, or enhancements in self-esteem, resilience, and emotional regulation.• Physical health outcomes of combat sports, particularly for those facing barriers to traditional physical activity, like people with disabilities or chronic health conditions.• Combat sports as tools for social inclusion and community building, with a focus on marginalized groups, including individuals with disabilities, ethnic minorities, or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.• Adaptive combat sports programs for individuals with disabilities, examining their impact on well-being and social integration.• Risks and challenges of combat sports participation, including injury prevention, long-term health implications, and the mental toll of competition.• Interdisciplinary approaches to integrating combat sports into therapeutic, educational, and rehabilitation settings for well-being and inclusion.We encourage contributions from various fields, including sports science, psychology, rehabilitation, education, and sociology. Manuscripts should offer empirical findings, innovative practices, or theoretical advancements that deepen the understanding of how combat sports can enhance well-being and inclusion.This research topic invites submissions from authors worldwide, emphasizing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives. Our aim is to generate a comprehensive dialogue that enriches academic understandings of combat sports and informs practical applications for promoting health, mental well-being, and social inclusion. By advancing knowledge in these areas, this special issue seeks to provide insights that benefit a wide range of athletes, practitioners, and their communities.