Universal Taekwondo Federation

'Sports Psychology' by Karim Sedour

DRUGS AND THE MARTIAL ARTS

This essay will focus on what drugs are, how the media assists their survival and how the study of martial arts is able to combat them. DRUGS. The drugs referred to in this essay are not the ones administered by your doctor for a throat infection, they are the ones that have been branded as illegal by the government or governing bodies of sports. These drugs are either banned because they have dangerous side effects or they give people an unfair advantage in sport. These drugs are used by a variety of people ranging from kids in schools to the elite athletes representing their countries. These drugs can be grouped according to their effects. Stimulants are used to increase alertness and reduce fatigue, as well as increase competitiveness and hostility. Narcotics/Analgesics are used to reduce severe pain. Anabolic steroids are used to increase muscle strength and bulk as well as promote aggressiveness. People who know they are cheating with drugs and are attempting to conceal that fact use diuretics because it reduces concentration of substances by diluting the urine. All the money which is invested in the fight against drugs (there is a whole narcotics division within the police force) only goes to show that the drug problem in this country is one of enormous magnitude and we as a society must ask why illegal drugs use in this country has grown to such an extent.

MEDIA

Part of the problem lies with the way drug use is portrayed by the media, one of the most powerful mediums of communication in existence. It has been proven through many psychological tests by Bandura (1961) that people are influenced and do copy what they see on TV. E.g. whenever we see a drug dealer on television they are almost always powerful, attractive people who appear to be living life to the full. This sophisticated person will no doubt appeal to any growing teenager who is in need of a role model. Another way the media desensitises the dangers of drugs is by referring to them in a harmless way e.g. "recreational drugs" as a term for the softer drugs, it makes it sound like drugs are fun with the word recreational involved. Terms like "substance abuse" and "the misuse of drugs" make it sound like it's the drugs we should feel sorry for not the families whose lives are shattered when one of their members dies due to the effect of drugs. All these "nice" ways of portraying the use of drugs hides the fact that many people die horribly of drugs overdoses, it hides the fact that people become addicted and turn to a dangerous world of crime in order to satisfy their cravings and it hides the fact that there are ruthless people out there who make a living from the sale of drugs. It is a fundamental lack of good morals and positive role models in this society that leaves each new generations vulnerable to the corruptions of less than honourable people.

MARTIAL ARTS

Where society leaves a need for some moral fibre martial arts steps in with some moral "All Bran" so to speak. A martial art is a lifetime insurance policy against the dangers of drugs. It protects its students in five different ways...

* Positive Role Models

Students identify with the masters, instructors and senior students whom they train with, they become positive role models in a healthy, hard working and highly disciplined environment.

* Positive Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is obviously one of the leading factors in why a lot of kids begin to experiment with drugs. In the martial arts environment the student is constantly exposed to positive peer pressure stressing the good things in life e.g. positive life achievements, proper conduct and traditional moral values.

* Motivation and Positive Reinforcement

Good martial arts instructors constantly address and stimulate the unlimited human potential within each student. They motivate by providing challenges and rewarding achievement. They correct and give guidance while rewarding sincere effort.

* Self-esteem and Confidence

Results are the building blocks of confidence and martial arts provides goals suited to the ability and training of the student that allows the regular achievement of goals. This confidence provides the martial arts student with self worth and self esteem so that they do not need drugs to feel good about themselves.

* Vigorous Physical Training

Hard exercise and scientific training condition the body and produce a natural high leaving no need for the use of illegal substances. The feeling of health, strength and respect for ones body precludes the use of drugs. In conclusion, it would be fair to say that the study of martial arts is a class above almost every other physical activity. In fact it is difficult to compare as it's a lot more than just a sport, some practitioners view it as a way of life, the need for drugs in any form is completely obsolete in the life of a practicing martial artist.

REFERENCES

Bandura, A., Ross, D. & Ross S, A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Introducing Psychological Research. (pp246-252). London, England. Macmillan press LTD.

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