Start Date
17-6-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
17-6-2025 10:30 AM
Abstract
Exploring Grappling Sports Participation among Visually Impaired Athletes: A Qualitative Study
Jaepyo Sim1 & T N Kirk1
1University of Georgia
Introduction
Visually impaired people face barriers to participation in mainstream sports, such as reliance on visual tracking. Grappling sports (e.g., Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo, wrestling), which involve consistent physical contact with an opponent, offer a more accessible alternative. This study aimed to explore the expectancy-value beliefs and lived experiences of visually impaired adults participating in grappling sports.
Methodology
This qualitative descriptive study utilized semi-structured interviews with nine visually impaired athletes actively engaged in grappling sports. Grounded in expectancy-value theory, interview data were analyzed inductively and deductively using a six-step thematic analysis process.
Results
Five themes were produced: (1) "It was just fun, you can feel it" – participants highlighted joy and fulfilment of grappling. (2) "It applies to almost everything" – grappling provided physical, psychological, and social benefits. (3) "If I’m not on the mat, my life is probably chaos" – grappling sports played a central role in shaping participants’ identity and purpose. 4) "You’ve gotta fight for every single inch." – participants faced external (e.g., time, transportation) and in-gym barriers (e.g., environment, instruction). (5) "But once you get past it, I’m just another person that’s there." – participants perceived in-gym barriers as manageable.
Conclusions
Participant accounts indicated that athletes valued grappling sports because they were personally interesting, useful for physical and psychological well-being, and achieving success in grappling sports supported participants’ sense of identity as athletic persons. However, participants balanced these values with the financial, time, and mental cost. Further research is needed to foster physical activity participation and well-being among this population.
Recommended Citation
Sim, Jaepyo and Kirk, T N, "Exploring Grappling Sports Participation among Visually Impaired Athletes: A Qualitative Study" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 9.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day2/9
Exploring Grappling Sports Participation among Visually Impaired Athletes: A Qualitative Study
Exploring Grappling Sports Participation among Visually Impaired Athletes: A Qualitative Study
Jaepyo Sim1 & T N Kirk1
1University of Georgia
Introduction
Visually impaired people face barriers to participation in mainstream sports, such as reliance on visual tracking. Grappling sports (e.g., Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo, wrestling), which involve consistent physical contact with an opponent, offer a more accessible alternative. This study aimed to explore the expectancy-value beliefs and lived experiences of visually impaired adults participating in grappling sports.
Methodology
This qualitative descriptive study utilized semi-structured interviews with nine visually impaired athletes actively engaged in grappling sports. Grounded in expectancy-value theory, interview data were analyzed inductively and deductively using a six-step thematic analysis process.
Results
Five themes were produced: (1) "It was just fun, you can feel it" – participants highlighted joy and fulfilment of grappling. (2) "It applies to almost everything" – grappling provided physical, psychological, and social benefits. (3) "If I’m not on the mat, my life is probably chaos" – grappling sports played a central role in shaping participants’ identity and purpose. 4) "You’ve gotta fight for every single inch." – participants faced external (e.g., time, transportation) and in-gym barriers (e.g., environment, instruction). (5) "But once you get past it, I’m just another person that’s there." – participants perceived in-gym barriers as manageable.
Conclusions
Participant accounts indicated that athletes valued grappling sports because they were personally interesting, useful for physical and psychological well-being, and achieving success in grappling sports supported participants’ sense of identity as athletic persons. However, participants balanced these values with the financial, time, and mental cost. Further research is needed to foster physical activity participation and well-being among this population.