Artur Litwiniuk1, Juris Grants2, Behnam Boobani2, Jan Supinski3, Zbigniew Obminski4

1 Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Biala Podlaska, Poland
2 Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
3 University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
4 Institute of Sport-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

Author for correspondence: Send to: Artur Litwiniuk; Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Biala Podlaska, Poland;

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Psychologists are focusing their research on the personality of combat sports athletes. Particular attention is focused on traits that describe unaccepxable, antisocial behavior, including a tendency toward aggression. Beyond aggression, there are many other personality traits, and the use of multiple questionnaires reveals a more comprehensive psychological profile. The aim of study was knowledge about the differences in personality profiles of athletes practicing two different combat sports with very similar task structures, using two questionnaires.

Material and Methods: Thirty-six judo athletes and 36 Brazilian ju-jitsu (BJJ) athletes were examined using the Eysenck EPQ-R (EPQ-R), which assesses levels of neuroticism, extroversion, psychoticism, and a control scale commonly known as the lie scale. The Zuckerman-Kuhlman ZKKO (ZKKO) questionnaire, which assesses levels of impulsivity, neuroticism, and aggressiveness, was also used. Athletes from both groups did not differ significantly in age, experience, athletic achievement, and demonstrated similar technical skill levels. The Mann-Whitne-U test was used to compare intergroup differences in the seven aforementioned traits. Relationships between traits for each group separately and for both groups combined were expressed using Spearman correlation coefficients (R). Statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA software package vs. 13.3.

Result: The BJJ group demonstrated significantly higher levels of neuroticism, psychoticism, aggressiveness, and control scale scores. In each group, significant positive correlations were observed between neuroticism measured by the EPQ-R and the ZKKO, but a stronger correlation was observed in the BJJ group, R = 0.837, than in the judo group, R = 0.453. In turn, a stronger correlation between extraversion and impulsivity was observed in the judo group, R = 0.877, than in the BJJ group, R = 0.493. Only in the judo group was a significant correlation observed between aggressiveness and psychoticism, R = 0.753. In both groups, very large inter-individual differences were found for each trait.\

Conclusions: It has been observed that the use of two questionnaires containing different scales increases the diagnostic value of the personality profile descripxion, as each test, apart from neuroticism, contains different subscales and allows for the expansion of the personality profile. It was found that BJJ competitors demonstrated significantly higher scores for those personality traits which are considered undesirable in the assessment of mental health and social norms. The intergroup differences revealed may result from higher ethical standards in the Olympic sport of judo, which is also sanctioned by the principles of Far Eastern martial arts. In individual cases, when very high levels of aggressiveness, impulsivity, and neuroticism are observed, there is a risk of antisocial behavior and psychophysical health problems. It seems advisable to introduce appropriate pedagogical and psychotherapeutic content into combat sports training to reduce the negative impact of personality traits on mental and physical health.

Key words: grappling sports, mental health, prediction of physical health, combat sports

AMA
Litwiniuk A, Grants J, Boobani B, Supinski J, Obminski Z. Personality traits in male judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with the use of different questionnaires. Arch Budo J Innov Agon. 2025;21.
APA
Litwiniuk, A., Grants, J., Boobani, B., Supiński, J., & Obmiński, Z. (2025). Personality traits in male judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with the use of different questionnaires. Arch Budo Journal of Innovation Agonology, 21.
Chicago
Litwiniuk, Artur, Juris Grants, Behnam Boobani, Jan Supiński, and Zbigniew Obmiński. 2025. “Personality Traits in Male Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes with the Use of Different Questionnaires.” Arch Budo Journal of Innovation Agonology 21.
Harvard
Litwiniuk, A., Grants, J., Boobani, B., Supiński, J. & Obmiński, Z. (2025). Personality traits in male judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with the use of different questionnaires. Arch Budo Journal of Innovation Agonology, 21.
MLA
Litwiniuk, Artur, et al. “Personality Traits in Male Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes with the Use of Different Questionnaires.” Arch Budo Journal of Innovation Agonology, vol. 21, 2025.
Vancouver
Litwiniuk A, Grants J, Boobani B, Supiński J, Obmiński Z. Personality traits in male judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with the use of different questionnaires. Arch Budo J Innov Agon. 2025;21.