Institutional Development of Martial Arts and Combat Sports in Poland

Background: The development of martial arts is accompanied by their institutionalization. The theoretical perspective of GTFA - the General Theory of Fighting Arts and the sociology of physical culture, and the resulting conceptual language were adopted. Problem: An indicator of the institutionalization - the WI (wskaźnik instytucjonalizacji) was proposed to determine the advancement of the institutional development process in fighting arts organizations. It depends on the duration of operation of a given organization. Method: Two qualitative research methods were used - the method of long-term participant observation and broad discourse analysis. Results: The duration of operation affects the position and institutional maturity of a given organization; allows for a longer impact on the social environment. Long-term operation contributes to the stability and recognition of a given organization in the community. A minimum period of 30 years of constant activity seems to be an appropriate criterion for achieving a certain institutional maturity (institutionalization index WI 1). Conclusions: Combat sports organizations of European origin and those that patronize Olympic disciplines (judo) have been operating in Poland for the longest time. Other combat sports organizations in their institutionalization imitate the patterns and institutions adopted in these older organizations.