Abstract

Martial arts are a common practice by physiological and psychobiological virtues they possess. The Haidong Gumdo is a Korean martial art that specializes in the use of swords and technique is based on combat techniques. Studies of personality in martial arts are limited to the psychobiological model of Cloninger which includes the temperament which is heritable, independent, genetically homogeneous and stable over time and the character indicating individual differences affected by social, learning and processes maturation. Differences in personality dimensions Haidong Gumdo Mexican practitioners and sedentary people are described. Thirty martial artists and 28 controls were evaluated with inventory Cloninger temperament and character. There were significant differences between the group of Haidong Gumdo and controls in all sub-dimensions of personality. In conclusion Haidong Gumdo practitioner has a characteristic profile linked to technical philosophy-learned, rests on the psychobiological model of Cloningers personality which is based on genetic and neuroanatomical evidence where temperament is stable and constant while the character changed by the experiences and is influenced by environmental and genetic factors.