To: Rebecca Agosta

From: Carolina Lindner

Date: 10/27/14
Subject of Inquiry: Is there a certain Characteristic that is more prone to practicing Martial
arts? Does becoming a member in a Martial arts discourse community change a persons
personality and outlook?

Initial Inquiry Idea:

For my inquiry project I would like to find out if there is a certain type of personality that is more
prone to getting involved in Martial arts and being interested in learning self-defense. I am
curious as to what motives people have to become involved in this particular discourse
community. Is it for self-enhancement, security, discipline, etc.? I believe that peoples motives
can say a lot about who a person is. Additionally, I want to find out if practicing Martial arts has
changed the members in any particular way. Have they become more confident? More
aggressive? This topic is personal to me because I have been an active participant of multiple
forms of Martial arts. I have come in contact with many people at different skill levels and
observed common traits in various individuals. In my experience, the skill level and dedication
put into the sport came in correlation with certain personality traits, such as discipline.
Additionally, I have my own personal experience of how fighting has influenced me and my life
style. I am very interested in this topic because it is personal to me and I want to compare my
personal experience with the experience that others have made with this sport.

Method:
First I will become involved with the Kickboxing group at UNCC that gets together on a regular
basis. I will connect and speak to members of the community and look for common traits. I
might attempt to find a competitive Martial arts team outside of campus to find a higher skill
level of Martial artists. I will make observations during practice and hold interviews with
members of the discourse community to find out their motives, personal experience and
character traits. In order to complete this investigation I will need support from the kickboxing
instructor at UNCC. Additionally, I might seek information on the internet and other sources to
find a more competitive team.

Questions:
1) How does being a member of this particular discourse community affect an individuals
character over time?
2) What are the motives for people to join this community; how does this reflect their character?
3) How is my personal experience similar to that of others? Are the changes I have experienced
in my character based on nature or nurture?

4) What mechanism of intercommunication is apparent within the community? What does their
lexis and word choice say about their character?
5) Is there a correlation between skill level, literacy in the sport and power structure in the
community?
6) Is there a correlation between skill levels, literacy and character?