Symposium

09:30-10:00 Doors open and registration 

10:00-10:30 Welcome (VUB - UNICA - Foro Italico) 

10:30-11:00 Keynote Lecture

Developing and promoting good health through martial arts: Cutting with a double-edged sword 
Alex Channon (University of Brighton, UK – Chair holder Willy Calewaert Chair 2026) 

This lecture will critically appraise the notion that martial arts are health-enhancing activities. Exploring the positive outcomes that can be associated with martial arts, it will advocate martial arts as vehicles for positive mental, physical, and social health outcomes, providing some theoretical explanations for martial arts’ potentially unique benefits in these regards. The lecture will also point towards some important limitations and drawbacks to this, discussing issues of accessibility and inclusion, physical health risks, and pseudoscientific discourses evident within some martial arts and combat sports communities. The lecture will draw on the chair holder’s recent empirical research comparing mental health outcomes of martial arts with functional fitness training for military veterans. 

11:00-11:30 Coffee break 

11:30-13:00 Session 1 - Community well-being and inclusion in martial arts 

Martial arts for personal and community development 
Marc Theeboom & Hebe Schaillée (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

Panel discussion  

• Tina Bellemans (Hogeschool Windesheim, Netherlands) 

• Nicole Maussier (Foro Italico University, Rome, Italy) 

• Zoë Parys (Team Antwerp Piranhas) 

Moderator: Hebe Schaillée (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

13:00-14:00 Lunch (+ optional visit to Centre for Martial Arts and Science - CEMAS) 

14:00-15:30 Session 2 - Health challenges in martial arts competitions 

Interdisciplinary perspectives on martial arts research
Paul Wylleman & Bart Roelands (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

Panel discussion  

• Olav Spahl/Bob Maesen (Belgian Olympic & Interfederal Committee) (tbc) 

• Luk Buyse (Brussels Human Performance Lab) 

• Tijl Lindekens (Flemish Judo Federation; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

Moderator: Paul Wylleman (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

15:30-16:00 Coffee break 

16:00-17:30 Session 3 - Developing a health policy in martial arts 

Evolution of state regulations related to martial arts 
Raúl Sánchez García (Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain) (tbc) 

Panel discussion  

• Emanuele Isidori (Foro Italico University, Rome, Italy) 

• Fran Vanderstukken (Martial Arts Platform Flanders, Belgium) 

• Anastasiya Khomutova (University of Brighton, UK) 

• Herbert Dekkers (Dutch Martial Arts Authority) (tbd) 

Moderator: Marc Theeboom (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) 

17:30-18:30 Closing plenary lecture  

Martial arts studies and the evolving discourse of “martiality” 
Alex Channon (University of Brighton, UK) 

The lecture will offer a concise outline of the concept of “martiality”, defined here as the special qualities and properties of martial arts that (among other things) might mark them out as worthy of dedicated study. It will then take an interactive and participatory approach, inviting the audience to engage critically in assessing the purpose and orientation of the field. It will invite discussion over what kinds of questions martial arts studies should address, and what kinds of audiences and collaborators its researchers should aim to work with, to best develop this emerging academic field. 

18:30 Reception