EXPERIENCES AND COGNITIVE-MOTOR ADAPTIVE PROCESSES OF COMBAT SPORT ATHLETES DURING COSAQ TRAINING: PERSPECTIVES OF ATHLETES AND COACHES : AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of combat sport athletes toward CoSAQ (Coordination, Speed, Agility, Quickness) training, the subjective cognitive-motor adaptation processes, and the role of coaches in creating effective learning environments. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), fifteen combat sport athletes (taekwondo, karate, and boxing) and five coaches were purposively recruited as key informants. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation, and field notes over an eight-week training period. Prior to the CoSAQ program, most athletes were accustomed to traditional SAQ training that primarily emphasized physical speed and agility, with no prior experience in training that required simultaneous cognitive and motor processing. Consequently, during the first week of training, athletes reported feelings of confusion, high cognitive load, and self-doubt regarding their own capabilities. Analysis revealed four superordinate themes: (1) directed confusion in early training, (2) the mind-body integration process, (3) transformation in self-perception, and (4) the coach as a creator of psychological safety. Participant observation data collected at weeks one, four, and eight were consistent with athletes' self-reports, showing progressive improvements in movement fluency, signal responsiveness, and coach-athlete interaction across time periods. Findings indicated that most athletes reported a perceptible turning point between weeks four and six, reflecting a transition from conscious control toward automatized movement. Following this turning point, athletes reported being able to respond to signals without deliberate thought, experiencing increased training confidence, and perceiving themselves as athletes with enhanced capacity to "read and respond" to complex situations. An unexpected novel finding was a shift in athlete identity beyond physical dimensions. Specifically, athletes began redefining themselves as "smarter" athletes and reconceptualized "good training" to encompass both physical and cognitive dimensions simultaneously — a transformation that quantitative measures alone cannot capture. This study contributes a subjective perspective that complements existing quantitative evidence on CoSAQ training and carries meaningful implications for athlete-centered program design and coach development.