It is an emerging field of academic and applied research dedicated to investigating and sharing knowledge on the societal potential of sports as both a context and an accessible tool for personal and social development across diverse populations, including people in vulnerable situations. CEMAS draws on empirical studies and real-world examples from organisations using martial arts to promote social inclusion in high-risk communities to systematic school‑based martial arts programmes. CEMAS seeks to document and evaluate how structured martial arts practice can, among others, contribute to soft/employability skill development and civic engagement. A defining feature is its collaborative, practitioner–scholar approach as most research is co‑designed and co‑implemented with community coaches, sport organisations, and/or educational institutions using living‑lab methodologies that bridge academic rigor with practical innovation.
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