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BECOME A COMBAT SPORTS LAB MEMBER

Are you interested in the psychology of combat sports? Would you like to gain or advance your research experience? Apply below to become a volunteer Combat Sports Lab researcher.

No experience needed! Exceptional work ethic required!

Apply Here!

Academic Status
Do you have a valid CITI Training certificate?

LAB RESEARCH

​PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES

  1. Lorenço-Lima, L., Waterbury, E. M., & Gaines, S. A. (2025). Aggression, Self-Control, Life Satisfaction, and Resilience as Predictors of Mental Health in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes. In review.

  2. Lorenço-Lima, L., Coimbra, D.R., & Andreato, L.V. (2025). Mental Strength, Resilience, and Grit in Combat Sports: Comparing Practitioners, Non-Practitioners, and Competitors. In review.

  3. Lorenço-Lima, L., Waterbury, E. M., & Gaines, S. A. (2025). Mental Strength Scale (MSS-9): Factor structure and reliability. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 20(4), 1413-1426. https://doi.org/10.55860/4zqnaq61

  4. Lorenco-Lima, L., Gaines, S. A., & Waterbury, E. M. (2025). Rank-Based Psychological Characteristics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes: Mental Strength, Resilience, Grit, Self-Efficacy, Self-Control, Aggression, Life Satisfaction, and Mental Health. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(2), 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020100

  5. Lorenco-Lima, L., Rosario, D., & Gaines, S. (2025). Comparative analyses of psychological and training characteristics in judo competitors and non-competitors: Mental strength, self-efficacy, grit, resilience, self-control, aggression, mental health, and life satisfaction. Journal of Physical Education & Sport, 25(7). http://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2025.07147

  6. Lorenço-Lima, L. (2024). Mental strength assessment in combat sports practitioners and non-practitioners. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 19(2), 473-482. https://doi.org/10.55860/gr2sf103

  7. Lorenço-Lima, L. (2024). The effect of combat sports experience, competition engagement, sex, and age on grit. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 2024, 19(1): 130-138. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2024.191.11

  8. Lorenco-Lima, L. (2023). Developing a martial arts program to meet the expectations of contemporary parents. International Journal of Martial Arts, 8, 96-112. https://doi.org/10.51222/injoma.2023.03.8.96

  9. Lorenço-Lima, L. ., Souza-Junior, T. P., Okuyama, A. R., Mcanulty, S. R., Utter, A. C., Monteiro, T. S., ... & Hirabara, S. (2020). Characterization of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training effects on the physical fitness of men and women. Journal of Physical Education & Sport, 20(5), 2990-2995. http://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.s5406

  10. Lorenço-Lima, L. D., & Hirabara, S. M. (2013). Efeitos da perda rápida de peso em atletas de combate. Revista Brasileira de Ciências do Esporte, 35, 245-260. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-32892013000100018

  11. Lorenço-Lima, L., Monteiro, T. S., Barquilha, G., de Barros, M. P., & Hirabara, S. M. (2014). Effect of snorkel use on hemoglobin saturation, heart rate, lactate and glycemia in fighters. Lecturas Educación Física y Deportes, 19, (198). https://www.efdeportes.com/efd198/effect-of-snorkel-use-on-hemoglobin-saturation.htm​

 

PEER-REVIWED ABSTRACTS

  1. Lorenço-Lima, L., Waterbury, E. M., & Gaines, S. A. (2025). Predictors of Mental Health in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes. Association for Applied Sports Psychology 40th Annual Conference. 

  2. Lorenço-Lima, L., Waterbury, E. M., & Gaines, S. A. (2025). Rank-based Psychological Characteristics Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 

  3. Lorenço-Lima, L. (2024). Mental Strength, Resilience and Grit in Grapplers, Strikers, Physically Active and Sedentary Individuals. Association for Applied Sports Psychology 39th Annual Conference. http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31396.49281

  4. Lorenço-Lima, L. (2024). Resilience And Grit In Grapplers, Physically Active And Sedentary Individuals: 3318. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 56(10S), 779, http://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0001059244.38829.e1

  5. Lorenço-Lima, L., Monteiro, T. S., Joel, G. B., Pithon Curi, T. C., Pontes Junior, F. L., & Hirabara, S. M. (2014). Exercise intensity and metabolism in brazilian jiu-jitsu matches. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 46(5s), 81. http://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000493412.88339.84

  6. Lorenço-Lima, L., Monteiro, T. S., Nakama, F. H., Pithon-Curi, T. C., Hatanaka, E., & Hirabara, S. M. (2011). Use of Snorkel During Maximal Physical Activity does not Cause Hemoglobin Desaturation in Fighters. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(5S), 950. http://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000402654.47280.87

  7. Lorenço-Lima, L., Monteiro, T. S., Joel, G. B., Hatanaka, E., & Hirabara, S. M. (2010). Comportamento do dano muscular em uma simulação de competição de jiu-jítsu. In CONGRESSO INTERNACIONAL DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA, ESPORTE E LAZER (Vol. 2, pp. 551-551). http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29074.02246

LAB TEAM

Dr. Leandro de Lorenco Lima

Dr. Leandro de Lorenco Lima, Ph.D. (Lab Director)

Dr. Leandro de Lorenco Lima is a performance psychology scientist-practitioner with a passion for combat sports research. Dr. Leandro holds a PhD in Psychology, a MS in Human Movement Sciences, a MBA in Management, and a BS in Physical Education. A former athlete (judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, handball, and volleyball), he also holds a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a 3rd dan black belt in judo. 

As a scientist Dr. Leandro has contributed to the field through several peer-reviewed publications available on his Google Scholar Profile. 

Daniery's headshot-10.jpg

Daniery Rosario, M.A., CMPC (Founding Member)

Daniery is a bilingual (Spanish) CMPC® and owner of MNTL Performance LLC, a company specializing in mental skills training. Daniery earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a focus on coaching from the University of Central Florida and a Master's in Sport Psychology at John F. Kennedy University. While in graduate school, he worked with elite athletes, interned twice at Stanford, and published his thesis on aggression in professional Mixed Martial Artists in the Journal of International Sport Psychology in 2014. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Dominican University of California's Applied Sport and Performance Psychology graduate program. He is a former football, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and MMA athlete, and holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His publications and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate Profile.

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