“The ‘double sinawali’ of learning and striking the stick with purpose”: Exploring the relationship between individual interest and study engagement in the indigenous martial art of Arnis

This study examined the association between individual interest and study engagement in Arnis-based physical education within the higher education context. Anchored in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT), it investigated three factors of individual interest: positive effect and willingness to reengage (PAWR), stored-utility Value (SUV) and stored attainment value and knowledge-seeking intentions (SAVKSI). A cross-sectional survey of university students was analyzed using multiple regression. Results showed that SAVKSI had the strongest positive association with engagement, followed by SUV, while PAWR did not demonstrate a significant link. These findings indicate that in culturally rooted, skill-intensive PE contexts, personal importance and knowledge-oriented goals are more strongly associated with sustained engagement than enjoyment alone. The study offers theoretical, pedagogical, cultural and policy implications, reinforcing the value of integrating indigenous martial arts into higher education PE to enhance motivation and preserve cultural heritage.