Habitus and Social Class in Bourdieu: an Empirical aplication in the Field of Combat Sports

Abstract

In this article, an empirical application of some elements of the concept of habitus in Bourdieu is proposed. To be precise, it is about the relationship with the body in the performance of sport activities, something that is attached to the habitus. For this purpose we will analyse the positions’ and habitus’ trajectory of some practitioners —attached to specific social classes— within the field of combat sports in our country. We will show how some parts of habitus can develop certain degree of autonomy from social class when the practitioner’s interaction within a social field grows. Thus, the notion of habitus is able to explain variations on the choice of new activities and different ways of practicing them without having necessarily to vary the practitioner’s social class.