The International Martial Arts and Combat Sports Scientific Society (IMACSSS) was founded in 2010 as a means to promote the study and research of martial arts and combat sports (MA&CS) on a global level, bringing together practitioners, experts and academics from around the world. Since 2012, when the 1st IMACSSS Conference was held in Genoa (Italy), the event has developed annually, visiting the cities of Tsukuba (Japan), Rzeszow (Poland), Brno (Czech Republic), Rio Maior (Portugal), Osaka (Japan), Viseu (Portugal), Putrajaya (Malaysia) and Chongqing (China). These events have not only promoted the exchange of MA&CS knowledge but have also strengthened mutual cooperation and friendship among participants, confirming many of the core values in martial arts.

In 2025, the 14th edition of the IMACSSS conference will be held in the beautiful city of León, the capital city of the Ancient Kingdom of León, in the in the northwest of Spain. As a place where old traditions – including the Aluche or Lucha Leonesa, a vernacular wrestling style – blend with modern culture, we have chosen the theme of the conference, “Tradition and Evolution in Martial Arts and Combat Sports: A Journey Full of Meanings”. In this sense, the conference will be a melting pot of views on the past, present and future of MA&CS, covering all academic fields and perspectives, from the individual experiences to the collective and global developments. We hope that all participants will experience an intense and enriching event, both professionally and personally, in a unique multicultural environment and in the city of León, which, like MA&CS, is a crossroads of paths, lives and cultures. We are waiting for you!