Submission and Information for Authors

Thank you for considering submitting your work to our project. Here are our submission guidelines.

M.A.R.S. Submission Guidelines for Authors

1. General Information

• Name:Martial Arts Research and Studies (M.A.R.S.) by Kine Bij Vechtsporten

• Publication Type:Peer-reviewed, open-access

• Primary Focus:Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and related disciplines

• Article Types:Methodological reports, original research articles, reviews, case studies, technical reports, Q&A, opinion articles, and others.

• Frequency of publishing: continuous publishing.
• Language: English.
• File formats: Ms Word or related.

2. Manuscript Structure

The structure of the manuscript depends on the type of manuscript:

Every type of article:

• Title Page:Article title, full author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact information

• Abstract:Up to 250 words, including objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions

• Keywords:3 to 7 keywords reflecting the article content

Original research article:

All submitted manuscripts should include:

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Foundation
• Acknowledgements
• Conflicts of interests
• Reference list
  

 Review / Meta-Analysis

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Methods (Search Strategy, Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria, PRISMA if applicable)
• Results
• Discussion
• Limitations
• Conclusion
• References

Case Study / Case Report

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Case Presentation
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Patient Consent Statement
• References

Brief Report

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction (Brief)
• Methods
• Results (Concise)
• Discussion (Brief)
• References

 Technical / Methodological Report

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Method Description
• Validation / Reliability (if applicable)
• Applications
  
• Conclusion
• References

 Opinion Paper

• Title
• Abstract 
• Keywords
• Main Argument / Perspective
• Supporting Evidence
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References

 Hypothesis Paper

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Theoretical Background
• Hypothesis Presentation
• Rationale
• Implications
• Conclusion
• References

Theory Paper

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Main purpose
• Theoretical concept(s)
• Rationale
• Implications and applications
• Conclusion
• References

Reference list: Complete and correctly formatted according to the following style

Lauber, A., March, C., & Sahm, M. (2023). Optimal and fair prizing in sequential round-robin tournaments: Experimental evidence. Games and Economic Behavior, 141, 30–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2023.05.011

Tables and Figures: Tables and figures should be placed within the text at the appropriate location (in situ) and should be named and numbered properly chronologically, clear and readable, consisted in style and font, and be referenced in text.
Example for a figure: Figure 1. Distribution of injuries by type in HEMA tournaments.
Example for a table: Table 1. Mean reaction times (ms) across different training levels.
 

In text references:

In text references can be either the Vancoucer style (Wauters, 2023) or numeric APA [1]. Styles can not be mixed in the same manuscript.

In text Vancouver style:

1author: (Name, Year) eg (Wauters, 2023)

2 authors: (Name1 & Name2, Year): eg (Wauters & Ter mors, 2023)

3 or more authors (Name1 et al. Year): eg (Wauters et al. 2023)

3. Submission and Review Process

• Submission:Manuscripts should be submitted via the official M.A.R.S. portal or by email to the editorial office
  email: Kinebijvechtsporten@gmail.com, Subject: Submission, 1st author, title.
  platform: see below.
  
  

• By submitting authors automatically declare:

  • The work is original and not submitted elsewhere. If so it has to be stated in the submission. Only in exceptional circumstances earlier published works can be republished.

  • Contribution of each author to the research

  • No conflicts of interest

  • Agreement with the peer-review process and publication terms
    

• Review Process:

  • Submit your paper.

  • The editor will contact you for the confirmation of your submission. 

  • The peer-review process will start
  • First phase of review: The editor and first-line reviewers will analyze the submitted paper in order to check whether it 
  • Second phase of review: The paper will be sent to the second line of reviewers of deep review. Depending on the topic, external reviewers might be consulted.
  • The reviewers will give their advice to the editor
  • The paper will be sent back to the author with feedback of either the decline, minor or major revision or acceptance. 
    
  • In case of revision a second and third round of review can be conducted. A fourth round of review is only done in exception.
  • After acceptance the publication agreement will be sent to the author for sighing.
  • After the reception of the publication agreement, the work will be published on our platforms.

  • All submissions undergo a double-blind peer-review process. In exceptional cases open reviews are allowed in agreement by all parties.

• Timeline: Authors will receive reviewer feedback within approximately 4-8 weeks.
  
  

4. License and Publication Rights 

• License: All articles are published under the Creative Commons CC BY license.

• Authors right: The author rights of all works stay at the author.

• Publication Rights: By submitting a manuscript, the author grants M.A.R.S. the right to publish and maintain the work, including future updates, without unilateral withdrawal, while retaining intellectual property rights.
  
  

5. Ethics and Declarations

• Ethics:Research articles must comply with ethical guidelines and, if applicable, have approval from a recognized ethics committee
  
• Plagiarism: Papers with assumed and proved plagiarism will not be published and might lead to exclusion of the author fore future submissions.
  
• Conflict of interests: In case of conflicting interest the work will be analyzed in context of the conflict and a desision will be made. In case of grave conflicts of interest the submitted paper will be declined.
• AI use.  When AI is used in the work it should be referenced as followed:

• 1. Transparency

  • Authors must disclose any use of AI tools(e.g., ChatGPT, image generators, data analysis software) in their manuscript.

  • Specify how AI was used: writing, data analysis, figure generation, literature summarization, etc.

  2. Originality and Responsibility

  • Authors remain fully responsible for the content of the manuscript.

  • AI-generated text cannot replace the author’s critical thinking, analysis, or conclusions.

  • AI-generated content must be reviewed, verified, and fully edited by the authors before submission.

  3. Proper Attribution

  • Any material generated by AI that is not the author’s own work must be clearly attributed.

  • For images or figures generated by AI, include a caption noting the AI tool used.

  4. No Undisclosed Use

  • Submitting AI-generated text without disclosure is considered unethical and may lead to rejection.

  5. Data and Methodology

  • AI should not be used to fabricate data. All data must be authentic, verifiable, and reproducible.

  • If AI-assisted analysis was used, describe the methods and parameters in the Methods section.

  6. Peer Review Considerations

  • Reviewers should be informed of any AI use to appropriately assess the manuscript.

  • Journals may request authors to provide original prompts or out puts if needed for verification.

  7. Supplementary Material

  • Include any AI-generated content as supplementary files if relevant, with proper description.
    
    

6. Formatting and Layout

• File Format:Word (.docx) or PDF

• Font:Times New Roman, 12 pt

• Line Spacing:Double

• Margins:Standard (2.54 cm all sides)

• Figures and Tables:Clearly labeled and numbered, with captions
  
  

7. Retraction

Both the author and the publisher retain the right to request the retraction of an article after publication. Retraction may occur for the following reasons:

• Evidence of plagiarism or duplicate publication

• Undisclosed, improper, or unethical use of artificial intelligence tools.

• 
  

  Data fabrication, falsification, or serious methodological misconduct

• Significant errors that invalidate the findings or conclusions

• Ethical violations, including lack of required ethics approval or informed consent (where applicable)

• Legal concerns, such as copyright infringement or defamation

• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect the integrity of the work

• Proven research misconduct or academic fraud

• Unlawful content or violation of applicable regulations

• Clear evidence that the article does not meet the journal’s ethical or publication standards

• Author request, in justified circumstances, subject to editorial evaluation

Procedure for retraction by the author: The author can submit a formal request of retraction to the editor by emailing to Kinebijvechtsporten@gmail.com with the request and reason for retraction. The request will be analyzed, and a decision will be made. The author will be informed of the decision and the retraction will be conducted as soon as possible, and an official statement of the retraction will be made by the editor.
Procedure for retraction by the editor: In case of retraction by the publisher, the author will be informed by editor by email. The author will be informed by the reason of the decision and the retraction will be conducted as soon as possible, and an official statement of the retraction will be made by the editor.

Retraction decisions will be made in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies and integrity standards, and where appropriate, a formal retraction notice will be published to maintain transparency in the scholarly record.

8. Author Information

• Communication:For questions or further information, authors may contact the editorial office: Kinebijvechtsporten@gmail.com or by filling in the contact form.

• Updates:Articles may be updated post-publication; the update date will always be indicated.
  

Disclaimers and Copy Rights:

M.A.R.S. publishes in external journals or in own name.

All rights of all manuscripts published in external journals remain to that specific journal.

Nothing in the work of M.A.R.S. can be used or copied without the explicit written consent of the author(s) and editor.

Open access:

All articles in own publishing are open access. Collaborating journals are selected on open access as well.

1. Copyright and License Disclaimer

Copyright: The author(s) retain copyright but grant permission for reuse and distribution according to the terms of the chosen license.

2. Content and authors Responsibility

Content Responsibility: The opinions and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of [Journal Name] or the publisher. The journal is not responsible for the content or any legal consequences arising from the publication of the article.

The opinions, conclusions, interpretations, and findings expressed in published articles are solely those of the author(s).

They do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editorial board, reviewers, or affiliated institutions.

Authors retain full responsibility for:

• The scientific accuracy of their work

• Ethical compliance

• Data integrity

• Proper citation and acknowledgment

• Legal compliance

3. No medical Advice

The content of these articles are for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified specialist for advice in specific cases.

The content published in M.A.R.S., including but not limited to research articles, reviews, case reports, technical guides, and opinion papers, does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

Readers are strongly advised to consult a qualified healthcare professional before applying any techniques, interventions, rehabilitation protocols, training methods, or injury prevention strategies described in the published material.

No physician–patient, therapist–patient, or professional relationship is created by accessing or using this website.

4. Liability Disclaimer

Martial Arts Research and Studies and the publisher are not liable for any damage, loss, or harm resulting from the use of the information in this article, including but not limited to direct, indirect, or consequential damage.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the publisher, editors, reviewers, and affiliated parties shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from:

• The use or misuse of information published

• Errors or omissions in published material

• Application of described techniques or interventions

• Interpretation of research findings

• Technical or methodological inaccuracies

This includes, but is not limited to, personal injury, property damage, financial loss, or professional consequences.

5. Privacy Disclaimer

We respect the privacy of our readers and authors. Personal data collected during registration for the journal will be used solely for administrative purposes and will not be shared with third parties without permission.

6. Article Retraction and Corrections

The publisher reserves the right to retract, correct, or revise articles if there are errors, plagiarism, or other serious issues with the content of a published paper.

7. Content Use and Citations

Reused content must be appropriately cited according to the specifications of the license.
8. Peer review:

Although articles undergo a peer-review process, errors cannot be completely ruled out. The editorial team and reviewers make every effort to ensure scientific quality, but the ultimate responsibility for the content lies with the authors. If false or inaccurate information is identified, the publisher reserves the right to retract the article, even after publication, in accordance with our retraction policy.

9. General content:

The content published by Martial Arts Research and Studies (M.A.R.S.) is provided for informational and academic purposes only.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, completeness, and scientific integrity, the publisher makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any information published on this website.

Use of the information is at the reader’s own risk.

10. Martial Arts Risk Acknowledgment:

Martial arts, combat sports, and physical training inherently involve risks of injury.

Descriptions of techniques, biomechanics, training methods, or preventive strategies are not guarantees of safety.

Engaging in martial arts activities carries inherent physical risk, and readers assume full responsibility for participation in such activities.

11. External Links Disclaimer

This website may contain links to third-party websites for informational purposes.

The publisher does not control and is not responsible for the content, accuracy, privacy practices, or policies of external websites.

Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement.

Information for reviewers.

 Registration as a Reviewer

We are always looking for qualified reviewers. If you wish to be registered as a reviewer for our project, you can submit your request by emailing:

Kinebijvechtsporten@gmail.com

Your registration will be confirmed. If necessary, additional information may be requested. Afterwards, your application will be accepted or declined based on the information provided and the scope of the journal.

In case of acceptance, a Reviewer Agreementwill be sent for signature. After receipt of the signed Reviewer Agreement, you will be officially accepted as a reviewer.

Confidentiality: All manuscripts are confidential. Reviewers may not:

• Share the manuscript with others

• Use the content for personal purposes

• Distribute or publish any part of the manuscript

• Upload the manuscript to external systems without permission

Confidentiality remains valid during and after the review process.

Conflict of Interest:

Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest.

If a conflict exists, the reviewer must decline the assignment.

Conflicts of interest may include financial, professional, academic, or personal relationships that could influence the review.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): It is allowed to use AI in the following circonstances.

If AI tools are used during the review process:

• The reviewer must follow the journal’s AI policy.

• Manuscripts may not be uploaded to external AI platforms.

• AI tools may not replace independent judgment.

• The reviewer remains fully responsible for the review.
  

Review Policy

When a manuscript is submitted to M.A.R.S.:

1. The first line of reviewers is contacted.

2. If the manuscript does not fit the scope of the journal, it will be declined.

3. If it fits the scope, suitable reviewers from the second line may be selected.

Reviewers will be informed, and the manuscript will be sent to them.

Reviewers have 4 to 8 weeksto complete their review, depending on the length of the manuscript.

A review framework will be provided to guide the evaluation.

Reviewers submit their feedback to the editor.

The editor will make the final decision.

Possible decisions are:

• Decline

• Minor revision

• Major revision

• Accept
  

The author will always be informed of the decision and will receive feedback.

In case of revision:

• Minor revisions will normally be reviewed by the first line of reviewers.

• Major revisions will be re-evaluated by the second line of reviewers.
  
  

In some cases, additional review rounds may take place.

Withdrawal, Decline and Removal

The reviewer may withdraw from the review process at any time by sending an email to:

Kinebijvechtsporten@gmail.com

The editor reserves the right to decline or withdraw a reviewer at any stage. The reviewer will be informed by email.