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Hard martial arts for cognitive function across the lifespan: A systematic review
Abstract
Background and Study Aim: Martial arts are offensive and defensive combat systems, characterised by coordinated and cognitively complex movements. Martial arts are typically classified as “hard” and “soft” styles. Hard styles focus on quick and forceful movements involving striking, kicking, blocking, grabbling, and takedown (e.g., karate, taekwondo, kung fu and judo). The aim of this review is in the existing scientific literature knowledge about pertaining to the effects of martial arts on cognitive function across the lifespan. Material and Methods: Both electronic and manual searches of the English-language articles published were conducted without limiting year of publication. The rigorous critical appraisal was independently performed, resulting in the inclusion of 18 studies. Results: Study results from the existing scientific literature indicate that martial arts (karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and judo) can improve some selected aspects of cognitive function and neurotrophic factors (serum BDNF and IGF-1) associated with brain health. Specifically, martial arts could be promising approaches to potentially stimulate the development of cognitive function in children and adolescent, and decelerate cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. Conclusions: Hard martial arts may be beneficial for improving some selected aspects of cognitive function across the lifespan. Because only a few studies used randomised controlled trials, a definitive conclusion regarding the beneficial effects of martial arts on cognitive functions is still difficult to be made at this stage. To better understand the effects of martial arts for cognitive function across the lifespan, future research should involve larger sample sizes, well-controlled designs, standardised assessments and long-term follow-ups, measures of health status, exercise intensity, leisure time activities, and session attendance rates.
... The first study is a qualitative systematic review analysis that complied 18 hard-martial art styles including karate; it depicts improvement in cognitive processing speed and executive functions with karate as an intervention in particular. [18] This study showed improvement in stress tolerance, reaction time, and executive quality among young children undergoing karate intervention and also among aging populations. Improvement in neurochemicals like BDNF in other martial arts like taekwondo was depicted as well. ...
... All the studies are summarized in Table 1. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] ...
... [25] Conclusion This review initiates a more deep-seated attempt to realize the significance of karate training in enhancing brain health. Though this compilation is one of its kind to portray the pertinence of karate training on neurotrophic mechanism [18] and underlying neural connections between brain and muscle, [23,25] it also points out the event-related synchronization in karate trainers with more than 7 years of experience and improved neural connections in FPNs after a single bout of karate exercise. [20,21] The role that karate plays in today's real-life situation across the life span for all genders is extremely pertinent; it is highly efficient as a self-defensive art form and a moderate intensity exercise, but its mammoth role in brain functioning needs additional insights. ...
Background:
The literature survey shows improvement in cognitive performance following acute bouts of physical exercise and chronic exercise patterns. However, neurocognitive growth through karate, a moderate intensity physical activity, is very limited. The synchronization of the nervous and endocrine system can be best reflected through this martial art form through neurogenesis and cognitive potentiation. Numerous outstanding reviews have summarized these findings for martial arts like judo and taekwondo. This review tries to orchestrate the efficiency of karate in neurocognition.
Objective of the study:
The specific aim of this review paper is to magnify the efficiency of karate training in cognitive functions, through its response to neurochemical transmissions and electrophysiological signaling.
Materials and method:
Numerous related literature were evaluated, screened, and selected using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses eligibility criteria. All appropriate publications that satisfied the primary objective of the study were scientifically and schematically presented in this review paper.
Results:
The psychophysiological effect of karate training and their relation with brain functions have been elaborated. This review compiles the few studies established on the cognitive benefits of karate through the electrical stimuli and neurochemical release.
Conclusion:
Karate may be effective in advancement of particular brain functions and neurocognitive actions through a life time. Electrophysiological studies have unraveled improved neural efficiency, stress tolerance, working and muscle memory but need further exploration. Similarly, to better understand the effects of karate on neurochemical secretions, further research involvement is required.
... Such sophisticated platforms with a preference for measurement in dynamic applications (69) have the highest degree of validity and are suitable equipment for direct measurement of such data (47) . Indirectly, the force can be measured using various methods, for example, with the help of separate accelerometers (3,122,128,71) . These can be placed in the athlete's clenched fist or attached to his/her limb. ...
... For this reason, many movement combinations are aimed at the head in order to hit it effectively (114) . Athletes in full contact disciplines prefer fast and strong strikes, kicks and blocks (117,128) , where the head and face were evaluated as the areas with the highest frequency of injuries during MMA competitions (77) . The same conditions apply to the area of the self-defence system, where most self-defence techniques in their first attack movement phase are aimed at the attacker's head. ...
... Even though studies specifically on MMA athletes are lacking, two recent systematic reviews (17,18) confirmed that martial arts training is related to cognitive benefits. In fact, a systematic review including 18 studies and 1,026 participants (from 9 to 83 years old) (18) showed that the "hard" martial arts, which includes karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and judo, induces positive effects on cognitive function and neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). ...
... Even though studies specifically on MMA athletes are lacking, two recent systematic reviews (17,18) confirmed that martial arts training is related to cognitive benefits. In fact, a systematic review including 18 studies and 1,026 participants (from 9 to 83 years old) (18) showed that the "hard" martial arts, which includes karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and judo, induces positive effects on cognitive function and neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). ...
BACKGROUND: Cognitive performance plays a key role in sports performance, especially in combat sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA). Studies with active and sedentary individuals showed either no change or decreased cognitive performance during or immediately after exercise. However, it is possible that elite MMA athletes would present preserved/improved cognitive performance after exhaustive exercise. CASE REPORT: In this series of cases studies, we tested this hypothesis by submitting three elite MMA athletes from the Bellator MMA® and UFC® to a cognitive assessment before, immediately after and 15 min after exhaustive exercise. A modified computerized version of the Stroop Test was used to test cognitive inhibition performance, from which reaction time (RT) and accuracy were obtained. The athletes performed an incremental exercise on a cycle simulator until volitional exhaustion. Immediately after exercise RT improved consistently in all three athletes (-6.5%; -8.0%; -15.0%), while accuracy presented a small increase (2.6%), decreases (-3.8%) or no change. Fifteen minutes after exercise, RT remained improved in two athletes (-9.1% and -15.5) or slightly increased (0.4%), while accuracy presented small increase in all athletes (0.5%; 1.3%; 2.1%) compared to pre-exercise. CONCLUSION: This result indicates that elite MMA athletes may present improved cognitive performance immediately after exhaustive exercise, which suggests that cognitive-motor training for MMA should be considered when planning a training program.
... Wushu is not only a traditional Chinese national sports program but also an important part of the physical education curriculum in colleges and universities. It is one of the important ways to promote the construction of college and university curriculum ideology and enrich the content of college and university curriculum ideology to play a good role in the nurturing value of the wushu curriculum and create a number of distinctive national traditional sports courses [1]. Carrying out curriculum ideology and integrating moral education in the martial arts classroom is important for displaying the national conventional culture, enriching the cultural connotation of the martial arts curriculum, and guiding students to realize the intrinsic character and spirit of martial arts. ...
This study employs multidimensional time-series data analysis to explore college students’ learning behaviors in martial arts civics classes. By analyzing learner interactions in three categories and time-series data from educational videos, we assess student engagement in mastery of knowledge and quantify learning outcomes for a detailed and accurate evaluation of their learning status. Our team has crafted a targeted learning path network that enhances offline teaching approaches by leveraging insights from online learning trends and in-class performance in martial arts civics education. The results show that the most popular and highest-rated course is Military Poetry (4.7 points) based on the analysis of recall data, and more elements of military poetry should be included in the design of teaching content. Student A64 had the lowest online note quality rating of 0.02, which can be hypothesized to indicate that the student’s attitude was not active enough. Online and offline Mixed Martial Arts classroom Civics education had a mean score of 46.856, with a p-value of 0, and there was a significant difference between traditional offline education and online mixed martial arts classroom Civics education. Most of the students’ personal patriotism, professional knowledge, and abilities were significantly enhanced after participating in online and offline mixed martial arts classroom Civic and Political Education.
... 68 evidence shows that practicing martial arts in adults improves performance in inhibitory control tests. 69 in addition to the above, there is evidence that the practice of tai-chi reduces cognitive impairment in 28.3% of older people. 34 The executive function plays a crucial role in the hrQol of older people, for its reduction could lead to social isolation and a heightened sense of loneliness. ...
Introduction: This systematic review aimed to analyze the available body of published peer-reviewed studies on the effects of combat sports compared with active/passive control on cognitive function and electrophysiological markers of brain activity in older people.
Evidence acquisition: The studies were searched in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases from deadline to June 2023. The PRISMA, TESTEX, RoB, and GRADE scales assessed the evidence's methodological quality and certainty. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (code: CRD42022361695).
Evidence synthesis: After reviewing 3,768 studies, seven combat sports interventions (score ≥ 60% in methodological quality) were selected, composed of 381 older people (63% female), with a mean age of 66 years. In the selected studies, interventions based on judo, karate, and taekwondo were carried out, where it was not possible to verify the benefits of combat sports in cognitive function and electrophysiological markers of brain activity regarding active/passive control groups, although the individual results of the analyzed studies indicate that the practice of combat sports favor selective attention, divided attention, executive function, visual perception, and cognitive processing speed in older people.
Conclusion: The available evidence does not allow a definite recommendation regarding combat sports as an effective cognitive function intervention in older people.
... Provide the DOI for " Zou et al., 2018." confirmed The significant level was highlighted by bold font. ...
... What we found in our review is consistent with what is informed by a meta-analysis that revealed significant improvements concerning attention and cognitive processing speed in older adults intervened through resistance training and tai chi when compared to groups without PA [54]; however, the same authors suggest that the results must be interpreted with caution since the analysed studies presented several differences. Despite this, it has been proposed that improvements at a cognitive level could reduce or prevent cognitive impairment [2]; thereby, it is relevant to analyse different PA strategies, such as OCS, to design and prescribe PA programs that favor changes at the cognitive level [55]. ...
The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the studies centered on the effects of Olympic combat sports (OCS [i.e., boxing, fencing, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling]) on older adults' physical-functional, physiological, and psychoemotional health status. The review comprised randomised-controlled trials with OCS interventions, including older adults (>60 years), and measures of physical-functional, physiological, and/or psychoemotional health. The studies were searched through SCOPUS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and EBSCO da-tabases until January 5, 2021. The PRISMA-P and TESTEX scales were used to assess the quality of the selected studies. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (code: CRD42020204034). Twelve OCS intervention studies were found (scored ≥60% for methodological quality), comprising 392 females and 343 males (mean age: 69.6 years), participating in boxing, judo, karate, and taekwondo. The qualitative analysis revealed that compared to control, OCS training improved muscle strength, cardiorespiratory capacity, agility, balance, movement, attention, memory, mental health, anxiety, and stress tolerance. Meta-analysis was available only for the chair stand test, and an improvement was noted after OCS training compared to control. In conclusion, OCS interventions improves older adults' physical-functional, physiological, and psychoemotional health. Our systematic review confirms that OCS training has high adherence (greater than 80%) in older adults.
... Furthermore, it is widely accepted that appropriate exercise programs should be arranged for children who experience normal growth and maturation because these early interventions could provide stimulation to accelerate and promote physical fitness development [33]. However, two studies investigated the influences of detraining after combined training intervention on fitness performance in children [30,34]. ...
Some studies have shown that resistance training combined with plyometric training is more time-efficient and effective for fitness development. The degree and frequency of combined training might influence the benefit of training to maintain time. To better understand this phenomenon of the degree and frequency of combined training in pre-and early pubertal boys, we have provided a more specific recommendation for physical education teachers thus that they are able to prescribe an exercise plan for their students in the physical education setting. We aimed to investigate the effects of combined training followed by 12 weeks of a reduced/detraining period on physical fitness and anthropometric features in 8 to 12-year old boys. Forty-six healthy boys were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG, n = 31) or a control group (CG, n = 15). Besides regular physical education classes (PE), participants in the EG performed a combined training program (resistance and plyometric training) twice weekly for 12 weeks. In the CG, participants only underwent PE classes twice per week. Then, the trained boys were randomly assigned to either a reduced training group (RTG, n = 14) or a training cessation group (TCG, n = 17). The RTG continued a reduced combined training program once a week with PE for additional 12 weeks. In the TCG, participants only kept their PE classes twice a week for 12 weeks. We assessed physical fitness performances (biceps curl, leg power, and running speed) and anthropometric features at baseline, after 12 weeks of combined training, and after 12 weeks of reduced training/detraining. We observed a significantly greater decrease in biceps girth in the EG (p = 0.049, d = 0.636), as compared to the CG. With regard to the physical fitness measures after the 12-week combined training, the EG showed significantly greater increase on biceps curl (p = 0.005, d = 0.92) and standing long jump (p = 0.015, d = 0.8) in comparison with the CG, whereas a significantly greater improvement on 30 m sprint speed (p = 0.031, d = 0.707) was observed in the EG, as compared to the CG. With regard to detraining and reduced training, results indicated a significantly greater increase on this outcome in the RTG (p = 0.038, d = 0.938), as compared to the TCG. Resistance training combined with plyometric training can be a safe and effective way to enhance the selected aspects of physical fitness, as well as reduce muscular girth in boys aged between 8 and 12 years. The frequency of one session per week in the combined training seems to provide an additional benefit to prevent leg power of lower limb from rapid deterioration.
... Top athletes have long understood that, while the human body has its natural limits, the mind has unlimited potential. And researchers emphasized that brain health (linked to neurotrophic factors and cognitive function) can be improved by practicing martial arts -taekwondo, karate, judo, and kung fu (Zou et al., 2018). ...
Athletes of the highest level in many sports (athletics, football, baseball, tennis, golf, rugby, skiing, gymnastics, swimming, basketball etc.) talk about the importance of visualising technical execution both during the training period and in competition (during warm-ups, during breaks in official games, before throws, jumps, free kicks etc.).Visualisation techniques can improve motor skills, grow muscle strength, increase self-confidence, attention concentration and decrease anxiety. Through the use of imagery, pain management, endurance, performance motivation and physical performance can also be enhanced in athletes. To achieve the best results, visualisation techniques should include the five major senses (touch, hearing, sight, smell and taste) and should consider key aspects such as perspective, emotion, environment, task and timing. Mental rehearsal (or visualisation) is powerful because the subconscious processes the experience as a real one (by firing those neurons that are responsible for skill acquisition), makes the person calmer and more adapted to stressful situations, and can speed up the learning process in athletes and not only. One hour of mental training a day in 6-10 sequences has a special benefit that cannot be obtained by any other means. By applying both guided imagery techniques and practice, athletes design their mental road maps for success.
... Due to the possibility of injury, decrease in cognitive function or perception and consequently losing the ability to threaten the opponent, hitting the head scores points in most combat sports. Therefore, many movement combinations are targeted to hit the head area (Tong-Iam et al., 2017) and subsequently athletes in full-contact combat sports prefer fast and strong strikes, kicks or blocks (Tsang et al., 2008;Zou et al., 2018), where the head and face have been found to be the most frequently injured body area during Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions (Lystad et al., 2014). As the hand and fist strikes can score, improve striker tactical body position or cause physical damage to opponents (Bingul et al., 2017), their combinations are more frequent than kicks in kickboxing (Ouergui et al., 2013) and karate fights (24% kicks vs 76% strikes) and are preferred for attack combinations (Chaabene et al., 2013). ...
Upper limb strikes are frequent movements in combat sports and self-defence systems, in which numerous types of strikes can be applied. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarise and compare the mechanical consequences of different types of upper limb strikes among various sports disciplines. A literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science, with the following search formula: (impact force) AND (strike) AND (taekwondo) OR (karate) OR (self-defence) OR (combat sport) OR (boxing). The search resulted in 28 studies describing 9 kinds of strikes, where straight punches and reverse punches have larger mean impact forces than the kung fu punch (p < 0.001) and that a palm strike had a lower strike velocity (p < 0.001) than a reverse punch, straight punch, or junzuki punch. The highest recorded mean force was found for a straight punch (3427 N). Athletes in mixed martial arts, trainers of self-defence or tactical coaches can expect that straight punches and reverse punches should be performed at high speeds (over 10 m/s) and provide similar or larger impacts than other upper limb strikes; therefore, those punches should favour a combat athlete to win a competition or succeed in self-defence.
... From a neural perspective, the need to constantly evaluate and adjust movements according to the constraints requires athletes to dedicate large amounts of cognitive resources (Yarrow et al., 2009). In fact, beyond physical and technical performance, a recent systematic review showed that martial art practice through the life span also results in improvements in different aspects of cognitive performance (Zou et al., 2018). Despite this, it has been suggested that less brain activation is an adaptive response to training Callan and Naito, 2014). ...
Objective
We compared the cognitive performance and neuroelectric responses during a selective attentional task in judo athletes with different levels of expertise.
Methods
Judo black and white belt athletes performed both general and specific fitness tests while simultaneously completing a Stroop color-word test recorded by 64 electroencephalogram channels.
Results
Cognitive behavioral performance and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) present no differences between groups. However, the topographic analysis found different neural source patterns in each group. Judo black belts compared to judo white belts presented a greater peak amplitude of P300 in the middle frontal gyrus and of N200 in the cuneus, but slower latency of P300 in the precuneus.
Conclusion
Despite no difference in cognitive behavioral performance, judo expertise causes a difference in the allocation of attentional and conflict detection neural resources.
... Moderate-intensity level exercise or physical activity is generally accepted to have positive effects on cognitive function [1], among both young adults and older adults with cognitive impairment [2,3]. A single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic running (15 min) appears to improve some selected aspects (e.g., executive function, cognitive processing speed, selective attention, visualspatial ability, and verbal memory) of cognitive performance in young healthy adults [4][5][6]. Longitudinal aerobic interventions have also been shown to reverse age-related brain volume decline and improve memory in older adults [6,7]. Peripheral levels of catecholamine and dopamine [8], as well as neuronal growth factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor) [7][8][9] are reported to increase following a moderate exercise training regime. ...
Background and Objectives: Limited research has evaluated the effects of acute exercise on cognition under different conditions of inspired oxygenation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIE) under normoxia (inspired fraction of oxygen (FIO2): 0.209) and moderate hypoxia (FIO2: 0.154) on cognitive function. Design: A single-blinded cross-over design was used to observe the main effects of exercise and oxygen level, and interaction effects on cognitive task performance. Methods: Twenty inactive adults (10 males and 10 females, 19–27 years old) performed a cognitive task (i.e., the Go/No-Go task) before and immediately after an acute bout of HIE under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The HIE comprised 10 repetitions of 6 s high-intensity cycling against 7.5% body weight interspersed with 30 s passive recovery. Heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and rating of perceived exertion were monitored. Results: The acute bout of HIE did not affect the reaction time (p = 0.204, η2 = 0.083) but the accuracy rate decreased significantly after HIE under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions (p = 0.001, η2 = 0.467). Moreover, moderate hypoxia had no influence either on reaction time (p = 0.782, η2 = 0.004) or response accuracy (p = 0.972, η2 < 0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that an acute session of HIE may impair response accuracy immediately post-HIE, without sacrificing reaction time. Meanwhile moderate hypoxia was found to have no adverse effect on cognitive function in inactive young adults, at least in the present study.
Background
With aging, the cognitive function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) declined, postural control weakened, and fall risk increased. As a mind–body exercise, regular Tai Chi practice could improve postural control and effectively prevent falls; however, underlying brain mechanisms remained unclear, which were shed light on by analyzing the effect of Tai Chi on the PFC in older adults by means of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Methods
36 healthy older adults without Tai Chi experience were divided randomly into Tai Chi group and Control group. The experiment was conducted four times per week for 16 weeks; 27 participants remained and completed the experiment. Negotiating obstacle task (NOT) and negotiating obstacle with cognitive task (NOCT) were performed pre- and post-intervention, and Brodmann area 10 (BA10) was detected using fNIRS for hemodynamic response. A three-dimensional motion capture system measured walking speed.
Results
After intervention in the Tai Chi group under NOCT, the HbO 2 concentration change value (ΔHbO 2 ) in BA10 was significantly greater (right BA10: p = 0.002, left BA10: p = 0.001), walking speed was significantly faster ( p = 0.040), and dual-task cost was significantly lower than pre-intervention ( p = 0.047). ΔHbO 2 in BA10 under NOCT was negatively correlated with dual-task cost (right BA10: r = −0.443, p = 0.021, left BA10: r = −0.448, p = 0.019). There were strong negative correlations between ΔHbO 2 and ΔHbR under NOCT either pre-intervention (left PFC r = −0.841, p < 0.001; right PFC r = −0.795, p < 0.001) or post-intervention (left PFC r = −0.842, p < 0.001; right PFC r = −0.744, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Tai Chi practice might increase the cognitive resources in older adults through the PFC bilateral activation to prioritize gait performance during negotiating obstacles under a dual-task condition.
Programmed exercise interventions modulating both physical fitness and cognitive functions have become a promising tool to support healthy aging. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of a 12-week judo training (JEX) on cognitive processing and muscle function among the elderly. Forty participants were divided into two groups: the JEX group and the control group (CTL). Before and after 12-week of JEX, participants performed a battery of physiological and psychological tests. The peripheral level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was analyzed. A 12-week JEX intervention led to improved Stroop performance reflected by a shortening of the response time related to Stroop “naming” interference. In addition, the peripheral concentration of BDNF was significantly increased following the JEX compared with the CTL group. In response to JEX, balance and lower limb strength significantly increased. The current results suggest that JEX could have beneficial effects on cognitive functions, denoted by elevated peripheral BDNF, as well as on balance and strength abilities. A combination of positive effects with respect to movement and cognition makes JEX an ideal preventive lifestyle modification for the aging population.
Background. There are few theoretical and practical tools for teaching martial arts and combat sports, such as teaching strategies, reports on successful or unsuccessful teaching experiences, pedagogical approaches that prioritize martial arts and combat sports, and systematic reviews. Problem and aim. This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature on martial arts and combat sports in the context of school Physical Education. Methods. The review was conducted according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) protocol and the search form. The databases ERIC, LILACS, ProQuest, SCIELO, and SCOPUS were searched. They contained studies that discuss combat sports in school Physical Education. Results. A total of 8,038 articles were obtained from the initial search of databases, after duplicates were excluded, 5,361 articles remained. Studies were screened for eligibility according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two researchers analyzed first the titles, selecting 328 studies, then the abstracts, selecting 42 studies, and finally the full text. Ten studies were included in the review. Conclusions. It can be concluded that there is a need for new studies related to the theme, considering the range of contributions that martial arts and combat sports can present to the students in the school scene, as well as assisting in the pedagogical practice of the teacher.
Background:
Cognitive decline and balance impairment are prevalent in the aging population. Previous studies investigated the beneficial effects of 24-style Tai Chi (TC-24) on either cognitive function or balance performance of older adults. It still remains largely unknown whether modified Chen-style TC (MTC) that includes 18 complex movements is more beneficial for these age-related health outcomes, as compared to TC-24.
Objective:
We investigated if MTC would show greater effects than TC-24 on global cognitive function and balance-related outcomes among older adults.
Methods:
We conducted a randomized trial where 80 eligible adults aged over 55 were allocated into two different styles of Tai Chi (TC) arms (sixty-minute session × three times per week, 12 weeks). Outcome assessments were performed at three time periods (baseline, Week 6, and Week 12) and included the Chinese Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for overall cognitive function, One-leg Standing Test (LST) for static balance, Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) for dynamic balance, chair Stand Test (CST) for leg power, and the six-meter Walk Test (6MWT) for aerobic exercise capacity.
Results:
Compared to TC-24 arm, MTC arm demonstrated significantly greater improvements in MoCA, LST, TUGT, CST, and 6MWT (all p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Both forms of TC were effective in enhancing global cognitive function, balance, and fitness. Furthermore, MTC was more effective than TC-24 in enhancing these health-related parameters in an aging population.
Background: The quality of life of a society is conditioned by many factors, and depends, among other things, on preferred behavior patterns. Combat sports (CS) and martial arts (MA) have a special educational potential in the area of shaping positive behavior patterns and transmitting moral values which could help reduce aggression in society. The aim of the work was to determine the relationship between health behaviors and the quality of life of people who practice combat sports and martial arts (CS and MA) recreationally, in addition to practicing other sports, and as competitors at the master level. Methods: The research embraced 543 people who practice combat sports and martial arts. Three groups were selected: recreational (n = 362), people who reconciled practicing various sports (n = 115), and competitors who practiced combat sports or martial arts at the master level (n = 66). The average age of the respondents was 24.49 ± 7.82. The standardized WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and another questionnaire for a lifestyle survey were applied. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare several independent samples. In the case of determining statistical significance of differences the Mann-Whitney test was employed, and for the qualitative data analyses the trait frequency and the independence chi-square test were used. The effect size was calculated for each test ( E R 2 , rg, Cramér’s V). The value of p ≤ 0.05 was assumed to be statistically significant. Results: The highest quality of life (in the physical, psychological and environmental domains) was characteristic of the competitors, who practiced only combat sports and martial arts. They also displayed the most health-oriented behaviors. The surprising results were: lower quality of life in the assessment of nondrinkers and nonsmokers, and higher among people who were overweight. Conclusions: We have found positive correlations between practicing CS and MA, health behaviours and higher scores in quality of life self-evaluation, particularly where practitioners are exclusively focused on CS and MA and practice these at a competitive level. Our findings thus support the growing evidence that competitive level CS and MA are an effective means of improving people’s quality of life. Future research needs to clarify whether CS and MA can also be recommended to recreational and non-competitive practitioners as a means to improve their subjective quality of life.
The Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu) have existed for centuries and are generally accepted as being beneficial for health without much empirical data. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the health effects of "hard" Kung Fu styles by performing electronic and manual searches of the literature. The aspects of health and the Kung Fu style examined varied between most studies; in some cases, the martial art group consisted of practitioners of other martial art styles also. Of 2103 references identified, only nine papers were eligible and reviewed. All were observational studies, observing a range of health aspects possibly related to Kung Fu training or performance. Our findings suggest that there is no evidence that Kung Fu practice is associated with the prevention or treatment of any health condition. However, as a moderate- to high-intensity form of aerobic exercise, it may confer benefits similar to those attributed to other aerobic training modalities. However, this hypothesis remains to be tested in clinical trials. Physiological benefits (e.g., aerobic capacity and bone density) may be associated with long-term Kung Fu practice. Future research in this area should adopt experimental designs, clearly identifying eligibility criteria, testing and training protocols, and include health-related outcomes and documentation of adverse events, to advance knowledge in this field.
Background & Study Aim: Available publications regarding the use of martial arts in therapy and rehabilitation are main premises to this research. The purpose of this study was the issue whether martial arts are effective in improving clinical symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) so to provide better management guidelines for treatment of ASD. Material & Methods: Eight electronic databases were used for literature search, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), ProQuest, Research Autism, and CliniicalTrials.gov. After conducting the electronic search from September 2000 to August 2016, manual searches were subsequently performed through reference lists of the relevant publications. Methodological quality of 9 eligible studies was independently evaluated by two review authors using PEDro scales and the modified Clinical Relevance Tool. Results: Inter-reliability for study selection was 90%. When inter-reliability for evaluating the study quality was 100%, methodological quality scores for 6 randomized controlled studies and 3 case studies ranged from 7 to 8 out of 10 and 6 out of 7, respectively. Study findings demonstrated that martial arts-based interventions (internal and external styles) had positive influence on ASD-related symptoms (e.g., social interaction/communication skills, self-regulation, memory, postural control, and cognitive function) with effect size ranging from medium to high. Conclusions: Martial arts are beneficial for individuals with ASD. It should be incorporated into rehabilitation program to help symptomatic management of ASD. A combination of internal and external styles of martial arts for individuals with ASD to maximize the positive effect should be examined in the future study.
The purpose of the study on which this paper is based was to examine motivational differences among Chinese martial arts participants. A 20-item Motivation Inventory for Chinese Martial Arts (MICMA) with additional demographic information was distributed to 310 participants at the International Chinese Martial Arts Championship. The result of MANOVAs revealed significant mean differences (p < .05). Female participants scored higher than male counterparts on the health (M = 6.05 vs. M = 5.81) and utilitarian (M = 3.68 vs. M = 3.17) factors. The novice group scored higher than the advanced group (M = 3.65 vs. M = 3.05) on the utilitarian factor. The self-defence group scored higher than the modern-style group on the health (M = 6.13 vs. M = 5.67) and utilitarian scales (M = 3.75 vs. M = 2.75). Responses of individual membership participants were higher on competence (M = 5.38 vs. M = 5.00) and socialization (M = 5.62 vs. M = 5.15) than those of family membership participants. On the other hand, family membership participants scored higher on the utilitarian factor (M = 3.84 vs. M = 3.05) than individual members. In sum, the results of the study supported a theoretical framework by which individuals participating in various forms of sport can be motivated by different factors and affected by their individual characteristics.
Market research report: Martial arts
- Usa Info
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Info-USA Inc. Market research report: Martial
arts; 2007
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rod in RT: 15.2
±7.09 * cm, TMED:
0.92 ±0.12 **, VIS:
859.93 ±100.709 *
fitness group: falling
length of the rod in
RT: 20.62 ±12.02
TMED: 0.94 ±0.1
VIS:874.29 ±109.3
CG: falling length of
the rod in RT:16.62
±8.17 MED:0.92