The impact of martial arts-based interventions on cognitive function and motor performance in elementary school-aged children: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2026.0504Keywords:
children, physical education, executive functions, cardiorespiratory fitness, balanceAbstract
Background and Study Aim. Although martial arts combine motor skill learning with attentional control, behavioural inhibition, movement sequencing, balance regulation, partner interaction, and rule-governed self-control, their usefulness for school-based programmes aimed at enhancing children’s physical activity and supporting developmental outcomes remains insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review, therefore, aimed to evaluate the effects of martial arts-based interventions on cognitive function and motor performance in children aged 6–12 years. Materials and Methods. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework. Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2015 and March 2026. Randomized controlled trials, controlled trials, and quasi-experimental studies examining martial arts-based interventions were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I. Due to methodological heterogeneity, the findings were synthesized narratively. Results. Twelve studies involving approximately 1,300 children met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies assessed cognitive outcomes, and six assessed motor or fitness outcomes. Taekwondo demonstrated the most consistent cognitive benefits, with improvements reported in attention, executive attention, self-regulation, inhibitory control, and academic self-efficacy across four studies. Karate improved academic achievement, sustained attention, processing speed, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and motor competence across two studies. Judo, capoeira, and Chinese martial arts showed positive but limited evidence, primarily from single studies. Most randomized studies were judged as having some concerns regarding the risk of bias, whereas both non-randomized studies were rated as having a serious risk of bias. Conclusions. Martial arts-based interventions may support attention, self-regulation, balance, coordination, cardiorespiratory fitness, and selected aspects of motor competence in children aged 6–12 years. For physical education, these findings suggest that martial arts can be used as structured, engaging, and developmentally rich activity modules, particularly when lessons include progressive skill learning, balance tasks, movement sequencing, controlled partner interaction, and explicit rules for self-control. However, implementation should remain cautious because current evidence is heterogeneous and does not yet establish martial arts as superior to other well-designed physical activity programmes.References
Lima RA, Pfeiffer K, Larsen LR, Bugge A, Moller NC, Anderson LB, et al. Physical Activity and Motor Competence Present a Positive Reciprocal Longitudinal Relationship Across Childhood and Early Adolescence. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2017;14(6): 440–447. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2016-0473
Bao R, Wade L, Leahy AA, Owen KB, Hillman CH, Jaakkola T, et al. Associations Between Motor Competence and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 2024;54(8): 2141–2156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02040-1
Wang L, Sun J, Wang L, Zheng D, Zhou Y. Fundamental motor skills, executive functions, and academic achievement of Chinese schoolchildren: Testing a mediating model. PLOS One, 2025;20(11): e0336470. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336470
Bidzan-Bluma I, Lipowska M. Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning of Children: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018;15(4): 800. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040800
Klotzbier TJ, Schott N. Scaffolding theory of maturation, cognition, motor performance, and motor skill acquisition: a revised and comprehensive framework for understanding motor–cognitive interactions across the lifespan. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2025;19: 1631958. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1631958
Engel AC, Broderick CR, van Doorn N, Hardy LL, Parmenter BJ. Exploring the Relationship Between Fundamental Motor Skill Interventions and Physical Activity Levels in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 2018;48(8): 1845–1857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0923-3
Hassan MA, Liu W, McDonough DJ, Su X, Gao Z. Comparative Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention Programs on Motor Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022;19(19): 11914. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911914
Moon J, Webster CA, Stodden DF, Brian A, Mulvey KL, Beets M, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of physical activity interventions to increase elementary children’s motor competence: a comprehensive school physical activity program perspective. BMC Public Health, 2024;24(1): 826. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18145-1
Yin X, Zhang D, Shen Y, Wang Y, Wang Z, Liu Y. Effectiveness of school-based interventions on fundamental movement skills in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 2025;25(1): 1522. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22696-2
González-del-Castillo J, Barbero-Alcocer I. Effects of school-based physical activity programs on executive function development in children: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 2025;16: 1658101. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1658101
Mello JB, Costa RR, da Silva FF, Martins R, Cristi-Montero C. School ACTIVE, brain active: A meta-analysis and meta-regression on chronic school physical activity effects on cognitive performance in children and adolescents. Educational Research Review, 2025;46: 100658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2024.100658
Bailey R, Armour K, Kirk D, Jess M, Pickup I, Sandford R, et al. The educational benefits claimed for physical education and school sport: an academic review. Research Papers in Education, 2009;24(1): 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671520701809817
Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2013. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201500/
World Health Organization. Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world [Internet]. World Health Organization.; 2019 [cited 2026 Jun 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241514187
Lakes KD, Hoyt WT. Promoting self-regulation through school-based martial arts training. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 2004;25(3): 283–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2004.04.002
Bierer BW. Electrophoretic analysis of blood serum and plasma proteins of normal horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 1969;30(12): 2237–2240.
Ludyga S, Tränkner S, Gerber M, Pühse U. Effects of Judo on Neurocognitive Indices of Response Inhibition in Preadolescent Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2021;53(8): 1648–1655. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002626
Pellegrini AD. Elementary-school children's rough-and-tumble play and social competence. Developmental Psychology, 1988;24(6): 802–806. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.24.6.802
Pellegrini AD, Smith PK. The Nature of Play: Great Apes and Humans. Guilford Press; 2005.
Pellegrini AD, Smith PK. Physical Activity Play: The Nature and Function of a Neglected Aspect of Play. Child Development, 1998;69(3): 577–598. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1998.tb06226.x
Siklander P, Ernst J, Storli R. Young children’s perspectives regarding rough and tumble play: A systematic review. Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, 2020;9(2):551–72.
Tannock MT. Rough and Tumble Play: An Investigation of the Perceptions of Educators and Young Children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 2007;35(4): 357–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-007-0196-1
Sandseter EBH, Kennair LEO. Children's Risky Play from an Evolutionary Perspective: The Anti-Phobic Effects of Thrilling Experiences. Evolutionary Psychology, 2011;9(2): 257–284. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491100900212
Vertonghen J, Theeboom M. The Social-Psychological Outcomes of Martial Arts Practise Among Youth: A Review. J Sports Sci Med. 2010;9(4):528–37.
Woodward TW. A review of the effects of martial arts practice on health. WMJ: official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 2009;108(1): 40–43.
Stodden DF, Goodway JD, Langendorfer SJ, Roberton MA, Rudisill ME, Garcia C, et al. A Developmental Perspective on the Role of Motor Skill Competence in Physical Activity: An Emergent Relationship. Quest, 2008;60(2): 290–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2008.10483582
Robinson LE, Stodden DF, Barnett LM, Lopes VP, Logan SW, Rodrigues LP, et al. Motor Competence and its Effect on Positive Developmental Trajectories of Health. Sports Medicine, 2015;45(9): 1273–1284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0351-6
Best JR, Miller PH. A Developmental Perspective on Executive Function. Child Development, 2010;81(6): 1641–1660. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01499.x
Diamond A. Executive Functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 2013;64(1): 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750
Ng-Knight T, Gilligan-Lee KA, Massonnié J, Gaspard H, Gooch D, Querstret D, et al. Does Taekwondo improve children’s self-regulation? If so, how? A randomized field experiment. Developmental Psychology, 2022;58(3): 522–534. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001307
Pinto-Escalona T, Gobbi E, Valenzuela PL, Bennett SJ, Aschieri P, Martin-Loeches M, et al. Effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness: A multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2024;13(1): 90–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.10.006
Sterne JAC, Savović J, Page MJ, Elbers RG, Blencowe NS, Boutron I, et al. RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 2019: l4898. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4898
Sterne JA, Hernán MA, Reeves BC, Savović J, Berkman ND, Viswanathan M, et al. ROBINS-I: a tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. BMJ, 2016: i4919. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4919
Cook DJ, Mulrow CD, Haynes RB. Systematic Reviews: Synthesis of Best Evidence for Clinical Decisions. Annals of Internal Medicine, 1997;126(5): 376–380. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-126-5-199703010-00006
De Croon E, Sluiter J, Kuijer PP, Frings-Dresen M. The effect of office concepts on worker health and performance: a systematic review of the literature. Ergonomics, 2005;48(2): 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130512331319409
Cho SY, Kim YI, Roh HT. Effects of taekwondo intervention on cognitive function and academic self-efficacy in children. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 2017;29(4): 713–715. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.713
Cho SY, So WY, Roh HT. The Effects of Taekwondo Training on Peripheral Neuroplasticity-Related Growth Factors, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017;14(5): 454. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050454
Li K, Dong G, Gao Q. Martial arts enhances working memory and attention in school-aged children: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2023;235: 105725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105725
Arslan Y, Yavaşoğlu B, Beykumül A, Pekel AÖ, Suveren C, Karabulut EO, et al. The effect of 10 weeks of karate training on the development of motor skills in children who are new to karate. Frontiers in Physiology, 2024;15: 1347403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1347403
Fernandes VR, Scipião Ribeiro ML, Araújo NB, Mota NB, Ribeiro S, Diamond A, et al. Effects of Capoeira on children's executive functions: A randomized controlled trial. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 2022;22: 100451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100451
Gökdere F, Uylas E, Çatıkkaş F, Günay E, Ceylan Hİ, Özgören M. Integrating Kata Training into School Education: Effects on Sustained Attention and Cognitive Performance in 8–9-Year-Old Children. Children, 2025;12(2): 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020208
Kunszabo M. Possibilities for optimizing physical training for children through the pilot program: Judo in school from rural areas. Arena - Journal of Physical Activities, 2022;10: 127–140. https://doi.org/10.62591/ajpa.2021.10.09
Roh HT, Cho SY, So WY. Taekwondo Training Improves Mood and Sociability in Children from Multicultural Families in South Korea: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018;15(4): 757. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040757
Song X, Wang D, Wang D, Chen C, Wang Z. The effect of taekwondo structured training on attention in 7–8-year-old children: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2026;18(1): 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01570-7
Best JR. Effects of physical activity on children’s executive function: Contributions of experimental research on aerobic exercise. Developmental Review, 2010;30(4): 331–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2010.08.001
Diamond A, Lee K. Interventions Shown to Aid Executive Function Development in Children 4 to 12 Years Old. Science, 2011;333(6045): 959–964. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204529
Pesce C. Shifting the Focus From Quantitative to Qualitative Exercise Characteristics in Exercise and Cognition Research. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2012;34(6): 766–786. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.34.6.766
Gauchard GC, Lion A, Bento L, Perrin PP, Ceyte H. Postural control in high-level kata and kumite karatekas. Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité, 2017;(100): 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1051/sm/2017005
Doria C, Veicsteinas A, Limonta E, Maggioni MA, Aschieri P, Eusebi F, et al. Energetics of karate (kata and kumite techniques) in top-level athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2009;107(5): 603–610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1154-y
Barnett LM, Lai SK, Veldman SLC, Hardy LL, Cliff DP, Morgan PJ, et al. Correlates of Gross Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 2016;46(11): 1663–1688. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0495-z
Logan SW, Robinson LE, Wilson AE, Lucas WA. Getting the fundamentals of movement: a meta‐analysis of the effectiveness of motor skill interventions in children. Child: Care, Health and Development, 2011;38(3): 305–315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01307.x
Petersen SE, Posner MI. The Attention System of the Human Brain: 20 Years After. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 2012;35(1): 73–89. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150525
Folstein JR, Van Petten C. Influence of cognitive control and mismatch on the N2 component of the ERP: A review. Psychophysiology, 2007;45(1): 152–170. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2007.00602.x
Verburgh L, Königs M, Scherder EJA, Oosterlaan J. Physical exercise and executive functions in preadolescent children, adolescents and young adults: a meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013;48(12): 973–979. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091441
Donnelly JE, Hillman CH, Castelli D, Etnier JL, Lee S, Tomporowski P, et al. Physical Activity, Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Academic Achievement in Children. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2016;48(6): 1197–1222. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000901
Donnelly JE, Hillman CH, Greene JL, Hansen DM, Gibson CA, Sullivan DK, et al. Physical activity and academic achievement across the curriculum: Results from a 3-year cluster-randomized trial. Preventive Medicine, 2017;99: 140–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.02.006
Singh AS, Saliasi E, van den Berg V, Uijtdewilligen L, de Groot RHM, Jolles J, et al. Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic performance in children and adolescents: a novel combination of a systematic review and recommendations from an expert panel. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018;53(10): 640–647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098136
Álvarez-Bueno C, Pesce C, Cavero-Redondo I, Sánchez-López M, Garrido-Miguel M, Martínez-Vizcaíno V. Academic Achievement and Physical Activity: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 2017;140(6): e20171498. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-1498
Vazou S, Pesce C, Lakes K, Smiley-Oyen A. More than one road leads to Rome: A narrative review and meta-analysis of physical activity intervention effects on cognition in youth. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2016;17(2): 153–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1223423
Hoffmann TC, Glasziou PP, Boutron I, Milne R, Perera R, Moher D, et al. Better reporting of interventions: template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) checklist and guide. BMJ, 2014;348(mar07 3): g1687–g1687. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g1687
Downloads
Received
Accepted
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ruslan Jabayev, Chipo Malambo, Jorge Romero-Martínez, Martin Musálek
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright Holder - Author(s). more
Abstract views: 6 / PDF downloads: 2
