New literature review concludes physical activity improves kids' academic performance

[lifespantkd]

A systematic review of the literature concludes that participation in physical activity has a statistically significant positive longitudinal relationship to academic performance in children: http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/1/49

While this review doesn't appear to consider the martial arts, other research shows that participation in a "traditional" martial art (e.g., Taekwondo as an inherent fusion of technique and philosophy) improves physical fitness as well as behavioral and psychosocial factors (see my article "Why Taekwondo?" at http://lifespantkd.blogspot.com/).

So, if you teach the art of Taekwondo to children, keep up the good work!

Cynthia

 

[StudentCarl]

If the research in this area was better, it would support what we teach. While generic physical activity, such as the time an elementary school student spends running and climbing on the playground, helps the youngster improve focus by expending energy, I'm sure there's a much more significant improvement when the activity requires focus and self-control. I see large gains in the 6-9 year old population of our students over their first year of training. Parent feedback suggests these improvements do transfer to school and home. The general effect is not limited to martial arts, of course, and is a reason for parents to involve their kids in structured athletics--any activity that requires sustained attention to learn, develops coordination, and requires significant expenditure of energy. At the lowest level, these activities are fun and involve social participation and imitation as part of learning. At the higher levels, the ruleset is complex enough to require thinking and problem solving. By definition, this type of activity requires practice to increase success, and committed,regular practice is the source of all of the valuable results in performance, focus, and character development.

Carl

 

[lifespantkd]

If the research in this area was better, it would support what we teach. While generic physical activity, such as the time an elementary school student spends running and climbing on the playground, helps the youngster improve focus by expending energy, I'm sure there's a much more significant improvement when the activity requires focus and self-control. I see large gains in the 6-9 year old population of our students over their first year of training. Parent feedback suggests these improvements do transfer to school and home. The general effect is not limited to martial arts, of course, and is a reason for parents to involve their kids in structured athletics--any activity that requires sustained attention to learn, develops coordination, and requires significant expenditure of energy. At the lowest level, these activities are fun and involve social participation and imitation as part of learning. At the higher levels, the ruleset is complex enough to require thinking and problem solving. By definition, this type of activity requires practice to increase success, and committed,regular practice is the source of all of the valuable results in performance, focus, and character development.

Carl

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Carl. There certainly is room for more research in this area, as well as plenty of research that already hints at pieces of the puzzle of why traditional martial arts study, including Taekwondo, is so beneficial for practitioners--and of all ages. A sophisicated design would be needed to really tease out exactly what influences the non-physical improvement we see in practitioners. It's very likely that the factors you addressed would be among them.

Cynthia