A review of the benefits and risks associated with the practice of martial arts

Baldwin, H.R.^a

aAssistant Chief Instructor, Bushido Martial Arts, Welkin Mill Dojo, Stockport, SK6 2BH, United Kingdom

Abstract

Martial arts are becoming an increasingly popular sport for children, adolescents and adults. It is estimated that around 1% of the UK population (roughly 650,000 people) currently practise martial arts and the industry is continually growing. The benefits of martial arts are extensive and include reduced levels of anxiety, aggression, hostility and neuroticism, as well as improved levels of self confidence, self reliance, self esteem and independence, alongside numerous health benefits associated with physical training. As with other sports, there are injury risks associated with martial arts, the most common being contusions (bruises), sprains, strains and abrasions. Experience, belt rank and training hours per week were directly correlated with increased injury risk in both children and adults and karate appeared to carry a lower risk of injury than other martial arts such as aikido, taekwondo, judo or jujitsu. However, the overall injury rate for combat sports such as martial arts is reportedly lower than the injury rate for other popular non-contact sports such as football and hockey.

References

Aleksandra, S., Arkadiusz, B., & Paulina, S. (2017). Types and frequency of the injuries and their preventive treatment in some combat sports. Physical Activity Review, 5, 60-73. [https://doi.org/10.16926/par.2017.05.09]
Barreto, A. P., da Silva, W. M., Santos, N. V. S., de Matos, D. G., de Lima, D. J. L., Rodrigues, C. R.,& Aidar, F. J. (2017). Evaluation of mechanisms and types of injuries in jiujitsu athletes. J. Exerc. Physiol, 20, 10-16.
Binder, B. (2007). Psychosocial benefits of the martial arts: myth or reality. Int Ryuku Karate Res Soc J.
Boguszewski, D., Adamczyk, J. G., Kerbaum, K., Antoniak, B., Obszyńska-Litwiniec, A., & Białoszewski, D. (2015). Susceptibility to injury during falls in women practising combat sports and martial arts. Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 22(1), 15-19. [https://doi.org/10.1515/pjst-2015-0009]
Burke, D. T., Al-Adawi, S., Lee, Y. T., & Audette, J. (2007). Martial arts as sport and therapy. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 47(1), 96.
Buse, G. J. (2006). No holds barred sport fighting: a 10 year review of mixed martial arts competition. British journal of sports medicine, 40(2), 169-172. [https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.021295]
Chaabène, H., Franchini, E., Sterkowicz, S., Tabben, M., Hachana, Y., & Chamari, K. (2015). Physiological responses to karate specific activities. Science & Sports, 30(4), 179-187. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2015.03.002]
Critchley, G. R., Mannion, S., & Meredith, C. (1999). Injury rates in Shotokan karate. British journal of sports medicine, 33(3), 174-177. [https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.33.3.174]
Davis, B., & Byrd, R. J. (1975). Effects of judo on the educable mentally retarded. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 15(4), 337-341.
Daniels, K., & Thornton, E. W. (1990). An analysis of the relationship between hostility and training in the martial arts. Journal of Sports Sciences, 8(2), 95-101. [https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419008732137]
Demorest, R. A., & Koutures, C. (2016). Youth participation and injury risk in martial arts. Pediatrics, 138(6), e20163022. [https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-3022]
Destombe, C., Lejeune, L., Guillodo, Y., Roudaut, A., Jousse, S., Devauchelle, V., & Saraux, A. (2006). Incidence and nature of karate injuries. Joint Bone Spine, 73(2), 182-188. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2005.02.003]
De Oliveira, E. P., & Burini, R. C. (2009). The impact of physical exercise on the gastrointestinal tract. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, 12(5), 533-538. [https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0b013e32832e6776]
Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science, 333(6045), 959-964. [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204529]
Fleisher, S. J., Avelar, C., Latorre, S. E., Ramirez, J., Cubillos, S., Christiansen, H., & Blaufarb, H. (1995). Evaluation of a judo/community organization program to treat predelinquent Hispanic immigrant early adolescents. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 17(2), 237-248. [https://doi.org/10.1177/07399863950172007]
Fung, A. L. C., & Lee, T. K. H. (2018). Effectiveness of Chinese martial arts and philosophy to reduce reactive and proactive aggression in schoolchildren. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 39(5), 404-414. [https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000565]
Gleser, J. M., Nyska, M., Porat, S., Margulies, J. Y., Mendelberg, H., & Wertman, E. (1992). Physical and psychosocial benefits of modified judo practice for blind, mentally retarded children: a pilot study. Perceptual and motor skills, 74(3), 915-925. [https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1992.74.3.915]
Gonzalez, M. B. (1989). The effects of martial arts training on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of latency-age youth: Implications for the prevention of juvenile delinquency (Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers University).
Gorbel, L. B. (1991). The martial arts and mental health: Psychotherapeutic effects of modified karate training upon behaviorally disordered adolescents.
Greene, J. R. (1987). A comparison of the effects of two recreational interventions on various aspects of adaptive behavior and self-concept among male adolescent offenders with mild mental retardation in residential treatment (Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University).
Green, C. M., Petrou, M. J., Fogarty‐Hover, M. L., & Rolf, C. G. (2007). Injuries among judokas during competition. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 17(3), 205-210.
Harris, M. J. (1998). Tai-Kwan-Do in relation to ADD. Journal of paediatrics and child health, 34(5), 484.
James, G., & Pieter, W. (2003). Injury rates in adult elite judoka. Biology of Sport, 20(1), 25-32.
Khalsa, S. B. (2007). Yoga as a therapeutic intervention. Principles and practice of stress management, 3, 449-462.
Kuśnierz, C. (2011). Values associated with practicing modern karate as a form of cultivating old Japanese Bushido patterns. Ido Mov Cult, 11, 1-5.
Lamarre, B. W., & Nosanchuk, T. A. (1999). Judo—the gentle way: A replication of studies on martial arts and aggression. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 88(3), 992-996. [https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1999.88.3.992]
Li, F., Harmer, P., McAuley, E., Fisher, K. J., Duncan, T. E., & Duncan, S. C. (2001). Tai Chi, self-efficacy, and physical function in the elderly. Prevention Science, 2(4), 229-239. [https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013614200329]
Nippon Budō Kyōgikai (2009) The Japanese Budō Association – philosophy of Budo & Bushido.
Nosanchuk, T. A., & MacNeil, M. C. (1989). Examination of the effects of traditional and modern martial arts training on aggressiveness. Aggressive behavior, 15(2), 153-159. [https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-2337(1989)15:2<153::AID-AB2480150203>3.0.CO;2-V]
Pappas, E. (2007). Boxing, wrestling, and martial arts related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2002-2005. Journal of sports science & medicine, 6(CSSI-2), 58.
Pieter, W. (2005). Martial arts injuries. In Epidemiology of pediatric sports injuries (Vol. 48, pp. 59-73). Karger Publishers. [https://doi.org/10.1159/000084283]
Rainey, L. C. E. (2009). Determining the prevalence and assessing the severity of injuries in mixed martial arts athletes. North American journal of sports physical therapy: NAJSPT, 4(4), 190.
Schreiner, I., & Malcolm, J. P. (2008). The benefits of mindfulness meditation: Changes in emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Behaviour Change, 25(3), 156-168. [https://doi.org/10.1375/bech.25.3.156]
Trulson, M. E. (1986). Martial arts training: A novel “cure” for juvenile delinquency. Human Relations, 39(12), 1131-1140. [https://doi.org/10.1177/001872678603901204]
Twemlow, S. W., Biggs, B. K., Nelson, T. D., Vernberg, E. M., Fonagy, P., & Twemlow, S. W. (2008). Effects of participation in a martial arts–based antibullying program in elementary schools. Psychology in the Schools, 45(10), 947-959. [https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20344]
Vitale, J. A., Bassani, T., Galbusera, F., Bianchi, A., & Martinelli, N. (2017). Injury rates in martial art athletes: anthropometric parameters and training volume, but not foot. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.
Witte, K., Kropf, S., Darius, S., Emmermacher, P., & Böckelmann, I. (2016). Comparing the effectiveness of karate and fitness training on cognitive functioning in older adults—a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5(4), 484-490. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2015.09.006]
Woodward, T. W. (2009). A review of the effects of martial arts practice on health. Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ), 108(1), 40.
Yard, E. E., Knox, C. L., Smith, G. A., & Comstock, R. D. (2007). Pediatric martial arts injuries presenting to Emergency Departments, United States 1990–2003. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 10(4), 219-226. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2006.06.016]
Zeidan, F., Johnson, S. K., Gordon, N. S., & Goolkasian, P. (2010). Effects of brief and sham mindfulness meditation on mood and cardiovascular variables. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(8), 867-873. [https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0321]
Zetaruk, M. N., Violan, M. A., Zurakowski, D., & Micheli, L. J. (2000). Karate injuries in children and adolescents. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 32(3), 421-425. [https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(99)00120-7]
Zetaruk, M. N., Violan, M. A., Zurakowski, D., & Micheli, L. J. (2005). Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles. British journal of sports medicine, 39(1), 29-33. [https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2003.010322]
Zhou, Q., Hofer, C., Eisenberg, N., Reiser, M., Spinrad, T. L., & Fabes, R. A. (2007). The developmental trajectories of attention focusing, attentional and behavioral persistence, and externalizing problems during school-age years. Developmental psychology, 43(2), 369. [https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.2.369]
Zivin, G., Hassan, N. R., DePaula, G. F., & Monti, D. A. (2001). An effective approach to violence prevention: Traditional martial arts in middle school. Adolescence, 36(143), 443.