Introduction
The field of martial arts has many benefits. These are not just physical benefits, but mental ones as well. Over time the field of psychology has acknowledged these benefits and use them to help in many aspects of psychological stress and disorders. Dealing with this issue as imagined, can be not only stressful for the children but for parents and educators as well. There are so many psychological treatment methods that have been tried and tested and failed to at the least engage the child in their own control mechanisms.
The field of psychology has always been a controversial one with the way in which it diagnoses and treats children learning and behavioral disorders. Within recent years, psychologists wanted to come up with ways that do not include self-medication and other controversial methods to control the disorders of children. What better way than to incorporate an art that allows them to be physically and mentally in tune. Martial arts are not just known for its physical contribution, but mental ones as well. It is essentially a mental sport. Therefore, it would make sense to researchers to use it to treat psychosocial disorders.
Body
The article “The Social-Psychological Outcomes of Martial Arts Practise Among Youth: A Review” discusses how there are controversies associated with marital arts and youth. Some of the concerns center on increased aggressiveness of behavior and becoming antisocial. However, the goal of this study is to inform on the controversial aspects and in some ways dispute them. Vertonghen & Theeboom (2010) believe that a lot of the negative perceptions come from media and entertainment. Therefore, they wanted to provide a real perspective to using martial arts in treating youth with social or psychological behaviors. The authors also discuss how there is a duality to marital arts when it comes to children. On one hand martial arts gives them positive learning experiences. An example of this is introducing martial arts in physical education classes. Overall when it is introduced this way it is a relatively positive dynamic (Vertonghen & Theeboom, 2010).
Then there are the negatives that surround the sport. A lot of experts believe that there is a negative stigma that comes with martial arts. The authors cite evidence where other experts compare the end result of martial arts to that of boxing. They are both sports that not only inflict physical pain, but can cause brain damage as well. The experts further argue that this is problematic because socially, children can use martial arts to exert their aggression and start fights. According to Vertonghen & Theeboom (2010), “This perspective becomes even more apparent in light of the so-called "desportization" within the martial as young participants seem to become increasingly involved in harder martial arts (e.g., Thai boxing, mixed martial arts)” (p. 530).
Even with all of the negatives that experts have contributed to martial arts, the authors wanted to use findings of major studies when concluding whether or not the pros outweigh the cons for martial arts benefiting youth. The authors concluded that future research needs to be done in order to definitively say that the negatives have long-term harmful effects, but overall, they were able to find more research that validates the positive claims of the use of martial arts (Vertonghen & Theeboom, 2010). The two positive impacts that were discovered were self-regulation and positive social-psychological outcomes of the sport. These are two most popular benefits from martial arts.
Milligan, Badali, P., Spiroiu, F. (2015) discusses the benefits and learning disabilities in children. It is surmised that children with learning disabilities also have a hard time regulating their emotions due to the way they process information. These researchers have found a loophole in martial arts that can help these children regulate their emotion. Mindfulness Martial arts was created to help those who struggle with dysregulation to cope and increase self-awareness. In their study Milligan et al (2015) focused on MMA and self-regulation challenges in youth. They used a post-treatment questionnaire for 29 students aged 12-17. There were also 17 parents’ part of the study. The interviews were in-depth. Seven of the youth participated in MMA along with five parents. All in all the study proved to be a beneficial on. According to Milligan et al (2015) “The mindfulness component of MMA was identified as helpful in promoting a sense of calm, tolerance and acceptance of distress, and self-understanding in youth” (p. 9).
Binder (1999) addresses the negatives in his article, but he also points out the intent of judo and other martial arts were meant to bring psychological “healing” to those who learned it. He too searched for the better claim in his research in terms of whether or not marital arts produced more positive or negative results for youth. His research centered on three specific research questions. His literature review compiled three decades worth of information. Ultimately it was proven based on his findings that martial arts benefited in terms of psychosocial changes. Out of all of the research he investigated, he reported that only three studies reported no changes in psychosocial behavior after using marital arts. Binder (1999) does recognize that in the literature he is still not clear on why martial arts causes positive outcomes in psychosocial behavior. However, even without having concrete answers to his question, the author believes that martial arts is a niche for treating disorders that lead to antisocial behaviors. He credits this to the countless pages of research that supported positive results from martial arts. His review was conducted in 1999, and since then other empirical and concrete data has come out to actually answer some of his unanswered questions.
The article, “Self-regulation strategies in mixed martial arts” also provided a comprehensive look at MMA and its benefits. This time the study focused on a more general population. The purpose of the study was to enhance performance and mental regulation through the use of MMA. The authors define self-regulation as “the ability of an organism to manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and delay gratification to achieve a longer-term objective, is thought to play a major role in human behavior and performance” (Massey, Meyer & Naylor, 2015, p. 193). At the core of self-regulation is controlling the mental and psychological state. The researchers noted other benefits to martial arts as well including, monitoring behavior, self-regulation and concentration skills.
The study took a look at self-regulation and sports performance as it relates to MMA. The researchers were able to conclude with positive results for the use of MMA and not just athletes but a general population. The researchers agree that “Results of the current study suggest that using behavioral processes of change, developing embodied emotions, and using psychological strategies facilitated the self-regulation and performance of MMA fighters” (Massey, Meyer & Naylor, 2015, p. 194).
Woodward (2009) finds a connection between martial arts and ADHD. Parents and instructors believe children who suffer from ADHD find martial arts to be therapeutic. ADHD impairs the concentration and attention span of children. ADHD is also a hypersensitivity disorder. However, it takes a great level of concentration and calm to begin the practice of martial arts. Martial arts also reduce impulsivity. The problem with this idea is that the research has not substantiated the psychological benefits from martial arts and ADHHD. Parent and martial arts instructors believe it to be beneficial, but experts are still weighing in.
Conclusion
Overall using martial arts as a form of psychosocial benefits to children appears to have more benefits than not. After reviewing the research for the literature review, it is clear the psychologists are continuing to work on ways to help children with disorders that hinder them in social environments. Unfortunately some of the disorders they have to deal with are learning disabilities. Other disabilities they deal with are anxiety and social disorders. The research has proven that one of the main benefits from marital arts is self-regulation. The researchers have proved that self-regulation can have a positive impact on other disorders that children may be experiencing. While there are some negatives like aggression that are concerns with martial arts and youth, the way in which it is taught and told to execute can lead to less acts of aggression. Nonetheless, the goal is to ensure that children are progressing into society and are able to use mechanisms that will benefit them to become functional citizens.
References
Binder, (19990. Psychosocial Benefits of the Martial Arts: Myth or Reality: A Literature Review.
Lakes, D. & Hoyt, W.T. (2004). Promoting self-regulation through school-based martial arts training. Applied Developmental Psychology, 25. 283-302.
Massey, W. V., Meyer, B. B., & Naylor, A. H. (2015). Self-regulation strategies in mixed martial arts. Journal of Sport Behavior, 38(2), 192-211.
Milligan, K., Badali, P., & Spiroiu, F. (2015). Using integra mindfulness martial arts to address self-regulation challenges in youth with learning disabilities: A qualitative exploration. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(3), 562-575. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9868-1
Vertonghen, V. & Theeboom, M. (2010).The social psychological outcomes of martial arts practice among youth: A review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 9. 528-537
Woodward, T.W. (2009). A review of the effects of martial arts practice on health. Wisconsin Medical Journal, 108 (1). 40-43.
