Effects of different modalities of combat sports on the motor skills of children and adolescents

Abstract Purpose Motor skills are essential for carrying out daily tasks and the practice of physical activities can help to increase these skills. Being combat sports, it can be an alternative practice with this objective. However, it is not known which is the ideal modality. Therefore, the aim was...

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Main Authors: Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, William Rodrigues Tebar, Amanda Barbosa Dos Santos, Ewerton Pegorelli Antunes, Stefany Carolaine Bezerra Silva, Débora Toshimi Furuta, Gerson Ferrari, Leandro Dragueta Delfino, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05814-2
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Summary:Abstract Purpose Motor skills are essential for carrying out daily tasks and the practice of physical activities can help to increase these skills. Being combat sports, it can be an alternative practice with this objective. However, it is not known which is the ideal modality. Therefore, the aim was to analyze the effects of nine months of practicing Muay Thai (MT) and Judo on the motor skills of children and adolescents. Methods A sample of 109 young people from a Philanthropic Institution was distributed into: control (n = 36), Judo (n = 29) and MT (n = 44). The following motor skills tests were carried out: balance on the beam, side jumps, single-leg jump and transfer onto the platform. The intervention lasted nine months, twice a week for one hour. Results After nine months, the Judo and Muay Thai groups showed increased values ​​in lateral jumps (Judo p-value < 0.001; Muay Thai p-value < 0.001), and transfer platform (Judo p-value = 0.007; Muay Thai p-value < 0.001) from the pre-moment compared to the post-moment. In the single-leg jump, the Judo (p-value = 0.011) and MT (p-value < 0.001) groups were different compared to the control group. Conclusion The practice of combat sports was effective in causing improvements in the motor skills of young.
ISSN:1471-2431