randomized controlled trial
adjacent martial art
Taekwondo
Does Taekwondo Improve Children’s Self-Regulation? If so, How? A Randomized Field Experiment
Academic Verification
Study Summary & Academic Scope
Sport & Domain
Taekwondo
Population Covered
children ages 7–11; 240 participants.
What Was Studied (Intervention)
Taekwondo compared with active physical education; 11 weeks.
What It Measured
Attention and behavior outcomes in a Taekwondo trial.
What the Source Reports (Key Findings)
Some teacher-rated conduct and child self-regulation measures changed; the executive-attention effect was about d=.28 and conduct-problem rate ratio was .79. Not every measured outcome improved.
Selected detailed results: The source reports an executive-attention effect of about d=.28 and a conduct-problem incidence-rate ratio of .79.
What It Does Not Show (Limits & Boundaries)
BJJ classes or Sensei Sandy BJJ teaching. Taekwondo findings are not BJJ findings, and not every measured outcome improved.
Verification Protocol
Verified 2026-10-08 · review again 2027-10-08.