Motor development and motor skills benefits of martial arts training in children and adolescents: a systematic review across disciplines and outcome domains

Abstract

Motor competence acquired during childhood underpins lifelong physical activity, yet declining motor proficiency and rising inactivity have intensified the search for engaging developmental interventions. Martial arts, which integrate balance, coordination, agility, and controlled whole-body movement, are increasingly proposed as a vehicle for youth motor development, but the evidence remains dispersed across disciplines and styles. This systematic literature review synthesised experimental evidence on the effects of martial arts training on motor development and motor skills in children and adolescents. Following the PRISMA 2020 framework, a structured search of the Scopus database identified 182 records; after removal of duplicates and records not meeting format criteria, 72 records were screened, 39 full texts were assessed, and 20 experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included. Eligible studies encompassed taekwondo, judo, karate, wushu, pencak silat, and mixed combat sports, with outcomes spanning balance and postural control, fundamental motor skills and proficiency, agility and lower-limb power, motor learning, and visuomotor coordination. Across designs, martial arts interventions consistently improved balance and coordination, with especially robust effects in preschoolers and children with coordination difficulties. Findings support martial arts as an effective, inclusive strategy for physical education and coaching, while highlighting the need for larger trials, standardised outcomes, and broader stylistic and geographic representation.