Effects of the Kimusubi-Aikido programme on motor competence and academic performance in Primary Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v78.118370Keywords:
Aikido, motor competence, academic performance, grappling sportsAbstract
Introduction: Grappling sports are gaining presence in Physical Education due to their educational potential for motor development and self-regulation. Within this framework, Aikido—a non-competitive martial art—may be relevant due to its coordination demands and the need for controlled action in interaction.
Objective: To analyse the effects of a school-based Aikido programme (Kimusubi) on motor competence and academic performance in 4th-grade primary school students.
Methods: A longitudinal quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study with a non-equivalent control group. 48 students participated (9.75±0.39 years): an intervention group (n=31) that completed 15 90-min sessions, and a control group (n=17) continued with the usual Physical Education curriculum. Anthropometrics variables, physical fitness, basic motor skills, and gross motor coordination, integrated as motor competence, were assessed. Academic performance was obtained from the regional Diagnostic Assessment. Between-group comparisons and effect sizes were reported.
Results: Compared to the controls, the intervention group showed between-group improvements in the 4×10 m shuttle run, body control, total motor competence, and gross motor coordination. For academic outcomes, the intervention group achieved higher scores in Spanish language, English, and the overall academic index, with no sex differences, though some motor tests favoured boys.
Conclusions: The Kimusubi programme was associated with improvements in motor competence parameters and language-related academic performance. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to non-random allocation and sample imbalance, and replication with more robust and additional measures is warranted.
References
Alarcón Vásquez, D., & Padilla Sepúlveda, V. (2017). Uso del test KTK como instrumento de evaluación de la coordinación motora gruesa entre los 6 y 11 años de edad en hombres y mujeres. Revista Ciencias De La Actividad Física UCM, 18(1), 43-52. https://revistacaf.ucm.cl/article/view/107
Acharya, B., & Sigdel, S. (2023). Enhancing teaching-learning activities through games: A phenomeno-logical study. Saptagandaki Journal, 14(1), 98–111. https://doi.org/10.3126/sj.v14i01.64318
Babeş-Bolyai, Pop, A.-C., Monea, G., Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, & Barboș, I.-P. (2017). Implementing aikido in physical activity pro-grams with 9-10 year-old children. Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Educatio Artis Gymnasti-cae, 62(2), 57-65. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.62(2).15
Bolger, L. E., Bolger, L. A., O'Neill, C., Coughlan, E., O'Brien, W., Lacey, S., Burns, C., & Bardid, F. (2021). Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review. Journal of sports sciences, 39 (7), 717–753. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1841405
Caracuel-Cáliz, R. F., Armada-Crespo, J. M., & Abad-Robles, M. T. (2025). Metodologías activas e igualdad de género en educación física: Una revisión sistemática. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, 162, 31-42. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2025/4).162.04[1]
Caron, R. R., Coey, C. A., Dhaim, A. N., & Schmidt, R. C. (2017). Investigating the social behavioral dynam-ics and differentiation of skill in a martial arts technique. Human Movement Science, 54, 253-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2017.05.005
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About the National Health and Nutrition Examina-tion Survey (NHANES). National Center for Health Statistics. Recuperado el 16 de diciembre de 2025, de https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/about/index.html
Chaves, P. A. A., Burgos, H. Y. C., & Guerrero, S. I. (2023). Test de Coordinación Motriz Aplicados al Área de Educación Física: Una Revisión Sistemática de Literatura. MENTOR revista de investigación educativa y deportiva, 2 (5), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.56200/mried.v2i5.5886
Choo, L. H., & Jewell, P. D. (2002). Martial arts and critical thinking in the gifted education curriculum. TalentEd, 19(1), 13–29
Cuéllar Hidalgo, R., Bazán Ramírez, A., & Araya Vargas, G. A. (2019). Efectos de la práctica de aikido so-bre mindfulness y la ansiedad en estudiantes universitarios de Costa Rica (Effects of practicing aikido on mindfulness and anxiety in Costa Rican university students). Retos, 35, 13-19. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i35.62044
De Baets, G. A., & Van Praet, E. (2024). Aikido’s self-regulation and co-regulation: A promising embod-ied pedagogy for intercultural communication training. Sport in Society, 27(7), 1094-1117. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2023.2286018
Demiral, S. (2011). The Study of the Effects of Educational Judo Practices on Motor Abilities of 7-12 Years Aged Judo Performing Children. Asian Social Science, 7(9), p212. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v7n9p212
Derikx, D. F. A. A., Houwen, S., Meijers, V., Schoemaker, M., & Hartman, E. (2021). The relationship be-tween social environmental factors and motor performance in 3- to 12-year-old typically de-veloping children: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), Article 7516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147516
España. (2020, 30 de diciembre). Ley Orgánica 3/2020, de 29 de diciembre, por la que se modifica la Ley Orgánica 2/2006, de 3 de mayo, de Educación (LOMLOE). Boletín Oficial del Estado, (340), 122868-122953.
España. (2022, 2 de marzo). Real Decreto 157/2022, de 1 de marzo, por el que se establecen la ordena-ción y las enseñanzas mínimas de la Educación Primaria. Boletín Oficial del Estado, (51), 15740-15795.
Fort Vanmeerhaeghe, A., & Romero Rodríguez, D. (2013). Rol del sistema sensoriomotor en la estabili-dad articular durante las actividades deportivas. Apunts. Medicina de l'Esport, 48(178), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apunts.2012.09.002
Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, A., Román-Viñas, B., & Font-Lladó, R. (2017). ¿Por qué es importante desarrollar la competencia motriz en la infancia y la adolescencia? Base para un estilo de vida saludable. Apunts. Medicina de l’Esport, 52(195), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apunts.2016.11.001
García-Molinos, M. (2021). Implementación de un programa didáctico de lucha olímpica en escolares de primaria. Revista Española de Educación Física y Deportes, 432, 19–32. https://doi.org/10.55166/reefd.vi432.963
Gemas Neto, E., Gomes, F. R. F., & Corrêa, U. C. (2023). Aikido's choku tsuki motor skill: Validation checklist. Kinesiologia Slovenica, 29(1), 88–109. https://doi.org/10.52165/kinsi.29.1.88-109
Gobierno de Navarra. (2022, 1 de julio). Decreto Foral 67/2022, de 22 de junio, por el que se establece el currículo de las enseñanzas de la etapa de Educación Primaria en la Comunidad Foral de Na-varra. Boletín Oficial de Navarra, (130), 1-50.
Hernández-Mosqueira, C., Castillo Quezada, H. E., Peña-Troncoso, S., Silva, S. F. da, Cresp-Barría, M. A., Cárcamo-Oyarzun, J., Martínez-Salazar, C., Caniuqueo-Vargas, A., & Fernandes Filho, J. (2020). Valoración del estado nutricional y la condición física de estudiantes de educación básica de Chile. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 37(6), 1166–1172. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.03092
Herrmann, C., & Seelig, H. (2017). Basic motor competencies of fifth graders: Construct validity of the MOBAK-5 test instrument and determinants. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 47(2), 110-121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-016-0430-3
Iivonen, S., Kaarina Sääkslahti, A., & Laukkanen, A. (2015). A review of studies using the Körperkoordi-nationstest für Kinder (KTK). European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 8(2), 18-36. https://doi.org/10.5507/euj.2015.006
Kimmel, M., & Rogler, C. R. (2018). Affordances in Interaction: The Case of Aikido. Ecological Psycholo-gy, 30(3), 195-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407413.2017.1409589
Kiphard B.J. & Schilling, F. (1974). Korperkoordinationstest für Kinder. Beltz Test GmbH. Weinheim.
Latino, F., Tafuri, F., Maisuradze, M., & Tafuri, M. G. (2025). Complex Motor Schemes and Executive Functions: A School-Based Dual-Challenge Intervention to Enhance Cognitive Performance and Academic Success in Early Adolescence. Journal of Intelligence, 13(11), 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence13110151
Li, K., Dong, G., & Gao, Q. (2023). Martial arts enhances working memory and attention in school-aged children: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Journal of Experimental Child Psy-chology, 235, 105725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105725
Lira Quina, M. Ángel, Batalla Flores, A., & Moneo-Benítez, S. (2024). El judo como recurso didáctico para el desarrollo del área de Educación Física en la etapa de educación primaria: percepciones y ac-titud de los estudiantes de la mención de Educación Física de las universidades públicas catala-nas (Judo as a teaching resource for the development of the area of Physical Education in the primary edu-cation stage: perceptions and attitude of students majoring in Physical Education at Catalan public universities). Retos, 56, 141-150. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v56.103238
Ma, X., Yang, N., Huang, M., Zhan, S., Cao, H., & Jiang, S. (2024). Relationships between gross motor skills, psychological resilience, executive function, and emotional regulation among Chinese rural pre-schoolers: A moderated mediation model. Heliyon, 10(18), e38039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38039
Montesdeoca Hernández, R., Ruiz Llamas, G., Marchena Gómez, R., & Lasso Quintero, J. (2014). Alumna-do con TDAH y deportes de lucha. El Guiniguada. Revista de investigaciones y experiencias en Ciencias de la Educación, 23, 135–148. https://doi.org/10.20420/ElGuiniguada.2014.0067
Moreno-Villalba, C., García Martínez, S., Barrachina Peris, J., Baena Morales, S., & Ferriz, V. (2024). Ex-plorando los beneficios del kárate y del judo como herramientas contra el bullying. Transfor-mar, 5(2), 5–35. https://revistatransformar.cl/index.php/transformar/article/view/125
Miller, I., Climstein, M., & Del Vecchio, L. (2022). Functional benefits of hard martial arts for older adults: A scoping review. International Journal of Exercise Science, 15(3), 1430–1443. https://doi.org/10.70252/WZQA6910
Palomino-Devia, C. E., & Toro-Cuervo, A. (2017). Composición corporal y condición física de escolares colombianos de educación secundaria y media de Ibagué. Revista Colombiana de Medicina Físi-ca y Rehabilitación, 26(3), 40–48.
Párraga Montilla, J. A., & Morago Lázaro, G. (2000). El aikido como propuesta de trabajo y aproxima-ción a la iniciación deportiva en el aula de Educación Física. Lecturas: Educación Física y De-portes, Revista Digital, 5(22). https://www.efdeportes.com/efd22a/aikido2.htm
Pinto-Escalona, T., Gobbi, E., Valenzuela, P. L., Bennett, S. J., Aschieri, P., Martin-Loeches, M., Paoli, A., & Martinez-de-Quel, O. (2021). Effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness: A multi-country cluster random-ized controlled trial. Journal of Sport and Health Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.10.006
Pop, A.-C., Monea, G., & Barboș, I.-P. (2017). Implementing aikido in physical activity programs with 9-10 year-old children / Implementarea aikido-ului în programul de activitate fizică la copiii de 9-10 ani. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai, Educatio Artis Gymnasticae, 62(2), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.62(2).15
Quintriqueo-Torres, J., Menares-Quiroz, D., Aguilar-Farias, N., Salvo-Garrido, S., & Carcamo-Oyarzun, J. (2022). Differences in Motor Competence of Chilean Schoolchildren According to Biological and Sociocultural Correlates. Children, 9 (10), 1482. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101482
Rodrigues, A. I. C., Marttinen, R., & Banville, D. (2024). Martial arts and combat sports for youth: A 10-year scoping review. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0122
Ruiz, J. R., España Romero, V., Castro Piñero, J., Artero, E. G., Ortega, F. B., Cuenca García, M., Jiménez Pavón, D., Chillón, P., Girela Rejón, M.ª J., Mora, J., Gutiérrez, A., Suni, J., Sjöstrom, M., & Castillo, M. J. (2011). Batería ALPHA-Fitness: test de campo para la evaluación de la condición física re-lacionada con la salud en niños y adolescentes. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 26(6), 1210-1214. Recu-perado en 12 de diciembre de 2025, de http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?
Saz-Peiró, P. (2016). Aplicaciones preventivas y terapéuticas de aikido: Una revisión de las bases de datos médicas. Medicina Naturista, 10(2), 21–27.
Šimonek, J. (2016). The effect of intervention on the changes of coordination factors in the youth sports preparation. Sport Science, 9(Suppl. 2), 77–81.
Singh, A. S., Saliasi, E., Van Den Berg, V., Uijtdewilligen, L., De Groot, R. H. M., Jolles, J., Andersen, L. B., Bailey, R., Chang, Y.-K., Diamond, A., Ericsson, I., Etnier, J. L., Fedewa, A. L., Hillman, C. H., McMorris, T., Pesce, C., Pühse, U., Tomporowski, P. D., & Chinapaw, M. J. M. (2019). Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic performance in children and adoles-cents: A novel combination of a systematic review and recommendations from an expert panel. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(10), 640-647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098136
Sinulingga, A., Karisman, V. A., Samodra, Y. T. J., Suryadi, D., Wati, I. D. P., Syam, A., Syahruddin, S., Santi-ka, I. G. P. N. A., & Suwanto, W. (2024). ¿Cuáles son los valores del carácter contenidos en las ar-tes marciales y cómo se integran en la Educación del Carácter? Revisión bibliográfica (What are the character values contained in martial arts and how are they integrated into Character Edu-cation? Literature review). Retos, 60, 894-903. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v60.109330
Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad. (2000). Consenso SEEDO'2000 para la evaluación del sobrepeso y la obesidad y el establecimiento de criterios de intervención terapéutica. Medicina Clínica, 115(15), 587–597. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-7753(00)71632-0
Tomkinson, G. R., Carver, K. D., Atkinson, F., Daniell, N. D., Lewis, L. K., Fitzgerald, J. S., Lang, J. J., & Orte-ga, F. B. (2018). European normative values for physical fitness in children and adolescents aged 9–17 years: Results from 2.779.165 Eurofit performances representing 30 countries. Brit-ish Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(22), 1445-1456. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098253
Tudela Esparza, A. (2019). Influencia de una unidad didáctica de defensa personal sobre el autocontrol. VIREF Revista De Educación Física, 8(2), 16–29. Recuperado a partir de https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/viref/article/view/336799
Vedul-Kjelsås, V., Stensdotter, A. K., & Sigmundsson, H. (2013). Motor competence in 11-year-old boys and girls. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 57(5), 561–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2012.732603
Wae, M. S., Wani, B., & Laksana, D. N. L. (2023). Elementary school sport and health physical education curriculum design in independent curriculum learning. Journal Physical Health Recreation, 3(2), 218–226. https://doi.org/10.55081/jphr.v3i2.1094
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 José Mª Ballesteros-Garcia, Yesenia García- Alonso, Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñón, Loreto Alonso-Martínez, Alicia M Alonso-Martínez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
