Table 2.
Overview of selected studies on martial arts and aggression.
| Year | Author | Sample size | Target group* | Methodology | Martial art | Measured effect | Positive or negative effect among MA† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Rothpearl | 152 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Karate | Hostility | Positive among advanced MA |
| 1981 | Nosanchuk | 41 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Karate | Aggressive fantasy | Positive among advanced MA |
| 1990 | Daniels & Thornton | 80 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience)+ (comparison different martial arts) | Karate, ju jitsu, badminton, rugby, control | Hostility | Positive among advanced MA |
| 1991 | Skelton et al. | 68 | Youth | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Taekwondo | Aggressiveness | Positive among advanced MA |
| 1992 | Daniels & Thornton | 79 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Karate, ju jitsu, badminton, rugby | Hostility | Positive among advanced MA |
| 1994 | Edelman | 15 | Youth | Longitudinal (school-linked program) | Aikido | Hostility and aggressiveness | Positive over time among MA |
| 1999 | Lamarre & Nosanchuk | 51 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Judo | Aggressiveness | Positive among advanced MA |
| 2001 | Björkqvist & Varhama | 319 | General | Cross-sectional (comparison different martial arts) | Karate, wrestling and boxing, non-contact sports, no sports | Attitudes towards violent conflict resolution | Positive among male, negative among female karateka |
| 2001 | Zivin et al. | 60 | Youth | Longitudinal (school-linked program) | Kempo | Hostility and aggressiveness | Positive over time among MA |
| 2001 | Reynes & Lorant | 150 | Youth | Cross-sectional (comparison different martial arts) | Judo, karate, control | Aggressiveness | No difference compared to control (judo more anger than control) |
| 2002 | Reynes & Lorant (a) | 8 | Youth | Longitudinal | Judo, control | Aggressiveness | Negative compared to control group |
| 2002 | Reynes & Lorant (b) | 9 | Youth | Longitudinal | Karate, control | Aggressiveness | No effect compared to control, positive effect compared to judoka |
| 2004 | Reynes & Lorant | 43 | Youth | Longitudinal (comparison different martial arts) | Judo, karate | Aggressiveness | No effect among karate, negative among judo |
| 2005 | Endresen & Olweus | 477 | Youth | Longitudinal | Boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, oriental martial arts, non-participants | Violent and antisocial behavior | Negative among MA |
| 2007 | Wargo et al. | 40 | General | Cross-sectional (level of experience) | Taekwondo,karate | Aggressiveness | Neither positive nor negative |
| 2009 | Steyn & Roux | 72 | Youth | Cross-sectional (comparison different groups) | Taekwondo, hockey, non-participants | Verbal aggression and hostility | Positive among MA |
* General (general population) = adults, adolescents and/or children are pooled together into one group. Youth = youngster under the age of 18.
† MA = martial artists.