Karate or Kung Fu?

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Childhood ALL
• Interventions: Behavioral: Karate group; Behavioral: Kung fu group

• Registration Number: NCT04120896
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

Sedentary lifestyle in Asian children together with aversive parenting style may compromise their physical and psychological health. The aim of the proposed stratified, randomized controlled study are to explore the beneficial effects of Japanese martial art (karate) and Chinese martial art (Ving Tsun kung fu) training on improving the psychophysical health in this population. Over fifty-two Asian children (age = 6-12 years) will be recruited from schools in Hong Kong and then randomly assigned to either a karate group or a Ving Tsun group. Children in both groups will receive the respective physical and spiritual martial art training for 3 months (3 times/week, one hour each). Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and after the intervention by a blinded assessor. Primary outcomes include muscle power of the arms and legs as measured by a medicine ball throw test and a standing long jump test, respectively. Secondary outcomes include flexibility as quantified by a sit-and-reach test, aggression as measured by the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, and attention as measured by the Child Behavioral Checklist-Youth Self-Report. Both karate and Ving Tsun kung fu training programs are predicted to improve physical health of Asian children. It is expected that these training programs can be incorporated into the physical education classes or extracurricular activities in schools or in the community to improve project sustainability.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2019-10
• Study First Submitted: 2019-10-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-10-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-10-08
• Study First Posted: 2019-10-09
• Last Update Posted: 2019-10-09
• Study Start: 2020-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2022-03-31
• Study Completion: 2023-03-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 52

Inclusion Criteria

• 6-12 years old
• Asian ethnicity and reside in Hong Kong

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Exclusion Criteria

• any physical or psychological disorders that may affect test results
• previous experience in martial arts
• participate in regular sports training

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Karate group	Karate group	-
Kung Fu group	Kung fu group	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in muscle power of the upper limbs	0 and 3 months	A medicine ball throw test
Change in muscle power of the lower limbs	0 and 3 months	A standing long jump test

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in flexibility of the low back and hamstring	0 and 3 months	A sit-and-reach test
Change in attention	0 and 3 months	Child Behavioral Checklist-Youth Self-Report
Change in aggression	0 and 3 months	Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Hong Kong; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong