title: Externalizing and oppositional behaviors and karate-do: the way of crime prevention. A pilot study.
abstract: Childhood disruptive behaviors can be precursors to later deviance. To verify the efficacy of karate, a complex psychomotor activity that enhances self-regulation and executive skills, as an intervention for externalizing behaviors, 16 children, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years, and meeting diagnostic criteria for oppositional defiant disorder were studied. Eight were randomly assigned to a 10-month Wa Do Ryu karate program, whereas 8 children received no intervention. The children were assigned to a larger karate class, composed of typically developing youngsters. Three domains of temperament--intensity, adaptability, and mood regulation--were measured at the beginning and the end of the training period in all 16 participants. A significant improvement in temperament scale scores was measured in the karate group for all tested items compared to controls. Karate, when properly taught, can be a useful adjunct in multimodal programs aimed at externalizing behavior reduction.
authors.affiliation: Italian Federation of Martial Arts.
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Luigi
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dal Forno
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vicomandi
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sambucioni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasqualetti
mesh_terms: D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012919:Social Behavior; D013694:Temperament