HONG IK MARTIAL ARTS OF FAIR LAWN: BENEFITS OF MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING

Benefits of Martial Arts Training

Parents often wonder if martial arts like Taekwondo really deliver on promises of better focus, fitness, and behavior. Peer-reviewed studies confirm these benefits, especially in traditional programs. At Hong Ik Martial Arts of Fair Lawn and other HIMA locations, classes apply these findings through structured, respectful training tailored for students of all levels.

Focus, Attention & Self-Regulation

The Lakes & Hoyt RCT (“Promoting Self-Regulation Through School-Based Martial Arts Training,” 2004) tested elementary students and found significant gains in inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility after one semester of traditional martial arts compared to standard PE. An RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial) is a study in which participants are randomly assigned to different groups so researchers can clearly measure the effects of an intervention- making it one of the most reliable research methods. A 2024 review (“Martial Arts as a Tool for Enhancing Attention and Executive Function”) confirmed that martial arts improves planning and attention, citing Lakes & Hoyt along with other RCTs.

At Hong Ik Martial Arts of Fair Lawn, many commands in Korean along with “Cha-Ryut!” (Attention) and focus drills mirror these proven methods.

— by Master Hwan Ki Moon