Analysis of the level of motor coordination in children Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners

Background. Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes require a wide motor repertoire to carry out the activities since good motor coordination is needed to perform different techniques of the sport. However, little is known about the effects of Brazilian jiu-jitsu on the level of motor coordination of its practitioners. Problem and aim. To compare motor coordination between beginner and experienced children Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, as well as distinguish whether sex and age influence the results. Methods. The study included 31 children (aged: 8 to 14 years, 19 male and 12 female) Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners. To assess motor coordination, the KTK (Korperkoordinationstestfur Kinder) test battery was applied, consisting of four tasks (walking backwards, jumping sideways, hopping for height, and moving sideways). The normality of the data was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. For comparison between groups (practice time, sex, or age), the t test for independent measures was used. Results: In the analysis by practice time, experienced practitioners presented better performance than beginner practitioners for the motor quotient score hopping for height (p<0.05) and for total KTK motor quotient (p<0.05). In the overall analysis (without distinction for sex, age, or practice time), 54.8% of the children were classified as having severe motor disorder. In total, 93.5% of the participants are below the classification considered normal, with only 6.5% reaching the normal coordination classification. Conclusion. Brazilian jiu-jitsu may positively influence children's motor coordination. The practice of Brazilian jiu-jitsu alone was unable to avoid below normal levels of motor coordination. Future interventions in longitudinal studies with complementary tests are suggested.