The use of martial arts techniques (on the example of Horting) in physical education of middle school children under blended learning conditions

Abstract

Introduction. To maintain the proper functioning of general secondary education institutions and ensure the provision of quality educational services at the primary, basic, and high school levels during martial law, it is crucial to address the issue of minimizing students’ educational losses. This necessitates substantiating the feasibility of implementing blended learning forms, techniques, methods, and tools in the educational process of general secondary education institutions. The introduction of blended learning, in turn, requires teachers to adopt new approaches to organizing the educational process, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals. One of the key components of this process is physical education, which plays a vital role in developing students’ physical, psycho-emotional, and social skills. The decline in physical activity among children and youth, accompanied by constant psychological stress caused by ongoing events in our country, leads to a deterioration of all health components across various age groups. An effective means of improving students’ physical health is integrating sports activities into physical education classes that motivate students to engage in physical exercises. One such sport is Horting. The use means of horting in the physical education of middle school-aged children can address the issues related to improving their physical fitness, especially in the context of blended learning.

The purpose of the study – To substantiate the use means of horting in the physical education of middle school-aged children in a blended learning environment to enhance their physical fitness levels.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Magdalynivka Lyceum of the Magdalynivka Village Council (Magdalynivka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine). Twenty 13–14-year-old girls studying under a blended learning format participated in the research. The study was carried out under martial law conditions. The following methods were employed: theoretical analysis and synthesis of data from scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical testing, and mathematical statistics.

Results. The study substantiated the use means of horting during physical education lessons in a blended learning environment to improve the physical fitness levels of middle school-aged children.

Conclusion. During wartime, maintaining the proper functioning of general secondary education institutions and ensuring the provision of quality educational services at all levels of education has become a pressing issue. One effective approach to addressing this challenge is the implementation of blended learning. However, a key risk associated with this format is the decline in students’ motivation for various activities, including physical activity. The use means of horting during physical education lessons and in the process of independently completing homework assignments containing specialized Horting exercises contributed to improving the physical fitness levels of middle school-aged children. It enhanced their strength, flexibility, coordination, speed, and endurance, diversified their physical activity, and fostered motivation for regular engagement in physical exercises.