Attitude of middle school children towards karate classes in a modern general secondary education institution

Abstract

Introduction. The study of children’s interest and motivation toward different types of physical activity is a pressing issue today. Unfortunately, in modern general secondary education institutions, there is a noticeable trend of students’ reluctance to attend physical education lessons. This is primarily due to the lack of sports activities that align with students’ preferences. Despite the fact that the physical education curriculum includes a wide range of modules, most educational institutions are unable to implement many sports due to insufficient material, technical, and human resources. In search of accessible and engaging types of physical activity, experts suggest integrating martial arts, particularly karate, into the physical education process. The incorporation of karate in the physical education of children and adolescents can foster a positive attitude toward physical education classes, which in turn can serve as a strong motivation for regular participation in sports. An essential aspect of this process is assessing students’ perceptions of the introduced activities, which includes not only their interest but also their understanding of the nature and specifics of the activity.

Purpose of the Study. To investigate the attitudes of middle school students toward karate training to determine types of physical activity that can be effectively introduced in modern educational institutions.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in lyceums and gymnasiums in the cities of Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Korosten, and Kramatorsk. A total of 59 ninth-grade students (36 girls and 23 boys) aged 14 to 16 participated in the survey. The research methods included theoretical analysis and synthesis of scientific and methodological literature, questionnaire surveys, and mathematical statistics.

Results. The study analyzed students’ attitudes toward martial arts, particularly karate. The findings indicate that more than half of the surveyed students expressed an interest in practicing martial arts. However, they lacked sufficient information about opportunities to engage in such activities and had limited understanding of their specific characteristics.

Conclusion. The results of the survey among middle school students indicate that more than half of the respondents are interested in martial arts and wish to acquire self-defense skills. However, general secondary education institutions do not provide students with adequate information about opportunities to participate in martial arts, either during physical education lessons or in extracurricular sports clubs. Consequently, the level of awareness and motivation for practicing martial arts, including karate, remains low among middle school students. Numerous studies confirm that karate contributes to the harmonious development of children, improves physical fitness, and has health-enhancing benefits. Furthermore, karate is an accessible form of martial arts for school-aged children and offers unique advantages. It provides an interactive and dynamic approach to physical education, which can engage middle school students and help them perceive physical culture as an important and enjoyable part of their daily lives. Additionally, it helps develop essential life skills and meets students’ interests in self-defense and martial arts. This substantiates the relevance of incorporating karate into physical education programs in modern general secondary education institutions.