You don’t need the lightning reflexes of Jet Li or the bamboo-like flexibility of Jackie Chan to learn a martial art. With a wide range of approaches, and new classes springing up all over the UK, there is a martial art to suit everyone, even the most ardent pacifist. And it’s claimed that not only can martial arts help to improve coordination and flexibility but sufferers of ADHD and hyperactivity may improve their concentration levels. Suitable for children aged 5 and up, and all levels of fitness.

KARATE

Karate, meaning “empty hand”, was developed as a form of self-defence in Japan in the 1800s, and is probably the best known of the martial arts. It has a blunt style featuring high-energy kicks and punches. The system of coloured belts, worn to signify the varying levels of proficiency, gives children and adults regular attainable targets. Grading systems vary from club to club, but usually range from four to ten levels, beginning with a white belt and ending with the black belt.

Starting age 7-8 years old.

Fitness Good for toning muscle.

Bruise rating Low-medium. At higher levels injuries are more common.

Cost £5 a class.

Contact 01277 370055; nakmas.co.uk

CAPOEIRA

This visually stunning martial art is ideal for anyone who also has a penchant for music and dance. Created in the 16th century by African slaves in Brazil, it was conceived as a way to disguise their fighting style from their captors by combining kicks and punches with dance, acrobatics and music. Nowadays the emphasis is on demonstrating the skill rather than injuring the opponent. Kicks and punches are fired among cartwheels, backflips and handstands.

Starting age 5 years old.

Fitness Good for aerobic fitness.

Bruise rating Low. Pulled muscles are the worst you can expect.

Cost A monthly fee of £50 allows you to attend up to five classes a week.

Contact 070-500 73737; capoeiraworld.org

JUDO

Judo is a freestyle, hands-on sport with grappling, pins and throws featuring strongly.

The grading system is similar to that of karate, with students working their way through seven coloured belts. Judo is also one of the few martial arts to have been accepted as an Olympic event and it has been used as a technique for tackling school bullying.

Starting age 5 years old.

Fitness Develops strength and technique.

Bruise rating Low; learning how to fall safely is part of the training.

Cost £2-£4 a class; annual membership of British Judo Association from £15 a year.

Contact britishjudo.org.uk

AIKIDO

This was developed in the 1920s by the master martial artist Morihei Ueshiba, who combined a variety of styles to create one based on the idea that you should be able to defend yourself without unnecessarily injuring your opponent unnecessarily. The style makes use of joint locks and throws that require perfect timing to be executed correctly. Deflecting blows and using the attackers force to overcome them without applying force back is the aim for students.

Starting age 6 years old.

Fitness Good for general body conditioning.

Bruise rating Low risk of injury in early training; higher risk as you progress.

Cost Membership of the British Aikido Association costs £25 a year and two-hour sessions cost about £5.

Contact 020-8304 8430; aikido-baa.org.uk

WING CHUN KUNG FU

Wing chun’s origins are hazy but it is a southern Chinese martial art that, according to legend, was devised 250 years ago by a Chinese Buddhist nun who wanted to develop a quick combat style that didn’t need years of training. The style involves short-range skills, including quick, strong kicks and punches. Because of its aggressive nature, many students choose to combine their training with t’ai chi, a slow, meditative, yoga-like martial art.

Starting age As early as 5, but early to mid-teens is considered a better age.

Fitness Students are often expected to undertake aerobic training outside of classes, which focus more on strength and speed.

Bruise rating Medium to high. Beginners can expect a fair bit of bruising to begin with.

Cost Annual membership is £40. Courses from £35 a month.

Contact 07860 276923; ukwingchun.com

TAE KWON DO

If breaking bricks and flying roundhouse kicks appeal, Korea’s national sport tae kwon do is for you. Celebrity black-belts include the film actors Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Speed and style are of critical importance and students should expect to have their stamina, strength, flexibility and balance tested. Tae kwon do has the most impressive flying kicks.

Starting age 5 years old.

Fitness Great for flexibility and stamina.

Bruise rating Medium; most clubs practise a noncontact version of the sport.

Cost Annual membership is £25 and a one-month course costs about £40.

Contact 0845 1297158; ukta.com

Additional research: Rebecca Bundhun

A kick-start for poor concentration?

Can martial arts help children with ADHD? DR TOBY MURCOTT looks at the evidence

Martial artists argue that their disciplines improve psychological as well as physical wellbeing. And there is a small body of evidence suggesting that martial arts can have a positive effect on children’s behaviour.

One US study in 2004 divided 207 preteen children into two groups. One group took conventional physical exercise, the other practised tae kwon do four times a week. After three months those who did the martial art had better behaviour and performed better on mental health tests. While the study group was large enough for it to be a significant result they all went to the same school, making it impossible to apply these results to other children.

In the same year, a small study was published that applied a similar principle to 18 boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Six did physical exercise, six martial arts and six did nothing. After 12 weeks the exercise group showed some improvements in behaviour but significantly less than those doing the martial arts.

This evidence is supported by a similar Italian study last year. A group of 16 boys did either karate or nothing over a period of ten months. Once again the behaviour of the karate group was significantly improved over the other.

None of these studies is sufficient to say that martial arts will help young children with ADHD, but further research is warranted.

Dr Toby Murcott is a former BBC science correspondent

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