Project Summary 

Project Title:

An Evidence-Based Programme Evaluation on the Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Training in Reducing Schoolchildren Aggression

Duration: 

2014-2017

Target Group:

315 high-risk students in 12 primary schools

Project Objective:

1. testifying and comparing the effectiveness of the traditional martial arts training and common physical exercise for reducing the aggressiveness of schoolchildren 
2. examining the mediating effects of children’s anger arousal, impulsivity, and self-control on reducing the reactive aggression of children
3. reviewing the mediating effects of children’s narcissism, callous-unemotional (CU) traits, and empathy on reducing the proactive aggression of children
4.  identifying the effectiveness of the intervention of traditional Chinese martial arts training at different periods

Collaborators:

Mr Toney Lee Ka-hung (Social Welfare Department of the HKSAR Government)

Source of Funding:

General Research Fund - Hong Kong Dollars 10,931,100

 

 

Theoretical Framework

Traditional Chinese Martial Arts with its Moral Education 

The Analects of Confucius inform us that "Self-restraint and restoration of etiquette are benevolence". Benevolence is the core value of martial ethics, and self-restraint and restoration create the pathway to reach the goal of benevolence. Self-restraint means people have the ability to control their thoughts and behaviours humbly and reasonably. Traditional martial arts and modern martial arts are very different. The former places emphasis on martial ethics in a harmonious, cooperative and modest manner, whereas the latter focuses on aggression and competition (Fuller, 1988). Therefore, traditional martial arts training through cognitive restructuring by martial ethics rather than just learning that martial skills may decrease aggressive thoughts and behaviour. Martial arts training may be considered as a form of psychotherapy (Weiser, Kutz, Kutz, & Weiser, 1995) for treating childhood aggression and school bullying, so it is worthy of being verified, and its outcome effectiveness tested. Regular participation in martial arts is likely to reduce aggressive behaviour in other situations because of energy discharge (Endresen & Olweus, 2005).

Intervention programmes using traditional arts training have been implemented for aggressive students in the West (Twemlow et al., 2008). Compared with Western martial arts, Chinese martial arts, in fact, emphasise the integration of mind and body (Binder, 2007) and teach both martial ethics and martial skills. The ultimate aim of traditional Chinese martial arts training is not victory, but respect, some own as being of a high ethical standard, improvement of physical qualities and ethical standards. As the quintessence of Chinese culture with its long history, Chinese martial arts have both uniqueness and charisma. Under traditional Chinese philosophy, human beings are required to live harmoniously with their internal and external environment. Martial ethics, as the essence of traditional Chinese martial arts and a guideline of daily communication and interaction, should be obeyed and followed by all practitioners (lee, 2006). Since Chinese martial ethics emphasise the non-violent way to solve interpersonal conflicts, even when practitioners have to use martial skills to defend, they are expected to use less extreme methods to minimise the potential violence as far as possible. 

 

Selected Publications 

Fung, A. L. C., & Lee, T. K. H. (2018). Effectiveness of Chinese martial arts and philosophy to reduce reactive and proactive aggression in schoolchildren. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 39(5), 404-414.

Fung, A. L. C., Tsang, E. Y. H., Zhou, G., Low, A. Y. T., Ho, M. Y., & Lam, B. Y. H. (2019). Relationship between peer victimization and reactive–proactive aggression in school children. Psychology of Violence, 9(3), 350-358.

Fung, A. L. C., Li, X., Ramírez, M. J., Lam, B. Y. H., Millana, L., & Fares‐Otero, N. E. (2018). A cross‐regional study of the reactive and proactive aggression of youth in Spain, Uruguay, mainland China, and Hong Kong. Social Development, 27(4), 748-760.