Is Martial Arts Right for Kids with ADHD or Autism?What We’ve Seen, What the Research Says, and What Parents Should Know

Martial arts can be an incredible tool for helping children with ADHD or autism build confidence, focus, and resilience. But it’s not a magic fix—and it’s not the right fit for every child.

Introduction

As a martial arts club that’s worked with hundreds of families, we’re sharing real experiences, research-backed insights, and a few uncomfortable truths to help parents make the right decision.

✅ What the Research Says

1. Improved Focus & Behaviour Regulation
A 13-week martial arts program showed improvement in executive functioning for children with autism, including behaviour and emotional control.
Source: Psychology Today

2. Better Social Skills
Martial arts can reduce problem behaviours and improve peer interactions in kids with ASD.
Source: ResearchGate

3. Helps Manage ADHD Symptoms
The structure and clear boundaries of martial arts can support children with ADHD by improving self-regulation and reducing anxiety.
Source: Evolve MMA

🧠 What We’ve Learned Firsthand

We’ve worked with many children across the neurodivergent spectrum—some diagnosed with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or even Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). What we’ve learned:

• Some kids thrive in the structure of martial arts.
• Others struggle with repetition, group settings, or contact drills.
• Success depends heavily on the coach’s experience, and more importantly to some extent, is the class setup.

✅ Some kids thrive in the structure, clear rules, and physical engagement that martial arts provides.
❌ Others struggle—with repetition, group dynamics, waiting their turn, or the unpredictability of partner work.

A huge factor? The coach’s experience—and the setup of the class.

Some classes are run by a single coach juggling everything. Others have a coach and an assistant offering more hands-on help. At our club, we use a layered team approach:

• A lead coach plans and runs the session
• A class assistant supports drills, behaviour, and helps kids stay on track
• Junior leaders (more experienced students) partner with others, guide them, and role model the right mindset

This structure gives us more eyes, more hands, and more opportunities to support each child—especially those who need just a little more attention to succeed.

It’s worth saying: this kind of structure often matters more than which martial art your child learns. The right setup can make the difference between stress and success.

That said, clubs are living, breathing things. Coaches get sick, assistants are away, nights get shuffled. It’s not always perfect. But that’s the reality for most clubs. What matters is that the intention and systems are in place—and there’s a willingness to work with you.

So if your child didn’t click at one club, don’t write off martial arts. The format might’ve been the issue—not the activity.

❌ “My Child Was Told They’re Not a Good Fit. What Now?”

If a coach says your child isn’t a good fit for their class, please don’t take it as a personal rejection. It doesn’t mean your child can’t train—or won’t thrive in martial arts. It might just not be the right class, style, or moment in time.

Let’s be real:
Hearing that feedback can hurt. As a parent, you want the best for your child—and you know how amazing they are when people give them the chance to shine. We get that.

But from a coach’s side, these situations are tough too.

Sometimes it’s about safety—we may feel we can’t give your child the support they need while also managing a busy class.

Sometimes it’s the environment—music, loud noises, or the pace of the session might overwhelm your child.
And sometimes, we just don’t have enough time between classes to explain all of this properly—which can make a short “not a good fit” comment land harder than intended.

So please don’t take it personally. Most coaches are happy to have a proper chat when there’s more breathing room—or even offer a 1-to-1 trial or assessment. That gives both sides a clearer view of whether it could work now or in the future—and what the gap might be if it doesn’t.

👇 Alternatives to Explore

🧍‍♂️ Parent participation classes – Great for under-7s or kids needing a softer transition
👨‍👩‍👧 Family martial arts classes – Bonding through training together
💻 Remote sessions – Especially helpful for children who thrive in familiar surroundings
🧠 1-to-1 coaching – If financially possible, even a few sessions can give huge insight

📝 What Might Be On a Martial Arts Assessment?

We sometimes use short evaluations (inspired by Melody Shuman’s approach) to see how a student is progressing—or to help parents understand how their child might fit into a group format. It’s not a pass/fail test. It’s just about identifying strengths and spotting areas for support.

Here’s a simplified example of what we might assess:

And honestly? These assessments go both ways.

I once helped a parent with an evaluation, and after class, the child quietly nipped off, came back… and handed me a graph. They’d evaluated my coaching. Fair’s fair, right?

⚠️ “Will My Child Become More Aggressive?”

Martial arts does not promote aggression—it teaches how to control it.

We’ve seen very few behaviour problems spill over into home life. Sometimes there’s a bit of sibling rivalry (“He used a move on me!”), but we always reinforce our club’s values with students: Respect. Responsibility. Restraint.

🥋 What About Progress and Belts?

This one’s important.

Let’s talk honestly about belts and progress.

For some children—especially those with ADHD or autism—the belt system can be a powerful motivator. It gives them something concrete to aim for. A visual milestone. A sense of “I belong here.”

But for others, it’s just a colour change—and the real growth is happening underneath.

We haven’t seen many issues at our club with neurodivergent kids falling behind. In fact, the parents we’ve worked with have been incredibly supportive. They get it. They help their children understand that not progressing at the same pace as others doesn’t mean failure—it just means the journey is a bit different.

That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Feelings can get hurt. Kids can get frustrated.

The reality is: progress happens, even if it’s just 1% per class. Sometimes less. But that adds up over time.

We once had a child who couldn’t break a board. They were trying, but the concept just wasn’t clicking. Yes—it was a challenge for us as coaches, too. So we gave them a rebreakable board to take home and practice with. Between classes, I carved out little pockets of time for 1-to-1 help.

One day—they broke it. Clean snap. We were both a bit shocked, to be honest.

But the real story is what happened after that. More confidence. More effort. More wins. That’s how it goes sometimes. Small victories that lead to big changes.

So if your child’s progress looks slower, remember:

The real goal isn’t just the belt—it’s who they become on the way to earning it.

🌟 Real-Life Neurodivergent Martial Artists

• 🥇 Thomas Henley – Autistic Taekwondo champion
• 🥋 John Howard – MMA fighter diagnosed with autism at 33
• 👩 Jen Malia – Autistic woman whose Taekwondo practice helped with stress and executive function

🥋 Martial Arts in Preston: A Guide for Children with ADHD, Autism, or SEN Needs

If you’re exploring martial arts for your neurodivergent child, here’s a simple breakdown of some of the most popular styles you’ll come across in the Preston area—and how they may align with different learning needs and personalities.

Here’s some useful case studies to have a look at for more information:

Judo case study on autism and martial arts…

ADHD and taekwondo…

martial arts and the autism spectrum, a little mention about krav mag

Final Thoughts

Martial arts can be an amazing space for children with ADHD or autism to build confidence, self-control, and connection—but it’s not one-size-fits-all.

The best thing to do?

✅ Start with curiosity.
✅ Visit a class.
✅ Talk to the coaches.
✅ See how your child responds.

There’s no “perfect” martial art. The best choice isn’t always the one with the most trophies or the flashiest moves—it’s the one with coaches who care, a class structure that suits your child, and the space to grow at their own pace.

So don’t rule out a style just because it involves contact or partner work—check it out first. You might be surprised at how well your child responds.

If you’re local, feel free to reach out:

🧭 West Coast Martial Arts – Preston
We offer kids Krav Maga classes, combining kickboxing, wrestling, and real-world self-defence.
Our team runs a leadership programme, social events, and supports children from all backgrounds.

📞 Ready to give it a try with us?
👉 Book your free trial class here