Efectos del programa Kimusubi-Aikido sobre competencia motriz y rendimiento académico en Educación Primaria

Introduction: Grappling sports are gaining presence in Physical Education due to their educational potential for motor development and self-regulation. Within this framework, Aikido—a non-competitive martial art—may be relevant due to its coordination demands and the need for controlled action in interaction. Objective: To analyse the effects of a school-based Aikido programme (Kimusubi) on motor competence and academic performance in 4th-grade primary school students. Methods: A longitudinal quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study with a non-equivalent control group. 48 students participated (9.75±0.39 years): an intervention group (n=31) that completed 15 90-min sessions, and a control group (n=17) continued with the usual Physical Education curriculum. Anthropometrics variables, physical fitness, basic motor skills, and gross motor coordination, integrated as motor competence, were assessed. Academic performance was obtained from the regional Diagnostic Assessment. Between-group comparisons and effect sizes were reported. Results: Compared to the controls, the intervention group showed between-group improvements in the 4×10 m shuttle run, body control, total motor competence, and gross motor coordination. For academic outcomes, the intervention group achieved higher scores in Spanish language, English, and the overall academic index, with no sex differences, though some motor tests favoured boys. Conclusions: The Kimusubi programme was associated with improvements in motor competence parameters and language-related academic performance. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to non-random allocation and sample imbalance, and replication with more robust and additional measures is warranted.