During the 2001-2002 academic year, data were collected for three studies intended to assess various effects of martial arts training on young children. Two of these studies have been completed. The questions posed by the studies arose from discussions that I had with Mr. Fred Nicklaus, owner of Martial Arts America schools, regarding the positive effects of martial arts training for kids. Specifically we noticed that there seemed to be an improvement in self esteem and ability to focus. We also discussed the often stated concern by parents that martial arts training might cause children to behave more aggressively. I posed some of these questions to Dr. Milton Dehn of the Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and he chose three Masters degree candidates in the School Psychology Program who would collect data addressing some of these questions for their masters theses. At the time, Nicklaus' Martial Arts America was to provide martial arts training in three schools (Mary Mother of the Church, Cathedral, Blessed Sacrament) of the Coulee Catholic School system and with the support of Nicklaus' Martial Arts America and the Coulee Catholic Schools, data were collected to address the following three questions:

• Is there an improvement in self esteem and self concept in children who receive martial arts training?
• Does training in martial arts have any effects upon aggression in children?
• Do children who are trained in martial arts experience any changes in ability to focus on tasks or problem solving?(3rd study not yet completed)

2) The Effects of Martial Arts Training on Children's Aggression, Jamie L. Symonds, Education Specialist in School Psychology, May 2004.
This study assessed indicators of aggressive tendencies in children in kindergarten through third grade before and after eight weeks of martial arts training with two sessions per week. For all indicators measured there was an overall statistically significant decrease in aggressive tendencies in the 62 children monitored by the study. When the group was divided by gender, there were still statistically significant decreases in aggressive tendencies for both males and females. When the children in the study were divided on the basis of those who had previous martial arts training and those who did not, the children who had previous martial arts training started the study with lower initial measures of aggressive tendencies and did not change during the study while those who had no prior martial arts training displayed a greater statistically significant decline in aggressive tendencies than was the case for the entire group combined for analysis. These data are important because they address the commonly held concern of parents that martial arts training will lead to more aggressive behavior. The data indicate that the opposite is true, martial arts training will cause a decrease in aggressive tendencies in children which is probably reflected in their behavior. It was suggested by Ms. Symonds and Dr. Dehn that this is likely accentuated by Black Belt instructors emphasis to children that violence is usually not appropriate and should be a last resort for problem solving.