Using auditory feedback to improve striking for mixed martial artists

Four adult mixed-martial-arts students wanted cleaner right-cross punches.

The coach clicked a handheld clicker the instant a punch landed with perfect form.

The click worked like a tiny "yes" that told the fighter what to repeat.

A multiple-baseline design showed each athlete needed only a few sessions to reach 90 % correct steps.

Every fighter hit 90 % or better after the clicker was added.

Scores stayed high when the coach faded the clicks and at a later follow-up.

One small sound, delivered on time, sharpened a complex motor skill fast.

Prigge et al. (2013) got the same boost using a two-way radio earbud while teens with autism learned photocopying skills.

Joseph et al. (2021) moved the idea online: remote audio coaching taught small talk to college students with IDD.

Wheatley et al. (1978) did it first—clicks from a waist box calmed or pepped up hyperactive kids decades ago.

Hemayattalab (2014) adds a twist: letting learners ask for feedback works better than coach-controlled timing, but the clicker study kept coach control and still saw big gains.

If you teach any motor skill—gymnastics, shoe-tying, tooth-brushing—try a clicker or any quick sound delivered right when the move is correct.

You do not need fancy gear; a $3 clicker and sharp timing are enough.

Start with coach-delivered clicks, then let the learner decide when to hear them, blending Krukauskas et al. (2019) with Hemayattalab (2014) for best retention.