Brief Report: Preliminary Efficacy of a Judo Program to Promote Participation in Physical Activity in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Researchers ran an 8-week judo class for youth with autism. Kids met once a week at a local dojo.

They wore activity trackers before and after the program. The team wanted to see if judo would raise moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, or MVPA.

Daily MVPA rose from a large share to a large share of the day. The change was small but reached the edge of statistical significance.

Attendance stayed high, showing the kids liked the class. Sedentary time was not measured.

Pan (2008) watched kids with autism at recess and saw almost no MVPA. The new judo class gives one clear way to push those numbers up.

Pickard et al. (2019) pooled 21 studies and found group sports, including judo, give a small-to-medium boost to social skills in autism. The current study adds fresh evidence that MVPA can rise at the same time.

Bassette et al. (2023) went further, teaching teens to build their own gym workouts. Their self-management approach kept fitness gains for months, showing you can either run a short class or teach lifelong skills.

If you serve kids with autism, you now have a ready-made 8-week plan that fits into community centers. Pair the judo class with a self-management package for older clients to keep gains alive after the course ends.