Judo as a didactic tool for emotional growth

Combat sports such as judo offer a unique opportunity to develop emotional and social skills. This study investigates how the practice of judo influences anger management and promotes positive interpersonal relationships. A mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used to explore subjective experiences and measure participants' emotional and interpersonal skills. The sample consisted of 60 judo practitioners and a control group of 60 non-practitioners, all students at a secondary school in Caserta, aged between 10 and 13. Data were collected using the Angry Cognition Scale-Revised and The Interpersonal Relations Test (TRI), supplemented by semi-structured interviews. The results show that judo not only helps to regulate emotions such as anger but also improves the ability to form positive relationships.