Taekwon-do and Exam Stress

1 May 2014

Students at The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead, are being offered Taekwon-do sessions, in conjunction with Wirral UKTA Taekwon-do, twice a week throughout the revision period, to help counter exam stress.

Research going back to the early 1950's has outlined how stress can seriously hamper a student's performance in exams. A little stress keeps us on our toes, but too much can cause problems. The stress response can include; changes in blood pressure, increased breathing and heart rate, slowed down digestive system, increased sweating, butterflies in the stomach, faintness, dizziness, nausea and diarrhoea.

Merely anticipating the exams, or their outcomes, can result in difficulty in concentrating, and anxious students are found to perform around 12% (a whole grade) below their non-stressed peers. This effect can be felt not only on the day of an exam, but throughout the revision period reducing the ability to concentrate and retain information.

Any physical activity can help reduce anxiety by using up the adrenaline constructively, which in turn helps to reduce unpleasant side effects. Studies have shown that regular exercise can help reduce fatigue and boost energy levels, and that regular exercise can help improve memory, concentration and mental sharpness

Why Taekwon-do in particular?

Taught correctly, traditional martial arts in particular, not only provide physical exercise, but also relaxation and breathing techniques known to improve sleep and concentration. A study carried out in 2004 found that a 3 month period of Taekwon-do improved participant's performance in mental maths tests.

If you have exams coming up, but are not fortunate to be a student at BSFC, joining a well-run martial arts school is worth considering. Parents if your son or daughter already does a martial art, don't ask them to stop during the revision period, it could really benefit them in the long term!