TEAM SPORTS, MARTIAL ARTS AND COMBAT SPORTS AS PREVENTIVE SOCIAL WORK : a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu based project for school-aged children

Abstract

The contents of this paper are based in a 17 weeks internship in Icehearts, a NGO which promotes preventive social work for school-aged children through daily activities. In this period, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) project was implemented aiming to improve the socio-relational skills, self-confidence, self-concept and self-esteem of specific children. Exposure, observatory, and participatory methods were applied in order to recognize, with Icehearts' educators, four children who could benefit most from this project. The project consisted in weekly activities, twice a week, with BJJ for one hour period. Deliberate play, participatory, peer tutoring, and cooperative learning were methods applied during the sections.

The analysis and evaluation are based on outcomes related to collective aspects, including social interaction, improvement of integration, and recognition of social position in a group. In short-term basis, it is possible to affirm that children have shown traces of improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-concept aspects. Therefore, this paper also permits to understand that professional guidance, clear social intentions and educational support are vital to accomplish the benefits that such project may offer as social instrument.