Abstract
Despite the fact that one of the common beliefs of judo is that it helps to build character, there is no evidence in the scientific literature that this is actually the case. This study addresses this void, by examining the relationship between judo participation and character traits such as self-control, emotion regulation, sincerity, courage, discipline, and respect. Over 160 American judo participants completed measures designed to assess their levels of participation and these character traits. Judo participation was positively correlated with these traits, even after the effects of significant demographic variables had been statistically removed. This finding is the first to document the positive effects of judo on these specific character traits.
