The Effect of Two Karate Techniques on the Reduction of Stereotypic Behaviours in Three Boys with Autism (Single Subject Design)

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the effect of two karate techniques on the reduction in stereotypic behaviours in three 5-year-old boys with autistic disorders. The study included three boys with autistic disorders. A singlesubject method with A-B-A design was used. Participants of the present study were required to exercise two karate techniques (Zuki and Mae-Geri) for 12 weeks. Changes in the severity of stereotypic behaviours were assessed by Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (second edition) during intervention process and during one month after intervention with one-week intervals. Results showed that with respect to descriptive statistics and visual analytics, the karate techniques had an effect on all three participants (PND=100% for first and third participants, PND=50% for the second participant) and this reduction was maintained one month after the end of the intervention. The findings of the present study indicated that teaching karate techniques to autistic children dramatically decreased their stereotypic behaviours.