JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have found that martial arts training triggers an increase in the level of oxytocin, known as the "love hormone," the Bar Ilan University (BIU) reported on Wednesday.

Oxytocin plays an important role in regulating mammalian social behaviors and is responsible, for example, for a burst of happiness with parents gazing at their newborn baby or a loving couple exchanging glances.

However, oxytocin is not only a hormone of love but also plays a role in normal social interactions, birth and breastfeeding, control of stress and appetite, and more.

In the Israeli study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the BIU team investigated whether traditional martial arts training, which integrates physical exercise and social interaction, would result in oxytocin response.

To this end, 68 beginners and advanced participants were recruited from several schools practicing Jujitsu, a form of traditional martial arts originating in Japan.

Analyses revealed a significant increase in salivary oxytocin levels immediately after a high-intensity training, which returned to baseline levels following a cool-down period.

Additionally, a significantly higher increase in salivary oxytocin followed ground grappling, as compared to "punch-kick" sparring, indicating an added benefit of close contact and interaction.

These results suggest that the reported socially beneficial effects of martial arts training may be partly mediated by oxytocin release.

This underscores the potentially therapeutic applications of these methods for disorders involving social dysfunction, such as autism, behavioral problems, or schizophrenia. Enditem

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