Thesis (D.Phil.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2010 / Due to various reasons, today’s learners lead a passive life that results in movement deprivation and poor motor development. Motor development contributes to cognitive development, which can also contribute to school readiness. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, researchers have indicated that there is an increase of learners with motor problems, which can develop into learning problems. The primary aim of the study was to determine the influence of a 10 week Judo intervention programme on Grade 1 learners with motor restraints. The formal standardised test, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test for Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) with its eight subscales, was used for this purpose. A total of 140 learners took part in the programme: 70 learners formed part of the control group and 70 learners formed part of the experimental group. All the learners took part in the pre- and post-tests (the BOTMP). The experimental group took part in the Judo intervention programme. The importance of Judo with regard to motor aspects has been highlighted. It promotes self-confidence and self-control, and has a significant influence on learning behaviour and learning of movement. This sport emphasises body awareness and spatial orientation, and develops sensory-motor activities, as well as cognitive and physical movements. Furthermore, Judo consists of a great number of motor movements and, as a result of this diversity, the participant develops on a motor, cognitive, social and emotional level. To determine whether the Judo intervention programme had any impact on the learners, t-tests were applied. These tests were done on independent and nonindependent groups. The data was statistically processed and depicted in table or graph format. The results indicated a significant improvement in five of the eight subscales of the BOTMP. The motor variates that showed improvement were balance, bilateral coordination, reaction speed, visual motor control, and upper limb speed and dexterity. The means were statistically different on the 5% level. Furthermore, the average of two variates differed on a 1% level, namely balance and bilateral coordination. Running speed and agility, as well as strength, did not show significant signs of improvement. From the results, it can be concluded that an affordable and achievable Judo intervention programme has a significant impact on the gross, gross-fine and fine motor development of Grade 1 learners with motor restraints. The study indicated that Judo as a sport indeed has an effect on the motor skills of these learners. It is recommended that such a programme should be marketed to educators and be included in the Life Orientation Programme.