Purpose: to determine the dynamics of physical fitness of 5 grade pupils under the influence of outdoor games with elements of martial arts. Material and methods. The research was carried out in Kharkov, on the basis of a comprehensive school of I-III levels No 118. The study involved 40 students of 5t grade (20 experimental and 20 control groups). In the educational process, which was developed on the basis of the curriculum in physical culture for general educational institutions of grades 5-9 (approved by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of October 23, 2017 No 1407, we included outdoor games with elements of martial arts). During the research, the following methods were used: theoretical analysis and generalization of literary sources, Internet data, generalization of theoretical and practical experience of specialists in the field of physical culture and martial arts, pedagogical research, methods of mathematical statistics. Results: the analysis of the results obtained indicates that the indices of physical fitness are better in the experimental group than in the control group. The results of the arithmetic mean indicators when performing a 30-meter run in the experimental group were 6,45±0,1, in the control group 6,46±0,11 s; shuttle run test 4×9 m (s) in the experimental group – 11,74±0,16, in the control group - 11.83 ± 0.14; in the test, the long jump from the spot (cm), 146,55±3,05 and 146,55±3,05; indicators of the test performance long jump with a run (cm) in the experimental group are within 245-310 cm, in the control group 240-320; when throwing a small ball at a distance (m) in the experimental group – 22,45±1,12 and the control group – 20,15±1,05; indicators of pupils in the experimental and control groups in the test of raising the body in sitting for 30 seconds 23,4±0,82 and 20,65±0,85. Conclusions. Modern trends in physical education in general educational institutions require the teacher to search for new means and methods to expand the motor experience of students. This can be achieved through the targeted use of specialized outdoor games with elements of martial arts. After the pedagogical experiment, the level of competence of students in the experimental group is higher than that of the control group. The high level of competence in the experimental group ranges from 15 to 80 %, sufficient - from 20 to 50 % and average - from 15 to 35; in the control group, students predominantly have sufficient from 30 to 40 and average from 25 to 60 % and high from 15 to 60 %. The results of the indices of the coefficients of variation of the experimental and control groups are stable in terms of the general population in the tests: running 30 m (sec) – 7,42 and 7,79; shuttle run 4 × 9 m (s) 6,37 and 5,41; standing long jump (cm) 9,29 and 8,86; long jump with a run (cm) 6.77 and 7.87, moderately stable: throwing a small ball at a distance (m) 22,36 and 23,29; raising the body in a sitting position in 30 seconds (number of times) and 18,6. Keywords: physical culture, martial arts, students, lesson, means, elements.